Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-10-21
DOM PAUL'S PEOPLE.
New Points About the Character
of the Beers.
KRUGER A KING IN RURAL GARD.

A Look mt the Best Side Of the Beers.
HospitnbIc, Though Dirty - Why
Civilization Is Backward - Not
Wholly IncorruptIbIe - Hatred OF
the British.
timely and instructive book enti-
tied ''OOm Paul's People," is being
brought out by ID. Appleton n Co. The
author. Howard c. IIillcgaS. sym
pathizes with the TransvHal republic.
The author reports n personal inter
view which he had with President
Kruger that throws considerable light
on the Boer side of the dispute with
the uitlandcrS, and then he goes on to
tell many interesting things about the
personality of the man:
"PreSidcnt Kruger imprcSScS one as
being a king in the garb of a farmer,
genius in ounces cap. At first sight
he would be mistaken for an awkward
countryman. with store clothes and Il
silk hat intended for some one else.
His frock coat is far too small to reach
around his corpulent body, and his
trousers seem to have a natural antip-
athy for his shoes. He wears no cuffs,
and the presence of collar and tie
may be determined only by drawing
aside the natural curtain formed by
his whskcrs. He is uncOuth in his
manner. but he has great natural at
tractivencss. gained by long life
among hunters in the wlds.
"President Kruger is short in stat
ure, measuring less than feet 1
inches. His head and body are large
and fat. but his legs are thin and short.
His head is just Il tritle longer than
broad, and almost fits the English def
inition of square head The small
eyes are surmounted by bushy, white
eyebrows. which extend half an inch
beyond his forehead When he is not
sitting for photograph, his hair is not
so neatly arranged as it appears in the
well known pictures, but hangs loosely
down over his wide forehead. except
when, with haSty swish of the hand,
he brushes it aside. The hair is near
ly white, and hangs over the sides of
his head in long tresses, which cover
both his ears. When he smiles, the big
fat circles above his cheeks are pushed
upward and shut his small gray eyes
from view. But when pleased the pres
ident generally laughs hlariously, and
then his eyes remain closed for the
greater part of a minute. The mouth
Is wide and ungainly. The constant
use of a heavy pipe has caused deep
depression on the left side of his lower
"a tb; ri, bn L.,
appearance of being unbalanced. His
chin Is large and prominent, and his
ears correspond relatively in size and
symmetry with his face. When in re-
pose, his features are not pleasant to
look upon, but when lighted up by Il
smile they become rather attractive and
generally cause his laughter to become
contagious among his hearers"
From President Kruger to his people
Is an easy step, and Mr.. llilleSaS
brings to the consideration of this topic
the same resolve to bring out the mans
best points. He says:
"The Wholesale slander and misrep-
resentation with which the Beers of
South Africa have been pursued can
not be Outlived by them in a hundred
years. 1t originated when the British
forces took possession of the Cape Of
Good Hope, and it has continued with
unabatcd vigOr ever since. The Beers
habits and mode of life are similar to
those of the American ranchman, and
in reality there is not much difference
between the two except that the latter
Is not so far removed from civilization
Physically the Beers are the equals if
not the superiors of their old time enc
my the Zulus. 1t would be difficult to
find anywhere an entire race of such
physical giants as the Beers Of the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State
If an average height Of all the full
grown males in the country were tax
en-, il would be found to be not less
than feet inches and probably more
Their physique, Notwithstanding their
comparatively idle mode of living, is
magniiicently developed. With the
Boer. his religion is his first and upper
most thought. The Old Testament is the
pattern which he strives to follow. His
religious temperament is portrayed in
almost every sentence he utterS, and
his repetition of Biblical parallels and
sayings is custom which so imprcSses
itself upon the mind of the stranger
that it is but natural that those who
are unacquaintcd with the BOer should
declare il n sure sign of his Hypocrisy
He does not quote Scripture merely to
impress upon the mind of his nearer
the fact that he is Il dcvout Christian,
but does il for the same reasons that n
sailor speaks the language Of the sea-
farer.
'''rhe Boer is hOspitable to degree
that is astonishing, and he will give to
stranger the best room i'm the house,
the use of his best horse and his finest
food. Naturally he will not give an eff
fusive welcome to an EngliShman, be-
cause he is the natural enemy of the
BOer, but To strangers of other nation.
alitieS he opens his heart and house
The ROer homestead is as unpreten-
tiOuS rs its owner, Generally il is
low one story stone structure. with Il
steep tile roof and Il small annex in
the rear, which is used rs n kitchen
The door is on a level with the ground,
and four windows afford all the light
that is required in the four square
rooms in the interior. A dining room
and three bedrooms suffice for a fam
lily. however large The floors are of
hardened clay. literally coated with