The Elbert County tribune., 1899-11-02
RESIDENT sTEYN.
ORANGE FREE STATE.
w,o Wa. Born ON = Farm
i'' al. Early Experiences.

.,te,t of the Orange Free
e fTe',h not SO well known as
a., al,NS Kruger, is quite as thorough
dan dem Grandson of the noted
zislus ziessW vessels. President Steyn
en,si. Roer TO the core, grew up
nseh Roers and recognizes none
ng lhe ,orests. The first twelve
tbei ~ life was a monotonous
q aI Wanting and reaping, hard
~. Z. which possessed no brighter
llie an occasional dance ut n
u.A house. his fathers stern
spoi iln,unctlon ringing in his ears:
M ~ - my son, tomorrow MORN
nlast ind you in the fields at the
.iSent ny steyn recalls as very hap
no three years spent with his
~ ~, Grandmother at Blomfontein,
d,tended Gray's College. His
,Sere completed, he returned
serve his apprenticeship on his
" farm. where he remained un-
s.srs old. when the visit Of n
-, stranger nt their humble
y ,,arked the turning point in his
The guest was Justice Bu-
pereeiving the youths extra
r.rv intelligence and capabilities.
,1besied brilliant future for
,ndneed his father to send him
a and not long afterward had the
ssction of seeing the lad installed
Sls goods and chattels in an OK
N the way to the coast. The next
rssrs were spent In studying law
nrland and Holland
ms at this epoch that the first
N romance entered his life. He
[hls wife when he sailed to Eu-
1 Int she was then a graceful, flax
tsirqd maiden OF only IL, whom
IN NOT see again until his return
4 NTH Africa six years later. But
4 N This lapse of time he had not
4 [,ten. and no sooner had he ar
1 At the coast than he hastened to
mon A handsome young woman
|s They were shortly betrothed,
4 be had not the means TO marry,
a the young man plunged most
Eusiastically into work which
IN both wife and career.
Erked by a solid education, intimate
EFledge Of the people with whom
HI to do. Boer perseverance and
4 success greeted him Mt every
4 He became successivcly lawyer
r. Snpreme Court, attorney gen
Judge, and, at the age of 3s,
kient Of the Free state.
+sident Steyn's six years OF circuit
Il Afforded him ample opportunity
Rough 1t" In every sense of the
to mingle with all classes and
tions Of people, and, to quote his
words, "the numerous interesting
amusing Incidents which befell me
b. those days would furnish mate
ior a neat-sized volume of me
s. There is one anecdote especial
hlch the president never wearies
kllng. Though the Free State inn
N are renowned throughout
n Africa for their extreme cour-
and affabillty, yet the rule had its
p,lon. II happened that Advocate
b arrived at Il village possessing n
by uninyiting inn, and still
dlsagreeable proprietor, who In
on putting five men in a tiny
dark-for II was minus even n
Iw-and damp, having two beds
q mud floor for the couch of the
nan. Steyn took the proprietor to
for these accommodations, insist
D something better for his money,
to no purpose. Exasperated be-
measure. the advocate indignant
tlalmed Then know one thing;
shall not have our party for lodg-
when We come back here in six
hs."
bu can't help yourself retorted
piher. with a sneer. This Is the
hotel in town"
IN Steyn returned the party
I'd tent outside the village, and
se primitive quarters put in four
comfortable days and nights.
nnkeeper was furious at being
lifted and determined TO have his
lge. The surly innkeeper was Ut
Fame time the only butcher, and
ffnsed to sell Steyn's party any
and also prevailed on the baker
The same with regard to the nee
b bread.
campers purchased n sheep from
sant. drove it to the camp and
lad 1t sizzling on the temporary
1t was Steyn himself and one of
onpanions who drove the sheep
gh ;he village streets, past the
fpers door, TO the huge delight
ohlookers except one. When the
lefs learned the state of affairs,
Amp received no end of boxes,
ana Packages of eatables, which
~ them to spread n royal table
'he remainder Of their stay, and
y oner a respectable banquet to
nIln friends Of the yillage.-Chi-