The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
STEVEN JOHN PAUL KRUGER
SOME Personal TRAITS or THE
"LION OF RUSTESBURG."

The Early Training That Has Made Him
what He Ia To-Dny-Simplicity OF His
Hnbits-"Be Trustworthy, hut Trust No
One" L. His Motto-He Has No Prototype
The State historian of the South African Re-
public Mr. Van Oordt. has recently published
history OF the Transvaa which contains the
biographies Of its notobilitics, among the chief
Of whom IL the President. Familiarity known as
Dom Paul
The founder of the family was certain
Jacob Kruger. who arrived Mt Cape Town in
17l3 as q youth " II. in the service OF tho
Dutch East India Company. Jncob Kruger was
German descendant OF his Caspnr Kruger.
married aud settled on the Bullock farm, near
Colesberg in Cape Colony. 1t was there that
Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger was born on
Oct. 10. 1925, While still quite q child he had
to help his parents. in his ninth year some-
times acting as shepherd. and even leading the
oxen yoked in tho wagon. Later, when yet
too small to handle the heavy musket Of the
period. he went after game with bow and ar
rows. and returned to the farmhouse with
many a hare and partridge.
Then came the trek into Natal. and he went
out into the wilderness to begin n life OF toll.
care and danger. That was the school in which
he was reared and in which he was trained to
be what he is. He received his baptism OF fire
Ia battle with the Matabelc before the occura-
ton OF Vechtkop. and took part In the repulse
OF the Zulus In the attack on the LANCER which
followed the massacre at Weenen. In Natal. At
IL he became Assistant Field Cornet. and two
years later attained full rank Later on he
served as Commandant and Commandant-
General. was one OF the Triumvirate during
the war OF Independence. lin lSeO-S3l and has
been President since the retrocession Of the
territory Of the republic by Great Britain to
its own Government. by his people he 10
spoken Of as the Lion OF Rustenburg.
Although a republic. the centra iZaton OF adj
ministration in the Transvaal is such that
nothing can be done without the consent OF the
| Executive Council. Tho consequence is that
| business is often months in arrears. Mr.. Van
| Oordt admits the evil OF this and agrees with
| the contention Of the VolKsraad. that moro
| power should be delegated to the head officials
OF the Government. President Kruger. how
| ever. is most strongly opposed to this. believ-
| ing it would be dangerous in a young State
circumstance as the Transvaal is to intrust
the Government wholly to officials. Be trust
worthy. but trust no one" is the Presidents
| according to his friends. the plain wisdom OF
Paul !, krHgfr II is, says Mr. Van 0ordt, the
others will do theirs
The personal habits Of President Kruger are
extremely simple. lie never takes strong
drink himself. but has said that he believed
there is no harm in its moderate use. Although
fairly wealthy he lives the, ordinary life OF a
G poor nf bunsher rs
he has ent money without any security. know
he sd that P s men
stinnte some say-and full Of hnrdihood This
quality he H. has displayed on many OCCASIONS.
small escort. he rode into the kraa OF IA Kafiir
chief who was making trouhIc. for the Beers.
| and. though he ran great risk OF being attacked.
seized him ov the neck. 7 he result Of the in
terview begun, under such unusual circum-
Ia nnA nf T1nlt I'D ,ink
during the rest of the war.
While still a youth his gum which he had
over loaded IN order to make sure of a rhinoce-
ros he, was hunting. burst and shattered the
TOP Of his, left thumb. Before he could get as
far distant from surgical help. and threatened
mortihcation. He thereup9n, amputated the
but finding the first operation Insufficient. he
cut2fI the second Joint. after which the hand
could do this is not the man TO be easily fright
ened Many stories are told illustrating his
tests Win Kaiirs lasins whole day y and his
personal p, H. str re in s,rngEHs With animals
Paul Kraser has been somnared With Washins:
ton. with Lincoln. and even with Ulysses and
snd Gasr we bs Ss,a
historian: hut the fact remains that he can be
brns T nn no n @hcG +" Ess d
his influence and ruled over his people TOR six:
teen years have been SO exceptional that Paul
t1riral character T2 the Dutch OF South
Africa he is simply Paul KRUGER, man OF
themselves. born into their trOublcs and tribu-
lations. who has contributed to their triumphs.
and is now. in his last years steering them
through new dangers
Mr.. Van OOrdt. in concluding his SIX etch, thus
apostrOphiZeS him:
J "All peaceful lies the Lion Of RustenburR. his
eye fixed on God. his paw upon the flag OF in
dependence You mark no signs Of attack : only
the Lion takes n watchfu protecting grasp.
But. take care. At the first approach OF danger
he erects his name and rises up. And woe
woe to him. however mighty he be who dares
touch the flag Of TranSvaal independence The
Lion then will fight he will defend himself to
the last drop of his blood and II he must fall
diving and conquered then shall II be en-.
wrarped in the rreikipnI. which shall make tho
shroud OF Sterhanus Johannes Paul KRUGER"