The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-11-17
PRESIDENT KRUGER.
Personal Traits Of the Peculiar Trans.
wal Leader.

Kruger is devoted to his wife, chill
dren, grand and great grand children;
while they in turn adore MIN. he
lives in a modest house, which STANDS
hack from the sidewalk about 15 feet.
There is a grass plot in front and
sentry box inside of the iron railing.
This house was presented to him by
a syndicate. When the Volksraad Is
in session, a soldier is stationed In
front of the Presidents house and no
one. excepting officials, may enter the
residence during the day without per-
mission. After o'clock in the even
ing. all are welcome to the chief exc
cutives home
Every morning at o'clock negro
servant takes a cup of black coffee
and a big pipe filled with tobacco to
the Presidents room. AS soon as he
has drunk the coffee Kruger rises and
smoRes 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
taken I'D with matters of state and the
debating of letters. The dinner hour
is l o'clock. At all the meals Kruger
says grace before bread is broken.
He takes a short nap after the noon
meal and is ready promptly at 3
o'clock in the afternoon to receive
callers. The supper is served at six
o'clock and the conclusion of this re-
past ends all the worriment of the
day for Kruger. Many writer's have
told how hot cups of thick black cot
fee are served at frequent intervals.
Every person received is served with
coffee. Besides his salary of $4,000
a year. Kruger gets $4,000 annually
for coffee money There is a twogal-
Ion kettle of coffee always hot in the
kitchen.
Since Kruger was elected President
in 1881 he has been confronted with
some trying times. In 1883 his coun-
try was in a bankrupt condition. 1t
looked as if a famine was going to
over.ake the land, but then gold was
found in the Ba9Jerton district. A
messenger from HE new gold fields
took q sack of gold. containing twenty
ounces, to the President, presenting
it to him as the Jrst yield ii gold
from the TransFaal, Kruger was
astounded when he saw the gold. He
asked where it cane from, and was
Informed that it was from the Bar
berton district.
rs there any more left?" asked
Kruger.
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 Bible.
On the occasion of laying the last
bolt in the PretorIa-Delagea Bay Rail-
road, November, 1894, the President
went out in his private train to per-
form the act. At Bronkher Spruit a
delegation of Beers met the Presi-
Dental party. Kruger had to speak.
Out from the rail!f;ad station, about a
mile distant could be seen the three
grouped graves OF the rear guard of
a British regiment, which had been
annihilated by the Beers The pres
ent trouble was beginning to make
itself manifest; at least Kruger was
far-sighted enough to realize that the
storm would burst before very long.
Looking significantly toward the three
graves of the British soldiers, 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. l will never!
never!! never permit a foreign foe to
take the Transvaal from you so long
as l shall live"