The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-28
TRAITS OF PRES. KRUGER
MAN WHO DEF1ED IN EMPIRE
RICH, BUT A SIMPLE LIYER.
Wife and Daughter Until Recently Did
Their Own HOusewOrk.

Here is the man of the hour He has
never been an inconspicuous figure since
first he was known as the head man
of the South African Republic, now
nearly 20 years ago; but the logic of
recent events, of his own conduct, per-
maps Cor is it of Mr.. Chamberlain
brings him forward. SO now the call
boy has announced that it is exit Drey-
fus, enter Kruger, and it behooves us
all to become las well acquainted with
our new player as is possible where his
particular stage is so far away and so
out of the reach Of ordinary members
of the audience. There is a fine vein
pf comedy in all that concerns the sim
pie but cunning old Dutchman.
Whether he appears in the guise OF
patriarch and prophet and breaches 10
his people from the pulpit of the state
church at Pretoria one of those wonder
ful sermons in which the experiences of
wandering Israel are brought down to
date and applied with amazing ineon-
gruity to the concession disputes of his
little gold mine government or again
In the character of one of the worldly
rulers of to-day, and addresses long
telegram to his begrudgingly acknoW-
ledge suzerain, her most gracious mai
esty, as Dear Queen" a grim smile
follows an account Of ali his actions.
Those who have seen Uncle Paul-as
his devoted burghers love to call him
all agree that he bears well his three
score and Is years They add also that
to see him surrounded by his enormous
family of some 10 sons and daughters,
innumerable grandchildren and de-
scendants even to the fourth generation
is to dispe much of the incongruity
which his assumption of the airs of a
patriarch of old seems to produce.
In spite of the increased dignity which
his office has gained with the coming
of civilization and wealth through the
discovery of gold, it has done little, it
seems, to dispel the old-time manners of
"a common peasant with which Paul
Kruger was born. The executive equi-
page and the guard of honor which at
tends it do not always contain or sur
round a parsonage whose dress could
even be described as clearly. OF smart
mess there would be no expectation. Yet
one would think that carriage might
compel collar, or guard of honor
necktie. But it is the truth that his
honor of the Transvaal is often seen in
public without either unnecessary at
tribute Of fashion.
One description rather brutally adj
ded the fact that he is stranger to the
use of a handkerchief, and that dur
ing one long interview which the speak
er had with him he continually spat in
to the waste-basket near the conference
table. The long, loosely fitting black
frock coat Is often grimy with dirt and
the huge, lumpy black shoes often
wholly innocent of polish. There are
manners which go with this personal
appearance and have none of the little
Conventionalities of life to smooth them
over. The old gentleman says always
what he thinks. and never troubles to
say what he does not feel, save, per-
haps, in the larger conversations
which make history. For, according to
these critics, much discrimination is
needed in taking in full many of his
recent protestations of affection for
England and Englishmen, as well as his
incessant pronunciamentos as an etern-
al adherent of peace.
One would think that his visits to
London might have shown him the
benefits, if not the comforts, of the lit |
tie amenities of life. But he is said to
regard London and it's. products as a
modern Babylon, ripe for the destruc
ton Of an avenging heaven. That he
may be one of the factors in the dest-
ruction of this den of iniquity and the |
people who live in it Is said by those
who know him best to be one of the old |
~, nj 70 JiaPc in, i-
tiny.
He can read and write the Dutch !
language of his people, but is aid never |
to have ventured far into the common
domains of history and geography The |
former he holds to be irrevelant and |
useless wherever it disagrees with holy |
writ and the latter unnecessary in good |
who should love their homes
and stay in them.
Too great knowledge of geography
has made the Englishman of to-day, or,
according to his own famous state
ment, 1.-The English care so little for
their own homes that they have no
hesitation in invading the homes of
others"
Mr.. Kruger pretends not to under
stand English. He confesses, however,
hat he once attempted to learn the
anguage and his method was amusing
as indicative of his general line of con-
1uct He carried with him on board
he ship which first took him to England
/ Bible printed in both English and
Dutch He said that as this was the
,nly book with which he was familiar
le thought he could easily learn the
English equivalents of the Dutch texts
which he knew so WE'LL He made just
is much progress as might be expected
rom his method and finally told fell
ow-traveler that the word of God
eemed to him to become profane in the
,arbarous tongue of King James's
,avants.
His biblical manner of speaking in
PARALLELS is not wholly to be laid at the
Ioor of religious habits of mind. This
,arable point of view is a pronounced
tribute Of the South African native.
Whenever a Kaffir wishes to say that
lie has made a big strike--that is, done
good piece of business-he generally
avs that he has killed an elephant, or
erhaps, more civilized, that he has just
laughtered an OK.
All his fife, formerly more than now,