The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-13
ROBERTS AND KITCHENER.
Glimpses At Short Range OF The Two
British Leaders.

"a little gray-headed man, with g.
compact, well-knit figure, a ~resoiute
look and keen eyes" That is the Brit
ish hero of the hour, Lord Roberts,
the victor of Kandahar. the savior Cf
Kimberley and the man who captured
Cronje at Pa~ardeberg, as he is describ-
ed by Charles E. Hands. writing from
Cape Town to the Daily Mail. The cor
respondent continues:
Everywhere l seem to come across
him Wherever he happens to be pc )ple
turn round, look at him as he passes
and hurry back for another look, being
SO impressed that they almost forget
to cheer. And wherever he goes, with
his alert step and his grave. strong
look, confident purpose and resolution
seem to spread around. He % so
thoughtful; everything ne does seems
SO thoughtful, so we'll considered, part
of a definite scheme.
Il got a glimpse of hin alone in a
big office room. 1t was a small mat
ter to him which L wanted to put be-
fore him. But he did not seem to think
so. To him no detail seems unimpOr-
tant. He considers it rapidly, but
thoughtfully, gives a decision and a
reason for it, and then the subject is
dismissed.
Lord Roberts is the man with the
plan, the man who knows what he is
going to do and is taking every step
necessary to do it. And the coloniStS,
who were getting anxious, are, since
he has been among them, fuller of en-
thusiasm han ever, and that a quiet
er, more resolute. more real enthusi-
aSm.
And see 10 they are volunteering
to him, A dozen bodies of irregular
Colonial Horse are being raised: as
many as are wanted can be raised.
Business at last, real business.
II seek an opportunity to get a
glimpse of another man-the general
manager of his great business under
taking at his work. l am told to be
there at ten minutes past 9 o'clock. ]
arrive at 5 minute past 9 n wait
in an out office. 1t is exactly 10 min
utes past 9 when a door is opened and
my name is called.
"I go into a long room in which are
several desks like the desks in tn
! managers office of a great railway
| company. And at each desk, bending
yer piles of papers,, sits a high Off
l GER.
AT the n of a room. at a table
| which commands a view of all the resi-
| of the apartment, sits a big. dark. sterr
| man, with a heavy mouStache. intent
4 upon papers Before ne lOOhS up L LdNt
| time to note the telephones and the
neatness and orderliness of the ar
| rangements on his table. When he do.
| look up he keeps his finger on the pa
| per in front of him, marking the place
where he left off
Il begin to tell what l hav 10 say
| He looks at me with very keen, bright
| gray blue eyes. Before I have said ter
words he seems to know all the rest
| including that which / had planned t
| lead up to. In ten words he says what
he has to say. He asks me about some
thing which he wants to know, hear:
what I a V to say, remark that ne ]!
very busy, and before L have quite
realized hat l have shaker hands ant
said good morning. he is bending down
again over his papers. deep in a Calcu
lation at the point where he left off.
Lord Kitchener-fOr it is he's en-
gagged. they tell me, in reorganizing tn
transport system.
Think of that-in time of a il
the midst of a campaign-he is dom:
for himself what the whole of Pal
Mall would AVE bungled at for year
in times of peace. But he thinks it /
necessary; he knows he can do it, an,
no one seems to have the SlighteS
doubt that it will be an advantageou
thing TO do. l observe that of the mel
Immediately around him many. dow
to the merest subordinates, are mel
whom he has ain and tried himsGi
at the other end of Africa to know
what he wants and to do what +
wants"