The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-28

HledHlHS ana .uNLnOuBnl QlSdSIeT ait
that if his own conduct of affairs o
, state is tortuous instead of direct it il
because he is untutored in the art of di-
rect deception and uses the best Weap
ons he has at hand.
Until lately no one ever suggested
that Mr.. Kruger had amassed his very
comfortable fortune by the prostitu
ton OF his Office The immense rise
in the value of the land as well as
that of his fellow countrymen general
ly, after the discovery of gold on the
Rand together with the salary Of $685.
600 a year which he has received for
so long and spent so sparingly, woulG
! fully account for his worldly posses
sions
1t is absolutely impossible for the
average man to realize the primitive
life of the people from which Pau
| Kruger sprung, and of which he re-
mains, with all of his years and ex-
perience, an exemplary type. 1t seems
not too much to say that the citi-
zens Of the South African Republic
are not only of a grade of intelligence
comparable to ordinary continental
peasants, but go further, and are per
haps complete reproduction of the
German peasants of 300 years ago.
Kruger used to live on a typical farm
on the Veldt. This is a life little above
that of the aboriginal natives. The
| Dutch ideal of living is to have as much
land as notwithstanding enough to
put out Of view your neighbours Chin
| ney; to cultivate as little of this land
as the most meager household needs re-
quire, and that household of the most
primitive description, generally but two
rooms-a kitchen and a common bed
room--for all the members of large
family; TO devote the rest of the wild
land to the pasturage of a few scrubby
horses and cattle, and to live in the
greatest idleness possible, sitting all day
in the kitchen drinking a concoction of
coffee
or education there is still very little
although the contact with civilization
of late years has demanded a slightly
higher standard than used to prevail.
There are now some schools Formerly
nearly all education was acquired from
an initerant schoolmaster, who went
from house to house and, in return for
food and lodging, taught the children
to read and write in Dutch.
The virtues induced by this mode of
life also abunded. There was no ques
ton whatever of the hospitality of the
people. Visitors were made welcome to
stay as long as they liked to partake
of the simple food, of which there was
probably meat once day and few of
the coarser vegetables, and to share a
portion of a bed in the room where all
of the family slept.
Perhaps it was this ingrained indo-
lence which made the Beers SO opposed
to innovations For it Is well remem-
bered how bitterly the first proposition
of a railroad through the Transvaal was
opposed with the arguments that the
ox-wagon had been the vehicle of Gods
people from time immemorial, and that
any more rapid means of getting about
would only assist the departure of the
wicked-thieves, most likely.
This manner of living was brought
by the Krugers to the government
house in Pretoria, and cannot be said
to have been greatly changed by the
dfgnities which progress has forced
them to add to their outward state.
Perhaps within the last few years good
Tante (AunD Kruger has-as much in
view of advancing years as her presl-
dental dignity-taken servants into the
house, but formerly all of the work was
done by herself and her daughters.
One gentleman, who described to me
a visit to the Krugers, said that the
door was opened for him by Mrs. Kru-
ger with KEPT Ga large sunbonnet) on
her head, her skirts tucked up, and an
orange which she was sucking glued to
her mouth. There We're few additions
to the midday executive dinner table |
which those of the country generally |
did not enjoy but everything was
supplied.
The daughters waited on the table, |
but their places have probably been |
taken by servants now. The meat is |
boiled, and the president is said to be |
particularly fond of turnips, which he |
eats raw as well as cooked Here also |
coffee in large quantities is drunk and |
IS the only beverage.
There Is absolutely no social life be- |
yond this-no gatherings of any kind |
among the people for amusement
When they meet 1T is either for bust
ness or religion Harper's Weekly