Mohave County miner., 1899-10-07

Stephanus Johannus Paulus Kruger,
pre- ident of the Transvaal, is an inter
esting public character. Upon being
introduced you first conclude that he
has been greatly overestimated. He
seems nothing more than shrewd old
hunter, who by constant contact with
wild animals and savage katiirs, has
developed wariness that makes him
suspicious of everything and every
body.
"When only IA years old he and
little sister strayed away from the
Jaeger town III Cape Colony, where the
elder Kruger had settled on emigrat-
ing from Germany, and while playing
were suddenly attacked by leopard.
Young Kruger's only weapon was a
jackknife, but shielding his sister with
one arm he met the vicious spring of
the leopard with the other, aud after a
struggle succeeded in stabbing it to
death.
"From all outward appearances Dom
Paul is intensely pious, and though
some insist that it is all hypocrisy,
there is no proof that ruge" does not
live in strict accordance to his preach
ing. He was confirmed in lS42 by Rev.
Daniel Lindlay, an American mission
ary, and from that day to this has led
a severely Christian life after the pre-
cepts laid down by John Calvin. He
can quote nearly the whole Bible and
this has served him we'll in a secular
way, for he has learned from it to
speak in parallels, terse epigrams that
are readily interpreted by his follow
ers and have more force than the most
brilliant rhetorical flights.
Kruger, in addition to his other ac-
complishments, is by far the best
preacher in the Transvaal, and the
Dutch Reformed church boasts of
some capable men there. He occupies
the pulpit in a modern brick ediiice
across the street from his home about
once a month and always talks to
standing room only. He uses no notes,
but speaks off hand from text and
does not hesitate to sprinkle little
humor in the discourse. In his
speeches before the Rad he quotes
scripture generously and even more so
in conversation.
"As for his private life, that seems to
be exemplary. After risirg he prays
for long time in his room and "talks
over with the Lord" the questions of
the day. When he develops a convic-
tion in this way he proceeds to act on
it. rugar's i ty once nearly cost
him his life, according to current
story. \ good many years ago he sud
denly disappeared. and when he failed
to show up a searching party was made
up to hunt for him. At the end of
three days they found the future pres
ident, who was then field cornet,
lying face down on the open veldt.
He had been praying three days and
nights steadily without food or water
and was nearly dead. When carried
back and revived he explained that
he had done it a chastisement for
his sins.
Two stories the Outlanders relate
to Offset >ruger's reputation for piety.
One was recently printed in a Natal
paper. 1t accused Dom Paul of pun
ishing one of his Kaiiir boys by tying
him under his wagon, spreading out
arms and legs and making them fast
to the axles. The boy was hauled for
two days in this position, declared the
writer. On another occasion Kruger,
when he was trekkling, lost an OK and
could not find another to take his
place, so, it is alleged, hitched up a
/ Kafiir in the team aud completed the
journey. This kafiir Is still living
near Dreikopjes, in the Orange Free
State, at ripe old age, so the expert
ence does not seem to have injured
| him. In fact he seems rather proud
of the distinction.
The first question put to Dom Pau
by your correspondent was why he did
not give the Outlanders the right tc
vote, which the English put forth az
their cause for complaint. Kruger
smoked hard for moment, then lait
down his pipe, and placing his hands
on his knees, said:
"A man cannot serve two masters
Either he will hate the one and clinl
to the other, or despise the one anc
| lova tho ntbar Nnv the Enuli : N mar