The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-10
Democratic Ways OF the Trans
vaal's President.
Lives An n Modest House and is Devoted
90 M. Family aud Also 60 conee-An
Early Fight with n Psnther-Friend
ship for Americans-Hatred OF the
English.
On. Y. Srn.)

i imagine men tbs tnhn hNe ltet
ssven inches IN height. but In build like
q giant; his hair white with years; his
features no nelly and coarse. wearing an
Hi tling black double breasted frock
cent reaching Ielow the knees; such .
man Ia Ocm Paul. Void OF book learn
ing, apparently not gifted above the aver
age man, armed only with. his natural
oraftinsss, ne has been a thorn In the side
Of the greatest diplom ,tists and states
men In England for years.
He wss born on Oct. 10, 1925. near the
present town Of Graft Reinet, Cape
Colony. His parents were South African
farmers who left their home In Holland
Q few years before Paul was bora, hoping
for good fortune IN the new country. But
IL did not come. They remained mere
squattsrs, and at the time Paul was born
his parents owned only two or three
slaves, which meant little. The futurs
President Of the Transvaal was christened
b. J. Paul Kruger. but at an carly age
sths first two Initials were droppsd. He
uses them now when signing state papers
He was taught early to pray and to
handle gun. lie was o fearless boy.
When he wss nine his parents resented
British regulations and movea to the
NORTHEASTERN part Of Natal. not far from
Ladysmith, the first important strategic
point In this war. 1h,re were two other
children In the family. q girl and boy,
10th younger than Paul. The brother
was lad In native fight in the Natal
colony, and the sister lived to see the
brother made Prs sident OF this Trarsvaal.
When Kruger was about Is years Of
nge his father, sister and he went with
the bullock team some distance into the
Orange Free State. The seniur Kruger
was forced to remain and told Paul to take
the team home and to look after his
"I'n take care of her. father" Was the
reply.
his sister were about five miles from
home. Then panther appeared In tAe
road. The sixteen bullccks In the team
took fright and ran away. Tbs jolting
of the wagon threw the sister from the
the mercy OF the panther. Paul. though
unarmed, ran TO her rescue and tackled
the panther. 1t was . fierce struggle, and
Kruger believed once or twice that the
panther was going to prove too much for
him. But finally he managed to kill the
animal with his knife.
It was In the latter part Of 1879 that l
fret met Kruger. The Boers at that
time were on the verge of war with the
Brit 81. When 1 was introduced to kru-
ger he was suspicious Of me, and IL was
only when assured that was an Ameri-
can that he became at all talkstive. In
thtss days, Kruger would talk English,
hut since the visit Of Sir Henry Lock to
Pretoria In 1893 be has positively refused
to uttsr one word OF English. The kru-
ger CT 1879 was poor man. He had din
Guilty In supplying his family with the
necessities Of life, for besides his wife
he had ten children to care for. He lived
th. n In farm house. but he left the
farm to care for Itself, for he had more
important matter to attend to-tha crea-
ton of q revolution against the English.
Gen. r. ]. Joubert, comma ndsr OF the
Bosr forces and vios-president Of the
r.publi,'s first president, and kruger
were planning the Boer uprising which
came the following year, resulting In the
Independence Of the Boers In 1881. 1t
was these three that managed the CAM
paign ngainst the English forces. at Ma.
3uba Hill.
The next time met Kruger was in
1894. Although he was now the president
OF nation and reputed to be worth S.
GOV, COO, found him as simple and as
democratic as he was Ia the days of 1879,
when he was unknown to fame and HAD
hard work TO support his family. 1t WAS
on this occasion that realized the great
q qualities of this man. He cordially in
vited me to become his guest during the
short time that was to remain In Preto.
rim, an invitation which readily accept
ed. He would not talk English to me on
this occasion, SO had to carry on con.
versation with him through other menu
hers of the family. The old presi dent
never tired OF talking about the United
Stats, designating this republic as his
big brother. and wishing that he were In
position to make q treaty with Ameri-
oan merchants In trade.
81 can trust Americana. " he would say,
"for know that they do not want my
country"
Before left bis residence he said to me
through his secretary: "Wben you go
home to the United States tell the people
there for me that there Ia q small
their liberty, and idolizing the American
dag and the free institutions of your
country. May the Upitsd States ever
prosper and remain true to the principles
estaf lished By her founders is my earnest
wis.," As he finished talking q tear ran
down the old mans cheek.
de often talked OF the days when he
drove his fathers old bullock team, and
now rrides himself oL the fact that he is
still able to crack thirty foot whip over
sixteen bullocks.
Kruger is devoted to his wife, children,
grand and great grand children; while
they In turn adore him. He lives in a
modest hous,, which stands back from
the sidewalk about Is feet. There Is n
grass plot in front and q sentry box iuside
of the Iron railing. This house was pre-
scented to him by q syndi,ats. When the
Volksraad IL In SIS ion, soldier IL
stationed In front Of the presidents house.
and no one. excepting officials, may enter
the +, sidence during the day without per-
mission. After Z o'clock. in the evening
all are welcome to the chief executives
home.
Every morning ct 9 o'clock a negro SER
want takes cup Of black coffee and q
Dig pipe filled with tobacco to the presi-
dents room. As soon as he has drunk
thu coffee Kruger rises and smokes the
pipe while he Is dressing. He Is down
stairs by Q, 80 o'clock and Is ready to lead
the family prayers at o'clock. breakfast
Is served about 7.80 a. IN. His morning
hours are taken up with matters OF state