Evening star., 1898-10-29

is Vindictiye, was quite overcome by this
oner. and he has ever since kent a warm
spot in his heart for the Irish.
Has n Long Head.
More than this, however. Gillingham has
long heal, knows when 10 advise. when
, TO keep quiet. and is so genial and adapta-
Bile that he is always in the know" This
is appreciated by Dom Paul. to whom the
lrishman is loyal for such is the political
strife In the Transvaai that Kruger r often
at a loss to know whom to trust
Glllinghan has no other position than
Justice OF the peace. seeks Tor no public
honors, is never written about and poses
as strictly neutral person. In this ca
pacity Kruger accepts his advice on the
most important national and international
questions. and the only way he profits Is
by concessions.
Concessions are granted for the most alb
sUrd purposes. One man has the exclusive
right TO make jam in the Traansval. The
dynamite coLcCssiouaires give the govern
ment . shilliEgs On each case ana Clear
about ~ shillIngs. Such a high duty is put
upor the American article. which Is vastly
superior in quality. as to practically eX-
clude IL. The Nlnsubsidized press ls very
litter against Mr.. Kruger on account OF
this conc ession business. and goes far
as TO ask how the president could aulass
fortune Of more than a million on II salary
of 1000. and how his son-in-law Elor
could build S250ooo palace on no salary. t;
Glllingham Is in the front rank of con-
oessionaires. and it was one of these con-
cesSions that Kept him engaged waile we
were there.
Kruger aud the English.
Among tie questions put TO Mr. Kruger
in our Interview was the following:
Are You not afraid that. without a sea-
port, the English will starve you outg'
''If God Wills it, he replied. they can do
it. If not, the English might build a wall
around us high as Jericho and we would
live comfortably" At this he looked to the
WHY 1rishmar as though for assent and
GHlinghaCi informed us later that Mr. Kru- =
ger was greatly delighted at his PROPOSE
ton TO erect huge cold storage warehouses 4
wherein 2aan heeVes could be stored--a
safeguard AGAINST being starved out in case
or war with the English He had 3ust
teen granted the concession to build the
houses.
The first quest ton asked us by President
Kruger when we finally reached him was:
Are you from Rhodes?" He looked at us
rather sharply from the slit of one eve,
Embedded in puffy flesh scanned with wrin-
kies and we hastened to reply in the neg
ative. They're both good Irishmen"
added Gillingham. and the half dozen mem
bers of the rsad. Psymaster General Van
Alpen. Commissioner OF Mines Kroebler .
and Commissioner of War Smidt all OF
whom came along to hear the interview.
laughed heartily
What's your religion7" was the next
trance, from which We were extricated
again by the Irishman's wit. THE Reform
ed Church is very strong in New York" he
observed carelessy as a cue We refnem-
bered thea that the president ia a most (,
btgoted Dutch Reformer. and explained to
him that while an American newspaper
mans religious views must necessarily be
very elastic. we were at the present mo-
nent stanch Dutch Reformers.
Two Shrewd Men.
wide and eventually chuckled, whereupon
we took occasion. at Gillingham's sugges.
tion. to ply him with volley OF questions
At the end of the interview We hardly knew
which Interested US most the shrewd old
Boer or the clever young Irishman, who
seemed to understand each other thor
oGghly.
Gillngham lives in moro simplicity even
than Mr. Kruger, who dimes with his coach
man. His two sons Joseph and parnell
attend the town school Cthough Mr. GIL
lingham intends giving them a college edu-
cation). and they may be seen at times be- 4
hind the counter. GIIlingham lives plainly I,
and dimes plainly. his only indulgence be- =
ing good cigars and fine pair Of horses. d
His team is usually on the go all day, for
he is in no one place for many minutes
He is closeted win Mr.. Kruger more fire.
quently than any one else, and the presi-
dent often calls at the bake shop and chats
IN the rear room with the proprietor about
doings in the Rand.
Though seldom seen actively engaged In
his place OF business nowadays no false
pride absents Gillingham. and when we
called in the evening to bid him farewell he
was engaged in wrapping up some hot buns
Tor comely BOer maiden. He looked at
US W. benign smile. shook hands warm
ly, and then tipped an almighty shrewd
wink, as though he would say: Its a
smart man who can tell a valuable dia-
mond in the rough"
ALLEN SANGREE