Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-04-06
NO. 40.

the drath Of the republic ! should de
sire my death and those Of all my rela-
tives. | mourn as much for the death
Of burgher whom | have never seen
as do for that Uf one OF my sons. for
we are all brothers. The English are
also my brothers, but even among such
close relatives quarrels often arise.
Brothers should never fight. and the
Bible says that quarrels between broth
ers are always started 10y the wicked
brother, who receives his punishment
In due course of time"
One Of the presidents little eranddaughters
tame tripping out upon the piazza and whisper.
I'd in his ear that lunChcon was waiting fur him.
lie thanked her for the announcement and rose
from his chair. Then he lifted his left foot rap
ped his pipe against She heel until the ashes drop
ped out and said
THANK the American people and
The World for their expressions Of
sympathy. My burghers and | appre-
clate them. | hope that we shall soon
he able TO take our proper place beside
the United States rs free and inde-
pendent nation. And you can be as
sured that we shall not falter until we
have succeeded. thank those Ameri-
cans who are contributing money for
our widows and orphans and those
who are helping us with Red Cross
supplies. The Americans are a great
and just people, and when they see
wrong done to a weak nation they will
always be with it in spirit and senti-
ment even if they cannot assist with
force. Your secretary, Mr. Davis, saw
everything in our country, and he says
that his sympathies are with us. He
is an able man and just man. and
hope he will tell the American people
that we are merely struggling for our
independence"
After bidding goodby to me he started to on
.er the cottage door, but turned rather sharply
and said:
IF big dog and a little dog are
fighting in the street and there are
number of strong men looking on. is it
not right and proper for them to rescue
the little dog? Should they allow the
big dog to intiict deep bites and inju-
ries on the little dog, especially if tile
little one is perfectly harmless?"
After looking at me curiously :or half min.
ute as il expecting reply to his questions, he
lifted his hat and quickly entered the house On
the way back TO the central part of the town
asked Mr.. Reitz what the president desired me to
understand by his last questions. lie replied
simply:
Send that home to the American
people. They may understand"
The president Rad just returned from his Gus.
tomary morning visit to the government buildings
when Secretary Reit2 and | called at his cottage,
and he was in conversation with several Bocrs
who were giving him personal recollections cf the
battle OF Spion Kop. One Of his grandchildren. a
pretty little girl Of about years was playing
around his chair and one of his grandsons was re.
pairing Mauser rife at the other end of the
piazza Several young ladies in muslin gowns
and big, colored aprons peeped out from open
door and then hastily withdrew, and a huge,
shaggy dog barked at heels as We entered up.
on the lawn. The surroundings were as pastoral
and simple as those which would satisfy the most
democratic farmer in America. 1t has been said
that ii Kruger had surrounded himself with gold
braided attendants and court the uitlanders OF
johannesburg might have had more respect for
him and his government and that this might
have been avoided, but the president has never
pretended to be anything better or greater than
he s-the son OF shepherd.
The war has caused the president to take no ad.
ditional precautions for his safety. He eyi-
IDENTIFY fears one, and the five armed horscmen
who accompany his carriage when he is driven to
the government building might as well be riding
mile away for all the protection they afford
him during the day. At the executive mansion
he is practically unguarded save for two armed
guards who stand at the gate and in the govern.
ment buildings he goes from one office to another
quite unaccompanied. One Of his friends suggest.
ed to him several days ago that he should have
more guards, to which he replied:
why should be guarded at all?
am nothing. They can kill me, but
they cannot kill our cause"
Wherever you go in the two republics, whether
in homes, the veldt in the battlefeld's
trenches, you hear every speak OF him as
"Oom Paul" There is not a Boer in the two
repub>1s who will not declare that Kruger is a
greater man than he before he sent the IA
nous ultimatum. And OF all the in the
country none is more confident of Boer victory
than he.
80 long as God is on our side and
justice Is ours" he says, 80 long are
we confident that he will help us on to
victory"
And that is the sentiment which has enabled
the little throng Of Beers to withstand the
sauts of the British army many days.