Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-09
Infants slips, loo.

Ance would. we know, almost surely spell
war. We were, therefore, inquisitive, not
to say anxious.
Hungering for something tangible, a
friend-arprominent financier-and 1 strolled
to the presidents mansion early next morn
ing hoping to draw his honor into con-
versation On the subject Contrary to our
expectation, he was in his usual good
spirits, full of animation and smoking his
eternal meerSchaum. The weather being
warm, We sat out on the terrace and talked.
The old man fenced all attempts at bring
ing the conversation around to the confer
ence and began retailing some of his hunt
ing experiences. Shortly after our arrival
Wolmarans, member of the executive
came along. and our waning hopes rose
Perhaps he would mention the subject we
longed to have preached. But no, his ar
rival only suggested a new train of remi-
niscences to the president. At length, weary
and baffled, my friend and l took our leave,
coming to the conclusion, shared by others
to whom We related our experiences, that
surely things could not be very bad. Yet
when l read the Blue Book on the confer
ence a few weeks later l found that at the
very time President Kruger had been jocu-
larly reviving to us pleasant memories of
his young days he was in one of the tight
est political corners he had known, and
that Is saying much.
Mr.. Chamberlain is the old mans "bete
no1r He cordially and uncompromisingly
detests him. During the great Transvaal
debate in the house just before the recess
sions of the speeches hour by hour. Cham
berlain's remarks, more than those of any
other member, frequently made him splut-
ter with rage. But he liked Jan Morley
and Bannerman' and Courtney" reck-
oning them, with Mr.. Asquith and Philip
Stanhope and a few others. among his
most valued friends.
Kruger's rage is startling. 1t is like the
believing of an Infatuated bull. 1t bursts
out suddenly flares for a while and then
disappears, only to be revived slight
provocation. During the judicial crisis two
and a half years ago the eX-chief justice,
Mr.. ]. G. Kotze-who, by the way is now
in Cape Town-delivered a speech to a sec
ton of the Incorporated Law Society. IN
endeavoring to suborn him in connection
with a certain case. 1 had occasion to al
lude to the matter the following day, and
was treated to one of the outbursts re-
ferred to. 1t was rather alarming. The
president blinked furiousy. barked out
something and wound UP with the observa-
ton that Klotzes allegation was a "dia-
bolcal lie While his rage lasted he re-
peatedy Smote the massive mahogany table
alongside of which he was sitting, with
such force as to jeopardiZe the decanter
and glasses, to say nothing of the table
itself.
To return to the colonial secretary. Some
weeks before the Bloemfontein conference
President Kruger made speech at Rus
tenburg, the stronghold Of Dopperdom,
wherein he outlined a new out1ander policy,
and incidentally accused Mr.. Chamberlain
of disregard for the truth. 1t was
historical speech. marking. as it did. note
worthy change in the presidents methods.
Several pressnen had Travelled across
country to hear it. and a general rush for
the wires took place when it was finished.
But the president was cautious. He gave
orders that no reports should be tele-
graphed until he had scrutinized them. This
was intensely aggravating to the journal
lists so u deputation waited on his private
secretary. and eventually reached the great
man himself. The pressing demands of
latter-day journalism were enlarged upon,
and argument brought to bear to induce
him to relent. He objected, he questioned,
he hesitated he wavered. then. Eureka, he
agreed to trust to journalistic accuracy.
There was a. pause. The deputation had
expressed their gratitude, and were on the
point of withdrawing when-he changed his
mird. 1t suddenly struck him that if a
garbled version or a misplaced sentence
reached London chamberlain" would be
at him, and credit him with utterances be
never dreamed of.
The result was no reports got away that
night. Next morning they were examined
and countersigned without the alteration of
a word!
President Kruger is much averse to gam
bhng-in some forms, at all events. One
day a lady called on him for a church ha-
zaar subscription. He turned to her in his
dies. "A bazaar and raff1ing." said he "are
nothing else than gambling" The lady. ac-
customed to his ways. nevertheless pleaded
hard. At last he handed her donation ION
condition that my name does not appear
in the Svyindle''