The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-30
CRONJE AT ST. HELENA.
ISt. Helena correspondence of the Lon
don Chronicle.1

lSt. Helena correspondence of the Lon
don Chronicle.1
Kent cottage, where is the present
home of Cronje and his small retinue,
is pleasantly situated, though the APP
prOach is by no means enticing. You
may make your choice of two routes.
There is the shorter way, up Jacobs
ladder, with its 700 steps save One-a
straight course up the face of an al
most perpendicular rOck-or there is
the zigzag carriage 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 simmer
ing heat makes even the green of the
cactus a refreshment to the eye. At
length, Just below the extreme head
of a valley which drops to the right
and runs down to the sea, there comes
into view Cronie's new home The
cacd have vanished, and for once you
catch a glimpse of real trees and cuI-
tivated land, while a delightful breeze
comes down from the hills yet fur
Their up.
seen on the outskirts of many English
villages. Imagine an unpretentious
two-stOried dwelling with slate roof,
and yellow washed walls, standing out
clearly from a background of green
hillside. The window frames and shut
ters are painted the same shade of
green that you may see any day at a
Dutch farm house in the Paarl dis
trict of the Cape Colony In front runs
a veranda, and there is a slightly raised
stoep." There is also some pretense
at flower garden, but it is sadly neg
lected. The garden is inclosed by a
black wooden paling, and still further
in front is little more cultivated land,
with bananas and a few other trees
The scene is simplicity itself, but for
the bell tent in the right hand front
corner of the garden, and the steady
tramp of khaki clad sentries, east
west, north and south.
On the stoep and beneath the YER
anda for the best part of the day sits
General Cronje, dark of visage, some
what long bearded, and with hair
turning gray. His eyes are deep set,
dark and ferritlike, and his demeanor
IS one of extreme reserve. Piet Cronje
can speak English as we'll as any
Transvaaler Of Dutch extraction, but
you may ply him in vain with ques-
tions in English HI positively re-
tive "taal," and even then his replies
are little more than monosyllables. 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 people think, he appears
to be very grateful for any kindness
that is shown him, and fully appreciates
the effOrtS that are made TO secure MS
comfort. Beyond this he is as the
Sphinx.
1t is a strange character, this of Piet
CrOnje. Charges of terrible cruelty
! have been laid at his door, and Some
how, when you carefully regard his
face, you feel sure that the man is
| capable of violating the terms of an
armistice or firing on the women and
children's lager Yet there are some
| redeeming features, as, for example,
hi
eye, and more particularly in the hom-
| age paid to his wife All day long Mrs.
/ Cronje, in rusty black dress and black
Boer "kappie," is the defeated general s
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 impetuosity of the
younger Eoer when under restraint.
| When, for instance, I was at Kent cot