The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-03
DINING NEXT TO KRUGER.
\ GIuin Companion Although if,
GUc~t 0f Honor.

Ur-.m tI, Nea Y.rt Tma-3
Having ba6 The pleasure OF some small
previous Acquaintance with Sir Ee1~g
Loeb. Z Ieit my card an his tent and had
,He honor Of being invited l0 dine W-h
him. on my arrival at ths 'eut J found go
my surprise that I had been awarded the
unexpected favor OF sitting on one side OF
President Kruger. who was. az Cour. e. the
chief guest of the evening. The only exc
PLANTATION 2 could ever sugges. 20 myself
for this distinction lay In the suppositiOu
that the President Who was much ouf Of
Eum0r. had made himself so IMP easaUJ
90 the other members Of the conference
that [ was put beside HIS Honor in order
20 act as "a sort of buner. TIE dinGer was
hardly. ] should say, social success. Then.
as always Sir Henry Loeb was the most
courteous and considerate of hosts
But ali the courtesy and consideration
in the world cannot make a dinner 90 of
pleasantly when the chief guest maintains
glum silence. and refuses TO answer any
question except through an Interpreter.
and declines 10 follow up any subject of
conversation that may be started On my
Being introduced 60 she President he ac-
knowledged the Introduction i'm a sort OF
cultural grunt Undismayed by This Tecep-
zion. ] thought II my duty 20 make some
effort TO enter into conversation with my
neighbor. I knew IL was the custom among
the Beers TO wish each other good appe-
tite" at the comm encement OF a dinner
and so. in my best German, I made the re-
mark Herr President, gut aVpetit His
only reply was TO call out TO the int5rpre-
ter as l was informed. To ask what the
man was saying, and on being told IA
vored me with another gTunt, even more
cultural than its predecessor.
With this effort my own limited CONVEX
satiOnal resouro es were exhausted and ]
COntented myself Cor the rest of the dinner
in studying the physiOgnOnIy OF M tact
turn neighbOr. The impression left or my
mind then as on later occasions. was that
if had ever to write a play in which the
leading character was that OF a stage hyp-
ocrite OF the Chadband order / should ad-
wise the actor Of the part. II such thing
were possible, 10 get himself up 10 resem.
bic Dom Paul In saying this. I have no
wish 10 accuse the president Of any moral
turpitude Of character. Ny experience in
life has led me TO the conclusion that self
conscious. deliberate hypocrites are one Of
the rarest products of human nature. No
man. ] am convinced. can. as a rule prove
a successful impostsr unless he has first
Of all grown TO believe in his own impOst-
ure. and If he does so believe be is not.
whatever else he may be, delibeate hpyo-
| critic. Ny only reason for recording the
advice / should give to the hypothetical
! actor Of the leading part in my imaginary
play is that I know not how otherwise 20
1 convey my recollection of the appearance
I OF man destined 10 exercise an important
influence on the history not only Of South
/ Africa, but Of the British Empire. The
/ heavy jowl. the thick folds Of flesh under
| lying the massive chin, the oily, unwhole-
some complexion, the small pig-like eyes.
/ the scant greasy hair. the large coarse
/ hands. the huge fiabby frame the thick
| sensuous lips. the ill-ftting shabby black
/ suit, would all secure for the actor OF such
part as contemplate rounds Of applause
I on his entrance upon the scene