Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-30
ANECDOTES OF DOM PAUL.
True Picture OF the Boer President by
the Former Private Secretary
of ILrugcr's Cabinet

South Africa. | assume that Your readers
may be interested in hearing more OF the
unique president Of the Boer republic and
Of other prominent participants in the
bloody contest from one who was until
recently in close association with him and
| them.
It has been my good fortune and privilege
to know Dom Paul personally and to watch
and follow him in his daily life. For three
years. from 1856 TO 1875, / occupied the po-
siton Of private secretary to the executive
council, or cabinet. Of the republic. and
| my duties placed me in intimate relations
with the entire official force Of the govern
ment Consequently what / have to say
VIII have the virtue OF accuracy and gen
ulueuess.
The many descriptions and anecdotes re-
| cehuy published concerning President kru-
| ger 90 Tar toward giving Il correct picture
.: tnat remarkable man. Standing fully
riN leet and an inch III height. weighing
=" pounds, his stopping shoulders and
scfaSSy beard make il easy to believe. that
he has already passed his threescJre years
| ana ten ana now is rounding out his seven
ty-tifth year.
ana Vt his massive frame still Is that
| oI a Hercules and his physical strength
H"diS.ylS- An incident in my acQuaint-
ahce with him well illustrates the propul-
| S!Ee fofce OF the physical man. As is well
| known he rarely sets foot outside of his
| nome without a stout cane with which, as
ne "i!h>' ne lhurnpS vigorously upon the
| sidewalk with each step.
y few days after the iI!-starred Jane
| son raid and after the capture Of the Eng
| llsh invaders ] was driving with the old
gentleman III Pretoria. His anger at the
| attempted rad sun WAS AT its height. and
| he expressed himself in his usual vigorous
| fashion as We drove, emphasizing his we'll
| turned periods with successive thumbs of
| ms cane upon the bottom Of the carriage.
His Indignation finally reached a climax
| did with Il sudden motion Of the sturdy
| arm the cane was raised and banged down
| with such force that it crashed straight
| through the solid bottom of the we!I-built
! vehicle.
Much has been said of the dress Of the
| man which would give the impression that
| ne Is uhtlGy III appearance. The contrary
| Is nearer the truth. / never have seen him
| IN anything but black brnadcloth. of the
| best material and scrupulOusly kept the
| coat always of the Prince Albert style
What does give to him an air OF gro
| tesqucncSs, however, Is his trousers which
never c"ndescend to reach his ankles. thus
| exposing a good part Of the leg of the old
| fashioned high-topped boots which the
gentlemen always wears.
BeSides the ever-accompanyinS cane OF
which have spoken. Dom Paul alWays is
seen with his nuCh-lOved pipe. So indefat-
| !Gablc IS he i'll the Of il that it goes
with him. in fun operation, even to the
| sittIngs Of the yoIsraad. At these sfttiF.;s
| he occupies chair hy the side Of the
! elbow.
| lil+- SIMON" tlflS from the pipe when the
| owner IS not delivering himself Of one of
| MS f1rCible lectures. As he warns I'D 10
| his work, however he invariably cmDha-
| sizes his remarks and directs his words u
! this or that offending legislator by seiZiHl
the pipe 10y the bowl and WELDING the stem
aS = baton.
Intoxicating liquors he never touches. Tor
% the Beers generally. But both ne aud
they are inyct.-atc drinkers Of coffee Nor
has he an exalted notion Of those who do
indulge in alcoholic stimulants-
Ol the eve Of the Jameson raid. which
was hourly expected to develop, I was dis
patched 10 the Kruger mansion after mii-
fs2at 10 announce 10 the president the u
port that the raiders were en- route 20 Pre-
Joria.
! Wss permitted 70 stand outside the door
"t his sleeping rDGm and deliver my Inas-
age The GruI query came back. Vel.
, IaEent they rum with them - ! repl.ef
mat i VS. more than likely wtereUllar
. i-H interview was cut S11Tt with the ErpL.l
. from within ''G" back 70 bod. They viii not
disturb Us while their rum lasts"
CRUZ d. Air. Kruger ! in Gerncs nor. his I
iseafL i 4 ElEcly o1e and his loTe u jest
. ing i prgE-Thial- Ny rirs- interview win
him waS fY- the purpose of soliciting the
appointment which a-ter|ar1 obtained.
tic listened 10 n nEn story q myself
faEIrz l--tl= heed % my credentials and
E=ts-eEnss- and a. length 5lIr-ed oE-.
nan " . razgzlT
I5i= --eE ey-s Lighted up after my rather
disturbed reply r-z- Wa ny conscious
- tli--- ~ Es-ls-l- ana ir@il- win . burst H.
. lalg--e-- his -ataeEg --1Eca rs handed 20
" F-r-n -1ar moment ! t-l- ts.a- 1 lad
---- confidence
Nz---aly enough. his oae graf horror -
'Jrze- S-l-a--- qCG coming 10 L5S r.1r=
ar -gp-s.lE-E- - found On MS table Win I--
49, = ---.---z-- e-------- i--H-. --a-a 10
. ri 4l -rraz-5 bEI Ne tg-. i u -a-rerS I'D
r--@@ = ron --lz ----s-0I Ti-l a. . l.r..
C=cfl RaoFes-
Eie SIX rel-ae- E.=-sS. ~ Frs-~a.
III DE--n is-z-=g= D@z1z lie o-lg ne
j. suspected that - has --1-e Ez-a-s.-Ea=
o.. E.=-t--- -lzE r. rar== . admit That
a@ i= h--E-c % - Tz15-= GO Ti-Eg--
saying - = = a! -E:EEE III hight
we = -He Frs- raca- his wlo.= IT, has
ben a~-r-eE Fu his r=srla. ard 10 sandal
80 Ef1t-@.i E;= EaT.a
sg-0--t-a'-= i1 n -s.t = arms The rvp
r-~ 5- --.-5 Elg--.=-- -t-- Jg--F,=--
g. 1r- b-.r-@d- s-@ 1araerE Err entirely
trusted. =E.'= C-Grz= ll-E= -s= affection
50 ear- -e.-Iv ia Ea impress h.= gen
- irE azI -a4-a1fry upon The JaEa@=au
Ter- H---z l#I from Hz,gar-i0ru tD Pre- /
tD-ia. ErIE % WaS greeted with The heart
ts-r - English cheers - h. ua--eG them
o. tie rsd Wei Ga~zrvsd tribute -
rHa victor f0r his humanity toward the /
yaCaUi-Eed.
n -p~ak= iIl-advi=adIy who speaks now
~ an easy british victory in the present I
-rru=Gi@ Even Tie. cngaGern@nr= already I
fought aye quite likely 10 assume a diff
trI@4t aspect when rhc facts are CLEANED .
from r-Hrr than British Sources * a
Carr. the Frtflsh have not vet come into i
actual contact with real Boer amy {
TH" &~HEtu" ED-r never VIII attack. at
least outside of his own country.
lGe f"rC'- really engaged IN the bat
'l"s thus Tar fought are. Il am corcctlg [
. Informed. chiefly Germans and French I
The genuine E9aT, under JrlEberr and
crouia is yet 10 n heard from. When
heard from he will b. found upon the
defensive upon his own soil or. ii attack