The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-27
HE LOVES AMERICANS.

try and their liberty, and IdOllZlng the
American flag and the free institutions
of your country. May the United
States ever prosper and remain true
TO the principles established by her
founders is my earnest wish AS he
finished talking a tear was seen run
ming down the old mans cheek.
He often talked of the days when he
drove his fathers old bullock team,
and now prides himself on the fact that
he is still able to crack 30-foot whip
over sixteen bullocks.
1t would be impossible to find a man
who is better judge of human nature
than Kruger. His likes and dislikes
are spontaneous with him and it gen.
orally turns out that his first impress
sion is a correct one. He scrutinized
me when | was a stranger to a degree
that was embarrassing, as he does all
Britishers. If there is anything about
person which meets with the old
Presidents disapproVal his secretary is
told to close the interview
HIS HOME LIFE.
The home life of Kruger is the most
charming imaginable. What is here
written of it is from my own expert
ence. Kruger is devoted to his wife,
children, grand and great-grandchild-
rem; while they in turn adore him.
He lives in a modest house, which sits
back from the sidewalk about fifteen
feet. There is grass plot in front
and sentry box inside of The iron rail
ing. This house was presented to him
by a syndicate. When the Volksraad is
i'll session a soldier is stationed in front
of the presidents house, and no one,
excepting officials, is permitted to en-
ter the residence during the day, unless
the secretary authorizes the sentry to
pass some especial person. After 7
o'clock in the evening, however, all are
welcome TO the chief executives home.
Every morning at o'clock a negro
servant takes a cup of black coffee and
big pipe filled with tobacco to the
presidents room. AS soon as he has
drunk the coffee Kruger rises and
smokes the pipe while he is dressing.
He is down stairs by $50 o'clock, and
is ready to lead the family prayers at
Z O'Clock. Breakfast is served about
1880 a. M His morning hours are TAX
en- up with matters of state and the
debating Of letters. The dinner hour
is j O'Clock. AT ali meals Kruger says
grace before bread is broken. He takes
short nap after the noon meal, and is
ready promptly at o'clock in the after
noon to receive callers. The supper is
served at O'Clock, and the conclusion
of this repast ends all the worriment Of
the day for Kruger. Many writer's
have told how hot cups of thick black
coffee are served at frequent intervals.
Every person received is served with
coffee. Besides his salary of 10000 a
year, Kruger is also allowed $4,000
annually for coffee money. There is a
twO-gallOn kettle of coffee always hot
in the kitchen. Mrs Kruger informed
me that she has known the servants to
serve overthirty gallons of coffee in ONE
day. Kruger drinks large quantities OF
it. Most Of his day is spent in the
front parlor. He always has a big Gus
pidor at his feet and a pouch of Trans
vaal tobacco and a pipe by his side
HIS COUNTRY SAVED BY GOLD
Since Dom Paul was elected presi-
dent in 1881 he has been confronted
with some trying times. In 1883 his
country was in q bankrupt condition.
There was but one English shilling i'm
the treasury and the salary of all Off
GERS, from the president down. was
one year in arrears At this time
Kruger found it extremely hard to get
along There was no credit to De mad
for the country, and Kruger did not
know what TO do 1t looked as if a
famine was going to Overtake the land,
but at the most crucial period gold was
found in the Barberton district. A
mesSange.' from the new gold fields
took a sack of gold, containing twenty
ounces. to the president, presenting it
TO him as the first yield of gold from
the TransvaaI. Kruger was astounded
when he saw the gold. 1t is said by
those present that his eyes doubled in
size. He asked where it came from
and was informed that it was from the
BarbertOn district.
lis there any more Left" asked Kru-
ger.
He was told that the country was
rich in gold ore and that millions of
pounds could be secured where that
came from.
Thank God, My country is saved"
was his reply.
Kruger often expressed his regrets
that he was not able to receive an
early education. His only book for
years was a Bible.
On the occasion OF laying the last
bolt in the PretOria-Delagoa Bay rail-
road. November, 1894, the president
went out in his private train to p er-
form the act. At Bronkher Spruit
delegation of Beers met the president
ial party. Kruger had to speak. Out
from the railroad station, about mile
distant, could be seen the three group
ed graves Of the rear guard of a British
which had been annihilated
by the Beers. The present trouble was
beginning tot make itself manifest; ut
least Kruger was far sighted enough TO
realize that the storm would burst be-
fore very long. Looking significantly
towards the graves of the British SOL
diers. Kruger said to the two hundred
old Beers that had gathered round
him:
This is our country. Never give it
up. Remember that we fought for it
and made it what it is | will never.
Never,! Never permit a foreign foe
H. I,