Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-28
Pr ESIDENT KRUGER.
PcraOnal Traits Of the Peculiar Transa
vaal Leader.

Kruger is devoted to his wife, chill
dren, grand and great grand children;
while they in turn adore him He
lives in . modest house, which stands
back from the sidewalk about Is feet.
There is grass plot in front and :
sentry box inside of the iron railing,
This house was presented to him L.
a syndicate. When the Nolksraad 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 exec
utive's home,
Every morning at o'clock negro
servant takes a cup of black coffee
and big pipe filled with tobacco to
the presidents room, As soon as he
has drunk the conee Kruger rises and
smokes the pipe while he is dressing.
He is down stairs by $3.50 o'clock and
is ready to lead the family prayers at
7 o'clock Breakfast is served about
1870 a. m. His morning hours are
taken up with matters of state and
the debating Of letters. The dinner
hour is o'clock At all the meals
Kruger says grace before bread i,
broken. He takes short nap after
the noon meal and is ready promptly
at 8 o'clock in the afternoon to receive
callers. The supper is served at E
o'clock and the conclusion of this re.
past ends all the worriment of the
day for Kruger. Many writers have
told how hot cups Of thick black cof.
fee are served at frequent intervals.
Every person Rceised is served with
coffee. Bcsids his salary of $4,000
. year, Kruger gets $4,000 annually
for coffee money. There is two-gal-
Ion kettle of coffee always hot in. the
kitchen.
Since Kruger was elected president
In 1851 he has been confronted with
some trying times. In 1883 his coun.
try was in a bankrupt condition. II
looked as II a famine was going 10
overtake the land, but then gold was
found in the Barberton district. Al
from the new gold fields
took a sack of gold, containing twenty
ounces, to the president, presenting
1t to him as the first yield Of gold
from the Transyaal, Kruger was
astounded when he saw the gold. He
asked where it came from. and was
informed that il was from the Barber.
ton district.
as 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!"l
was the reply.
Kruger often expressed his regrets
that he was not able to receive an
sarly education. His only book for
rears was Bible.
On the occasion Of laying the last
bolt in the Pretoria Delagea Ray rail.
-osd, November, 1894, the president
vent out in his private train TO per-
'orm the act, At Bronkher Spruit q
delegation ct Beers met the presi.
lential party. Kruger had 10 speak.
)ut fror' the railraad statiar. about q
mic instant, could pe seen the rnree
yrouped graves of the rear guard Of
! British regiment, which had been
by the Beers. The pers-
mt trouble was beginning TO make
Itself manifest; at least Kruger was
ar-sighted enough to realize that the
torn would burst before very long
significantly toward the three
raves OF the British soldiers, Kruger
aid to the two hundred old Boeu
hat had gathered round him:
"This is our country. Never give II
Ip. Remember that we fought for II
nd made it what il is. win neverlI
Ieverll never permit a foreign foe To
AXE the Transvaal from you so longl ,
3 1 shall live. "-Fyrhanre,