The evening times., 1896-06-22
.OOM PAUL IN HIS HOME
Personal Characteristics of the
Hard-Headed Boer Chief.
A STRIKING PERSONALITY
Talks of His country's wrongs-De-
termined to Punish UitlanderS for
Their Part in Conspiracy.
A STRIKING PERSONALITY

WIFI oDU fdui tEt Ihtslutut VI VIC scue'A
African Republic, is told by Frank Harris
in the London Saturday Review. In cofu-
pany with the chief Justice OF the Trans
vaal he went TO the Cnpretentious but COM
Portable oue-storied house which is Kiug-
er's dwelling. He thus describes his expert
euce:
The only sign OF state was the appear
ance on the stcop of solitary Boer-han
policeman, half sOldier-armed with his
rifle. We at oGce rassedinto the Eouse ana
turned into the large room which serves lne
president at once as sitting-rooIn ana re-
ceptlou room. The first thing that struck
me in tie room was its curious resemblance
to the parIors OF Western American farm
houses and OF British cottages
Here. in the center OF the loom, was the
usual round table, spread with devotional
Looks: here. before window, the usual
cluster of wax fruits under an oval glass;
there .on the walls, the sugared affections
of Samuel and Ruth, and under them the
chairs. stiff-backed aud standing ike so
many drilled soldiers
AsI looked about me President Kruger
came into the room with a sort OF busi-
ness like haste He walked heavily,
ike man with more strength than eias-
iicity, the result OF age. l suppose tthe
president is over seventy for the Chief had
told me that Kruger had been famous
athlete in his youth, and had been noted
for speed of foot as well as for strength
Kruger himself, it appears. III exempli-
ficaiion of his belief in the superiority
OF the white over the black races, even in
ph hysiQue, loves 10 tell of how he once
ran against three Zulu runners, and beat
the best of them by some ten miles,
covering himself over eighty miles in the
went y-four hours, which for an I'M
trained man must be regarded as an ex-
traosdinary feat.
HOW KRUGER LOOKS.
Kruger stands now about feet 8 inches;
in youth he was, probably. about feet
inches His shoulders are very broad {;
lis frame at once square and deep. His
great size and length OF body render him
| ungracerul, almost uncouth. He seemed
| Ill, too. Gumny bags under his eyes
suggested an advanced state OF kidney dis
ease. and his skin had the unhealthy palior
| hat tells OF deep-seated malady; the at
| lack, however, had not yet reached the
| vitais; the man was still strong, though
slow.
He was clad in suit OF black broadcIoth;
| the frock was stained all down the front.
apparently by drippings of soup. The
| clothes were OF the same cut and material
| as those OF Western American Methodist
| preacher. hut far dirtier and more un-
| tidy Even the shirt the president wore
seemed crumpIed aud dirty, asif ithad been
| slept in. His hand clasp was perfunctory:
| he was evide ntly glad To get the business Of
| presentation over, and to seat himself in
his armchair, pipe in hand, after motioning
| the chief aud myself to two seats opposite
| him.
| He then kicked open large sptton that
stood between US. and having spat into it,
| iutimated with a nod and a word that the
interview might be gin. The chief told
| Kruger that lie had brought me to him as
| an English journalist who wished to tell
| the truth about the Trausvaal and its in
| habitants.
! Then he must be very different from
| good many English Journalists growled
| the old man, suspicinusly. who tell moth
| ing but lies about the Transvaal and its in
inhabitants. They all say that Jameson
| came to protect the women and children
asif any burgher had ever harmed a white
| woman nr white child.
I replied that 1t was rather unfair to
| judge all English journalists by a few
| and that it must be remembered that tn,
siapping OF our face by America and Ger
| many had aroused a considerable amoun
of Jingo feeling in England.
GROwL AT THE BRITISH
Quick as lightning came the respons,
that lit said little for the English reopl
II they required to be fed ON lies. Ever,
one Knows, he went on. .'how carefu
the Boer is of white women aud children
When We were discussing an attack Oh
| no 10
thing we considered was how TO get al
the women and children out of tie tow
if the inhabitants persisted in defyin,
u.s.
At this stage I began TO realize tina
Paul Kruger could state u case prctt
forcibly. His indignant tones. too. adtie-
weight 10 his powerful words. He wen
TO men caught with arms in their hands
raiders, murderers, even our enemies Nigh
believe that We could be trusted TO tax
care of women and children"
I nodded assent: The English peopi
Will understand all that when they hav
had time for calm reflection. They wi
appreciate, too, the kindness with whic
your hurghers treated the woundcli-an
everything. But just row they are tryin
TO work themselves into a temper bt
cause you hold the reform committe
stances of their bail onerous.''
The president stubbornly debated ov,
this point.
| Justice" he said, would Keep the me
close prisoners. They We're rebels. an
knew of Jameson's plot and fostereu /
They themselves had taken up arms again.
| the government, and only laid them dow
| under compulsion. I. was Kindness ar
generous treatment to let such men OF
on bail, however restricted
And when l objected that these charge
! had vet to be proved against the prisoi
ers. he scoffed at what he evidently r.
ga rled as unworthy bairsplitting. ''W
have got the rifles of the Johanneshurgcl
here in Pretoria" and he raised his ieel
: rough voice mcnacingly. land they al
marked. as Jamcson's rifles were marked
BIS. A.: and yet we are blamed for treatiu
conspirators and rebels and raiders bett.
than such men were ever treated befor
better than the English ever treated the
enemies,
: The words came without n check In q
indignan MT torrent. I understood why pc
pie praised Kruger's Dreachnr-the Tnan
: born orator. I. could find nothing
weight to oppose his arguments. and SO
changed frent slightly: please do nj
take wissitI say as intended for blame. A
Englishmcn now must believe in your ma
nauimitv. only wanted it to he perfect
The old mans features Hghtened: he w:
evidently more mal!eabie to ffattery TN:
to opposition. "A curious sort of twin;
tiawned in the corner of his small gray ey
as he went on:
L