The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
DOM PAUL KRUGER AT HOME
THE INTERESTING PRESIDENT OF
THE TRANsTAhL REPUBLIC.

his Personal Bravery and Religious Fervor
His Story of the Boera' Development
of tho TransvnaI-His Feeling Toward
Cecil Rhodes-Ths Republics Derenoes.
stsphanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, Presi-
dent OF the Transvaal. Is an interesting public
character. Upon being introduced you FIRST
conclude that he has been greatly overestimat-
ed. He seems nothing moro than a shrowd
old hunter. who. by constant contact with wild
animals and savage Kafiirs. has developed a
weriness that makes him suspicious OF every
thin and everybody.
His legs are short and slender that you
wonder how they bear the weight Of a heavy.
thick and solid body. His head is big and his
neck is concealed by beard. hair and coat col
lar, SO that you cannot determine whether or
not he INDUCES in neckwear. At home he Is
usually putting a short brar pipe. and as he
handles this you notice that the thumb OF his
left hand is missing. There is a story con-
nocted with this that Krnger will tell you be
tween pufrs II he Is In the mooi 1t gives an
idea Of the grit which Is a characteristic OF the
old Beers.
When KiNger was young man. he WAS out
hunting one day with rifle which had not been
used for a long time. While no was tinkering
with charge the gun exploded. tearing
his loft thumb to shreds Rutgers comran-
ions wanted to give up tho hunt and hurry to
Roer refused Taking out his hunting knife.
no placed the lacerated thumb on the stock OF
the rife. and amputated 1t himself. BY tying
about the stump piece Of rawhido he stopped
the flow OF blood. and winding around 1t his red
handkerchief he continued The sport.
Physical robustness and courage have con-
tribu,ed greatly to Krnger's success as the
leader OF a nation. He Is absolutely fearless.
though not reckless. and since ooyhood has
10 10 AIT tab In anna
When only IA years old. he and
little sister strayed away from the Jaeger
town In Cape Colony. whore tho elder krtger
had settled on emigrating from Germany. and
while playing were suddenly attacked by
leopard. Young KrnRer's only weapon was
jackknife. but shielding his sister with one
arm. he met the vicious spring OF the leopard
with the other. and after struggle succeeded
in stabbing 1t to death.
One Is hardly warranted either in speaking
sightingly Of Dom" raul's legs. for they once
ran q race that made him famous all through
the native tribes In South Africa. A Kafir
chief had become celebrated for his running
ability. and had never been beaten until chal-
lenged by a number of young Beers. who chose
Kruger to represent them. 1t was decided that
the two should run for twelve hours. and the
man leading at the end OF that time was to
have some sort OF a prize. At the end OF eleven
hours the halur uTOppeu III MS tTuckb uucou-
scious, while Kruger kept on to the finish. and.
according to one OF his companions. was so
fresh then that he took part in hunting trip.
1t 10 the appearance OF rough hardihood and
the unkempt personal attire that first i'm
presses one on meeting Dom" Paul. but
when the man hegns to talk you forget all
else but KRUGER. the diplomat and careful
statesman. He gave the writer short inter
view recently for publication with the under
~ a. hNt, q war
sented from his own view point. FIRST tnauiring
~ were spy from Cecil Rhodes. On being
assured to the contrary by n number OF Folks-
raad me IN bers. who were present. he followed
It UP by another customary question. asking:
What Is your religion?"
These two inquiries give an insight Into
Krnger's life. His first duty. he believes. 10 to
God and his second to guard against Rhodes.
whom he detests like a poisonous REPTILE. But
for Rhodes. Mr.. Kruger says. all would be peace
and quietness in the Transvaal. So long as this
man is in South Africa there Is no rest for the
Beers and their secret service agents may be
found on every street in Johannesburg. on the
lookout for Uitlander conspiracies.
From all outward appearances. Dom Paul 10
Intensely pious. and though some insist that 1t
Is all hypocrisy. there is no proof that Kruger
does not live in strict accordance to his preach
ing. He was confrme In 1912 by the Rev.
Daniel Lindlay, an American missionary. and
from that day to this has led q seve7ely Chris
tian lifo after the precepts laid down by
John Calvin He can quote nearly the
whole Bible. and this has served him well in q
sccular way, for he has learned from It 10
sIeak in parables. tcrsr cpl grams that are
readily interpreted BY his followers and lave
moro force than the most brilliant rhetorical
lights.
KRUGER in addition to his other accomplish.
ments. is by far the best preacher in the
Transvaal. and the Dutch Reformed Church
boasts OF some CAPABLE men there. He occu.
pies tho pupt IN mod IN brick edince acros.
the streettronl his home about oneo month
and always talks to standing room only. lie
uses no notes. hut speaks offhand from text
and does not hesitate to sprinkle n little humol
in the discourse. In his speeches before the
Raad he quotes Scripture generously. and ever
more so in conversation.
AS for his private life. that seems to BIO ex
emplary After rising. he prays for long tlm'
in his room, and talks over with the Lord
the questions OF the day. When he develops
conviction in this way he proceeds to act on 1t
Kr1Ger's pety once nearly cost him his life
according to n current story. good man
years ago he suddenly disappeared. and whel
he failed to show up, a searching party va
made up to hunt for him. At the end OF tire
days they found the future President. who wa
then a field cornet. lying face down on tn
open veldt. He had been PRAYING three day
and nights steadily. without food or water, an
was nearly dead. When carried back and re
vived. he explained that no had done 1t as
ehastsement for his sins.
Two stories the Utlanders rotate to ofrse
Kruger 3 reputation for piety. One was recent
printed in Il Natal paper, 1t accused Dom Par
OF furnishing one OF his Kaffir boys once b
tying him under his wagon. spreading out leg
and arms and making Thorn fast to the aXlei
The boy was hauled for two days in this pos
ton declared tho writer. On another occasio
Kruger. when he was trekGing lost an OK an
could not find another to take its place. 80
hitched up Kafllr in the team and complete
the journey. This Kaftir is still living nea
DrsikopIes. in the Orange Free State, at a rip
old age. so the experience does not seem I
have injured him. In fact he seems ratht
proud OF the distinction.
The first question put to Dom Paul was VIII