The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-08
THE REAL DEWET.
Particulars of His Life as Revised By
 Himself.

From the London Express.
 Practically nothing is known of the career of Gen. Christian Dewet prior to his taking the field during the recent South African campaign. In the Bloem- fontein Post, however appears full story of his life, which has been revised and corrected by his own hand. It seems that this clever soldier was born on Octo- Der 7 1854, on his fathers farm in Smith field, a fruitful district in the south of the Orange River colony He was the fifth child of a family of eleven, of whom nine were boys and two girls. Both his father and mother were colonial born, and also his grandfather and grandmother. His mother, a quiet, sensible person, devoted herself assiduously to attending to the wants of her large family.
 At the age of or years Christian for business, which was to distinguish him in after life He cared little for the amusements of childhood, preferring to accompany his father when he drove to neighboring farms on matters of bus mess. As the family grew up his father and mother, anxious that their children should receive some education, engaged a teacher to live with them on the farm. Christian in this way received some elementary education, but he was by no means an apt pupil Even at this age determined and self wiled, he seemed to make up his mind that learning could be of little use to him in after life. He was naturally clever, however, and could learn quickly when he felt so inclined.
 As he grew older he took a great de- light In riding, and soon became a frs, rate horseman. For sport he cared little, in the ordinary sense of the term; but when venson was needed to replenish the family larder Christian could all ways be depended upon to bring home q fine buck. By accompanying his father to different sales in the neighborhood, Chris tan had become a very good judge of the value of live stock, and his father often took his sons advice in making purchases. In later years Christian was fond of telling of his excursions as ta+ north as Bloemfontein. which was then only a small village.
 In 1873 he married Miss Kruger, who lived on a neighborlng farm, and whom he had known since she was 5 years ols. For a time they lived at the DeWet homestead: but Chrsstian hearing So much of the wonders of Johannesburg, proceeded to the Rand. Here his natural el,-o a1 of ofO him in such good stead thar ne soon ac- quired a considerable amount Of money and property.
 Christian and his younger brother. Pies, wer, present at the battle of Majuba, Christian himself being a ieacer of small commando of Boers with the rank of field cornct. Shortly afterwards he was elected a member of the Volksraad and, during the brief period he held office, used his influence toward obtaining more liberal representation Tor tho uit- flanders On his return to the Orange Free State he was elected member or the raad for the district of upper Mod- der river. As a speaker he possessed much natural force and clearness, and became very eloquent when any subject was being discussed on which he really felt deeply. It is characteristic of ths man that whenever he mace up his nina on any question of policy he never sub sequentiy altered 1t.
 Before the outbreak of the war rWet was living on his farm at Rhenoster riv- CT with a large family of eight sons and three daughters Bearing in mind the inefficiency of his own early education he took care that his children should not suffer In this respect. In the early days of the war he fought at Nicholson's nek and before Ladysmith. Later he was sent to harry Lord Roberts forces in their attack on Cronje, and his daring and ability on this occasion led to his