The San Francisco call., 1903-01-04
Memoirs Of Paul Kruger.

The Century Company, New York, has
Just published THE Memoirs of Paul
Kruger" price So so. AS these memoirs
are told by Kruger himself they possess
a more than passing interest. He dictated
them in Dutch to his private secretary,
II. c. Vredell, and Piet Grobler, former
Under Secretary of State OF the Republic.
The present edition is a very excellent
English translation. The style is Krug-
er's own, as we have come to know him
as a figure in the worlds history, and the
book is one that cannot' fail to appeal
to the American reading public.
The earlier chapters deal with his boy
hood and youth. especially with his ex
periences as a hunter and soldier. They
furnish also an admirable narrative of
the great trek, the foundation of the
Transvaal State, and the difficulties,
domestic and foreign. through which it
passed. The reader who is not familiar
with the details of South African history
viii find in them an excellent summary
of the information he requires in order
to understand the origin of the late war.
This is particularly true of the events
which led up to the so-called War of In
dependence which ended with the British
disaster of Majuba Hill. Into the mill
tary events themselves Mr.. Kruger does
not enter.
When he comes to the last great and
1aIoIul STRUGGLE with England ne sets
forth the case of the South African re-
public with great clearness, brevity' and
apparent justice, relying throughout upon
documents and events about which there
can be no question. There are also bits
of inside history which are of exception
al interest; on the whole. however, he
prefers to base his defense upon facts
which have been published to the world.
This defense is most characteristic in its
-t,, ga fnroafttlnacc and Of
fective Words are not minced-a spade
is called a spade, lie lie-but the proA
prieties are never violated, the voice
never raised, even in his fiercest assaults
upon his arch-enemies, Rhodes, Chamber
lain and Miner. 1t is a volume which
will be read throughout with profound
interest. Here are few extracts from
the book itself:
PAUL KRUGER ON CECIL RHODES.
In spite of the high euogiums passed upon
serupulous characters that have ever existed
The Jesuitical maxim that ''the end justifes
he means formed his only political creed.
This man was the curse of South Africa. He
even tried 10 win over the Irish faction in Par
his plans by present of f1O,OOO. Who knows
how many more large sums he spent with the
same object This will never be revealed
base. matter how contemptibe. be it lying
bribery or treaehery. all and every means We're
welcome to him II they led to the attainment
Of his objects.
THE EDUCATION OF A BOER CHILD.
The Boer fathers and mothers looked after
the education OF their children to the very
best OF their ability. They knew that they lived
in a country where anything that was once
neglected was difncultsto recover and that to
neglect the rising generation meant the ruin of
their nationality. Therefore every Boer taught
his children to read and write, and. above all,
Instructed them in Gods word. At dinner and
supper as the children sat around the table,
they had to read part Of the sacred Scriptures,
and to repeat from memory or write down now
this and now that text; and this done day
by day unless unusual circumstances made it
the Bible and instructed me In It's teaching
during the evenings. My other course OF In
struction was covered altogether by period Of
about three months with frequent interruptions.
My masters was Tielman Roos. who
found much difficulty in carrying out his mis-
sion Whenever the trek came TO a resting
place and we outspanned, a small hut was built
OF grass and reeds and this became the school
room for the trekkers' children.
KRUGERS IDEA OF BRITISH SELF-GOV-
ERNMENT.
''Burghere," asked, do you understand
what the British Government offers your
will try TO explain 10 you what this seif-gov-
ernment. in my opihion. means. They say to
you. First put your head quietly in the moose
so that l can hang you up; then you may kick
your legs about as much as you please That
is what they call self-government."