The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-29
DOM PAUL AMIABLE
BOER PRESIDENT PLACID IN SPITE
OF THE TRIALS OF THE
WAn b.
PEACE REIGNs IN PRETORIA


an American Correspondents
Steyn, of the Orange Free State,
Emphatic In His Views as to the
War-A Boom In Umbrellas.
The following interesting resume of the
situation at Pretoria during war times
is written by the correspondent Of the
Chicago Inter Ocean, who says:
* The few officials who remain here work
quietly and steadily. BY far the greatest
pressure of state affairs falls upon T.
w. Reitz, the state secretary. He is at
work from dawn to midnight, transacting
a bewildering mass of affairs. Tele-
grams from all parts Of the country rain
in upon him, all of which he reads at
once and decides upon. To him is sum-
mitted all the war news, and he decides
what may be given out to the public and
what is to be kept as government in
formation. had expected, from reports
/ had heard, to find this man utterly
broken down in health and mind, but, as
O matter of fact, find him full Of bodily
vigor, and practically able to carry on
with ease the work of country at war
Indeed, all the officials of the state APP
pear to work easily, and each appears to
do his share in harmony with the rest.
All Of them are Beers, and they show
no signs of physical or mental over
strain Their equanimity under trying
circumstances, or their Dutch phlegm, Is
a never-ending source Of wonder to me-
Numbers of them adjourn at intervals TO
q front Then.
after taking part in an engagement, they
return to their duties in q placid manner
as If nothing out of the common haG
occurred 1 find it almost impossible to
obtain any details or stories of the cam.
paign from them.
DOM PAUL AMIABLE.
In company with Mr.. Reitz I called one
afternoon on President Kruger. The old
president, who is now seventy-five years
of age, rose quickly from his seat, on my
arrival, and asked me where 1 had "been
wandering for the past six years" told
him all the world over, and lately in New
York. The old man reseated himself and
resumed his pipe silently. I had met him
nineteen years previously under very
similar circumstances. 1t was at Kim.
berley upon his return from England In
1880, a few weeks before he was to de-
clare war for the first time against Eng
land The man before me now was EVIL
IDENTIFY the same strong, obstinate man.
There was the same quick look from the
corner of his eye, the same husky, harsh,
and aggravating voice. His coat might
have been worn for the six years of my
absence; the Kruger hat worn the same
The old mans eyes were plainly very
sore, and must cause him great irrita-
ton, but I am told that since the declara-
ton of war he has been abnormally am
liable
Our conversation opened with America.
1 told the president that when I left the
United States considerable amount of
public sentiment was veering round in
favor of the republic. To this he replied
in a laughing way that he thought the
Americans would do all that the English
men asked them to do-"in fact, they
will join the English against Africa.
That very day news had been cabled out
that eight American warships had been
ordered to South Africa "as a token Of
good will to England"
TAKE LIFE SERENELY.
1 heard that the Beers had very few
men on the frontier near Kimberley and
Hopetown. And, as 1t was well known
| that De Aar Junction had been strongly
| fortified as base for the forward move
| ment by General Butler, when sufficient
reinforcements arrived. 1 was sur
prised at the seeming apathy Of the Boer
| leaders in this matter. Then 1 was told
that the burghers at Tuli and Mafeking
were being transferred to the Free State
/ frontier near Kimberley and NorvaPs
| Pont. Nothing definite was known about
Buffers forces except that dense masses
Of troops had been seen moving north of
De Aar l was in Johannesburg when g.
| high official told me that the English had
1 crossed the Orange river and were NOV
| ing to Belmont, where they were oppos-
ing only 1900 Beers. The following morn
| ing the news came in, privately, that the
| Beers had been driven back with loss
of twelve killed and forty-four wounded.
/ took a train for Bloemfontein, and,
| after many delays, went on with train
| load of Transva alers who were bound for
| the front. Numbers of these men were
| taking a railway journey for the first
| time in their lives, but they seemed TO
travellers. They were quiet and seemed
| thoroughly confident. All carried little
| plain food in a small piliowcase or bag.
| They were dressed anyhow" During
| the night they sped the long hours by
| singing hymns.
| At the railway stations during the day.
! light run south through Free State vii
| lagos the government had provided free
| coffee Nothing else was offered or ex-
pected. Groups Of young girls in
their country Sunday dress were singing
! the national anthem or hymns 1t was
| Sunday, and the scene and the surround
| ing country recalled Ohio or Indiana in
| the first days of 81. On arriving at
| Bloemfontein l found the town in its GUS
| tomary Sabbath calm. A few children
and women were On the platform as we
ran into the station, but there was no
! expression of welco me shown to the train
| load of fighting men from the north. Aft
er change at The Masonic hotel l started
| out in the fierce glare of the African sun
| shine to find the government secretary.
| But at the government building all was
| silence and locked doors Neither guards
/ nor attendants were visible So return
| ed after a while, and found the editor OF
/ the Express, who entered my name at
| the deserted club, and then took me to
| the local white house,, where 1 met
| President Steyn, who was sitting with a
few friends in front of his house. The