The evening times., 1900-01-30
PAUL LKRUGBR'S iron Head
Chars scteristics of the President of
the TranSvaal.
A Cordial and an UncOmprOmising
Halter of the English Minister of
COlOnies-When Enraged His An
ger Rivals That of aB Iufuriated
BulI-His Aversion to Gambling.

One of Paul Kruger's most striking char
acteristics writes Transvaal correspond
ent, is his imperturbability and hardhead-
edness. He preserves this quality under
the most trying circumstances. 1t is an
unfaiIing source OF wonderment to those
who study him.
l was visiting Bloemfontein in May last
when the historic conference between him
and the high commissioner, Sir Alfred Mil
ner, was in progress. The deliberations
were private, but on Friday preceding their
termination club gossip said that there
had been serious difference between the
two presidents. Such a difference would,
we know, almost surely spell war. We
were, therefore, inqustive, not to say
anxious.
Hungering for something tangible, a
friend-a prominent financier-and | stroll
ed to the Presidents mansion early next
morning hoping to draw his honor into
conversation on the subject. Contrary to
our expectation he was in his usual good
spirits, full of animation, and smoking his
eternal meerschaum. The weather being
warm we sat out on the terrace and talked.
The old man fenced all attempts at
bringing the conversation round to the
conference, and began retailing some OF
his hunting experiences. Shortly after our
arrival, Wolmarans, a member of the ex-
ecutiye, came along and our waning hopes
rose. Perhaps he would mention the sub
ject We longed TO have broached But no,
his arrival only suggested new train OF
1inic tn ha
weary and baffied. my friend and / took
our leave, coming to the conclusion, shar-
ed by others to whom we related our eX-
perience that surely things could not be
very bad. Yet when / read the bluebook
on the conference a few weeks later /
found that at the very time President Kru-
ger had been jocularly reviving to us pleas
ant memories Of his young days he was in
one of the tightest political corners he
had known. and that is saying much.
Mr. Chamberlain is the old mans bette
noir." He cordially and uncompromising-
" detests him. During the great Trans
vaal debate in the house just before the
recess he was kept pos ted with the cabled
version of the speeches hour by hour.
ChamberIains remarks more than those
of any other member, frequently made him
splutter with rage. But he liked Jan
Morley" and "Bannerman," and Court
ney," reckoning them. with Mr.. Asquith
and the Hon. Philip StanhOpe and few
others, among his most valued friends.
Kruger's rage is startling 1t is like the
believing OF an infuriated bull. II bursts
out suddenly. flares for a while and then
disappears only to be revived on slight
provocation. During the judicial crisis two
and half years ago the exChief Justice.
Mr.. ]. G. Kotze-who, by the way. is now
in Cape Town-delivered speech to sec
ton of the Incorporated Law Society, in
which he virtually accused the president
of endeavoring to suborn him in connection
with a certain case. | had occasion to al
lude to the matter the following day. and
was treated to one Of the outbursts referred
to. 1t was rather alarming. The presi-
dent blinked furiousIy, baTked out some
thing that no one could possibly under
stand. and wound up with the observation
that Kotze's allegation was "a diaoolcai
lie While his rage lasted he repeatedly
smote the massive mahogany table along
side OF which he was sitting with such force
as to jeopardize the decanter and glasses,
TO say nothing OF the table itself.
To return to the colonial secretary. Some
weeks before the Bloemfontein conference
President Kruger made a speech at Rus
tenburg. the stronghold OF Dopperdom,
wherein he outlined a new Outlander poll
cy. and incidentally accused Mr.. Chamber
lain of a disregard for the truth. 1t was a
historical speech marking. as it did.
noteworthy change in presidents S
methods
Several pressmen had travelled across
| country to hear it, and general rush Tor
| the wires took place when 1t was finished.
| But the President was cautious lie gave
| orders that no reports should be telegraph
| !, Naa
was intenL -fy aggravating TO the journal
| ists go a deputation waited on his private
secretary. and eventually reached the great
| man himself The pressing L.mands oil
| latter-day journalism were enlarged upon
! and argument brought to bear TO induce
, him TO relent He objected, he questioned
he hesitated, he wayered, then, eureka.
he agreed to trust to journalistic accuracy
| There was a pause The deputation eX-
| pressed their gratitude. and were on the
] point OF Withdrawing, when-he changed
his mind 1t suddenly struck him that i
| a garbled version or misplaced sentence
| reached London "Kamberlain' would b'
at him and credit him with utterances HI
| never dreamed Of
The result was no reports got away thd
night. Next morning they were examined
and countersigned without the alteration
| of a word
President Kruger is much averse to gam
| bling-in some forms. at ell events. On
day a lady called on him for a church ba
| zsar subscription. He turned to her in hi
abrupt way and denounced bazaars a.
swipdles. ~ bazaar and rafting he said
ARE nothing else than gambling. In
lady. accustomed to his ways, nevertheless
pleaded hard. At last he handed her do
nation ION a condition that my name doe
;r ha vii