Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
CRONJE At ST. HELENA.
The Tacfturn BOer Prisoner in Exile
Wirh His Wife.

st. Helena correspondence london Chronicle.
Kent Cottage. where is the present home
of Cronje and his small retinue, ia pleas
antly situated, though the approach Is by
no means enticing. You may make your
choice of two routes. There Is the shorter
way. up Jacobs Ladder. with its 100 steps
save one-a stra ght course up the face of
an almost perpendicular rock-or there is
the zigzag carria ge road. When the top OF
the hill is reached the road branches off
in another direction. but ever on the rise.
and bordered on either side by thickets of
prickly pear cactus. The road is red rock.
and the shimme-ing heat makes even the
green of the cactus refreShment to the
eye At length. just below the extreme
head Of valley which drops to the right
and runs down to the sea. there comes into
view Cronjes new home. The cacti have
vanished. and for once you catch glimpse
of real trees and cultivated land. while
delightful breeze comes down from the hills
yet further up.
1t is just such a cottage may be seen
on the outskirts of many English VII
lage. Imagine ar unpretentious two-stortcd
dwelling with slate roof. and yellow wash
ed walls. standing out clearly from back
ground of green hillside. The window
frames and shut ers are painted the same
shade of green that you may see any day
at Dutch farmhouse in the Paarl district
of the Cape Colony. In front runs reran-
ia. and there is a slightly raised 'stoep.'
There is also some pretenSe at a Hover
garden. but it is sadly neglected. The gar
den is inclosed by a black wooden paling,
and still further In front is a little more
cultivated land. with bananas and few
other trees. The scene Is simplicity Itself.
but for the bell tent in the right front
corner of the garden. and the steady tramp
of khaki-ciad sentries. east, west. north and
south.
On the stoep and beneath the veranda for
the best part of the day sits General CronJe.
dark of viSage, somewhat long bearded and
with hair turning gray His eyes are deep
set, dark and ferretlike. and his demeanor
is one of extreme reserve. Pet Cronje can
speak English well as any Transvaaler
of Dutch extraction. but you may ply him
in vain with questions in English. He pos
itivey refuses to speak anything hut his
native "taal, and even then his replies are
little more than moncsyllables. He has
little to say about anything, and is difficult
to draw. OF course he feels his position.
You may see that written large upon his
face: but. contrary to what so many peo-
pie think. he appears to be very grateful
for any kindness that is shown him, and
fully appreciates the efforts that are made
to secure his comfort. Beyond this he Is
as the Sphinx.
1t is strange character this of Piet
Cronje. Charges of terrible cruelty have
been laid at his Goor. and somehow. when
you carefully regard his face. you feel sure
that the man Is capable of violating the
terms Of armistice or firing on the wo-
men and childrens lager. Yet there are
some redeeming features. as, for example.
when the fire of patriotism lights his eye
and mora particularly in the homage paid
to his wife. All day long Mrs. Cronje. In
rusty black dress and black Roer "kappe.
is the defeated generals close companion.
Others who are blood relations may emerge
from the house and remain for a brief
while beneath the veranda. but there Is
about them the restlessneSs and impetu-
osity of the younger Boer when under re-
straint When, for instance, I was at Kent
cottage there came within a hundred and
fifty yards. just outside the Gordon of sem
tries. two young subaterns with field glass
es and snapshot cameras. OF course they
were inquisitive. The general and his wife
were screened by the closed end of the
veranda, but younger relative was ex-
tremely annoyed. He fine. tall young
fellow In shrtseeves and the inevitable
SLOUGH hat AS he caught sight Of the Of
fcers he gesticulated violently, flung his
arms about and muttered in Dutch. Then
he hurriedly entered the house. but only
to emerge a minute later, If anything more
restless than ever. Cronje. however. and
his wife have acquired the art of sitting
still His attachment to her IL very great
Talk to him any subject and he will i'm
mediately make reference TO her views and
acts. Cronie the devoted husband and
Cronje of Potchefstrom. of MafekinR and
of Kimberley You come away feeling that
tho conjunction fs homogeneous