Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-07-18
DOM PAu1 Ar oHURcH.
Attentive to the Sermon and Makes Su
gestions to the Preacher.

Attentive to the Sermon and Makes Sug-
gestions to the Preacher.
London Express.
A little before church time every
Sunday morning a small group Of per-
sons gather near the door OF casa
Cara" the villa at Hilversum. where
Kruger is staying. Curiosity to get a
view of Dom Paul is still strong IN
those who have not yet seen him, and
many cyclists go for spin down to
Hilversum to get peep at the old man.
MIR. Kruger rides to church in a
closed carriage, drawn by two light
chestnut colored horses, with coaohman
and footman on the box dressed in the
dark green livery Of the Transvasl
official days. The arms Of the Transvaal
are emblazoned on the panels OF the
carriage doors and below stands the in
scription, "Eendraoht maskt Maoht, T"
or, ''Union Is strength. - The horses
hsadgear carries the Transvaal national
colors, in the form of small rosette,
side by side with the Dutch colors "a
sop to the Netherlanders.
Presently Dom Paul numbers out of
the villa, usually accompanied by his
secretary, Eloff, his medical adviser
and Mr.. Bredell, late chief Of the
Transyaal police, but now Mr.. Kruger's
body guard. The carriage keels over
with the ex-President's heavy weight
as he steps in. But as the vehicle
rolls away past the little knot Of the
curious, one might easily imagine it
was scene from one of the streets of
Pretoria.
In the church Mr.. Kruger gives his
entire attention to the service, leaning
EFQt RIM han nm, hn al h
his hand behind his ear to enable him
the better to catch what is said, and
with his elbow resting on the ledge in
front. of him. lie is methodical and
slow in all his movements. The place
in the Bible TO which the speaker re-
fers is found for him by Que of his at
PENDANTS, who vie with each other in
showing him attentions, and when he
stands up from his seat-a chair, by
the way-it Is carefully arranged be-
hind him, ready for him to sit down
again.
His spectaoles give him a considerable
amount of work. First he fumbles for
the case containing them, taxes out the
spectaoles and wipes them, and then
adjusts them upon his nose with great
care, laying the case upon the ledge in
front OF him while the spectacles are in
use; as soon as he has finished reading
he takes them off, wipes ana replaces
them in their case, placing the latter
in his inside pocket again, with the
same fumbing movement. And this
process is repeated every time the
glasses are used,
Another thing that worries him is the
collecting bag. 1t is usual for two col
lections to be made during the service,
and as the bag approaches Dom Paul's
position one of his attendants gives him
a nudge as hint for him to get his
money ready, which is done in the
same laborious manner as when seeking
his spectaoles.
Mr.. Kruger carries his money in an
inside pocket, having peculiar DIRE nd of
pickpockets, ever since he lost his watch
at a political meeting in Johannes
burg during election time. He gives
freely to the ohurch--that is, freely for
a private. ENTHUSIASTICALLY putting
"ryksdaaler'' (4s. Sd. in the bag
each time 1t is brought around, SO that
the morning service cost him IS. 4d.
The service over, Kruger usually says
few words to the preacher, some-
times giving him a hint how to make
his sermon more impressive, for Kruger
used himself to preach in the little
Dopper Church in Pretoria. Then he
seeks his carriage, to return as he came.
The little crowd that had gathered
round the carriage door disperses, dis
cussing Kruger as it mslts away The
cyclists mount ring bells or blow horns,
then disappear up the road, and all go
away satisfied at having seen this Presi-
dent whom they have invested with a
halo of sentimentality.