The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-23
MRS. KRUGER'S FUNERAL
BODY OF EX-BOER PRESIDENTS
WIFE INFERRED AT PRETORIA.
MIR. Kruger Much Depressed mt His
Loss-Much of His Success Due to
His Helpmeet's Counsel.

PRETORIA, Sunday. July H.-Mrs. Kru-
ger, wife of former President Kruger. of
the South African Republic, who died Sat-
urday last of pneumonia, after an illness
Of three days, was buried here this after
noon.
AMSTERDAM, July 22.-Former President
Kruger, of the South African Republic, is
very depressed as the result Of the death
of his wife, but his health is unaffected.
On the contrary, he has thrown himself
into his work with more than his usual
energy. Press omment on the death of
Mrs. Kruger is sympathetic. The news
papers do not attach any political signih-
canoe TO the event.
To his wife Mr.. Kruger attributed much
of his success in the political life of the
South African Republic. Mrs. Kruger was
compared in this respect to the wife Of the
late Prince Bismarck. Like Mrs. Bismarck,
she remained modestly in the background,
and comparatively little is known about
her. That the influence Of "Tante Sante'
over the obstinate, unyielding Dom Paul
was great is, however, known. and while
Mrs. Kruger seemed to take little interest
in politics, it is said her husband often con-
suited her in matters of state. The affec-
ton of the President and his wife for each
other was Of the kind that seems to grow
better with age. and they took no pains to
hide il. The President seldom left his
home without first having kissed his wife.
and their marked affection for each other
was publicly shown on several occasions.
Mrs. Kruger was a daughter Of the Du-
plessis family, one of the best known names
in South Africa and was a niece of Presi-
dent kruger'S first wife. She bore Dom
Paul sixteen children, seven Of whom were
living up to the outbreak Of the war with
Great Britain, in which two Of the four sons
hoNa hoon killed leaving fw0 ennS and
three daughters still alive. The Duplessis
family comes from the blood that gave Car
Kruger. therefore, was not without dis
tinguished ancestry. Little is known. how
ever, about the family tree.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Kruger, in 1892. en-
tered the two-story cottage in Pretoria
which was the executive mansion of the
Transvaal, they did not change their mode
of life, and the simple, unpretentious house
keeping which they had followed thereto
fore was continued. 1t was only within the
her great age, that Mrs. Kruger took serv-
ants into the house. Up TO four years ago
she did all the Homework herself, although
her husbands income of S36,N0 from the
government. not to speak of his winnings
from his private enterprises. was sufficient
to have given her the service of a princely
castle. But Mrs. Kruger preferred to do
her own cooking and housekeeping, and
seldom had any assistance save that Of her
daughters while they were still unmarried.
An English visitor to the Pretoria White
House in 1895 relates that the door was
opened for him by Mrs. Kruger with a kepi
"a large sunbonneD on her head. her skirts
tucked up. and an orange, which she was
sucking. glued to her mouth. There were
few additions to the midday executive din
npr table which those of the country gem
orally did not enjoy, but everything was
bountifully supplied. The daughters waited
on the table.
f.nd of turnips. which they ate raw as we'll
as cooked, and this vegetable formed a
part Of nearly every meal In the Presidents
household. Coffee, which was supplied out
CT IN allowance of $500 made by the gov
eminent for that purpose. was the only
beverage drunk at the Kruger table, but
this was imbibed in large quantities-black
and scalding hot.