Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-07-14

and dominant, the woman listening.
So too, IL was when they came to
ST. Louis In their camp at the
worlds fair the little band of patriot
beers have been IA dovout in their
old,fashionod way rs II they were but
a part Of big south African religious
gathering They have paid no heed 10
worlds fair crowds or 60 their alien
associates, They have kept them,
selves TO themselves. peculiar poo.
pie. too rock.uhbed in faith and
custom to be changed by accidental
environment. Cronje preached to
them on Sundays and conducted
prayer meetings on week nights.
And Mrs Stertzel heard him always,
St Paul's Ideal woman. not lifting up
her voice in the congregation of elders,
His courtshlp Begins.
These deye+srasl exercises directed
by General Cronje are impressive in
their utter simplicity on u recent
Sunday forenoon "A representative OF
tho Post Dispatch attended the huer
religious services on the worlds fair
grounds. The little band assembled in
their camp silently and witch grave
demeanor when the full congroga.
tion had gathered together General
Cronje arose, bible in hand, and, with
bowed head and eyes closed, offered n
prayer in the bOor tongue Then
opening his old leather-backed bible
he read his text, taken from the NTH
chapter of Hebrews, eighth and ninth
verses, wherein Gods people are
urged TO be like the master From
this text he preached an earnest ser.
mon, employing the only medium
which he will consent 10 use, south
African Dutch, and speaking with
forcible manner
1t was IN the boer camp Mt the
worlds fair that General Cronjc's
courtehip Of the Widow Stertzol be.
gan During the sea voyage they were
friends renewing old acquaintance.
and this realization was maintained
for some time following their arrival
IN ST. Louis There came day, how
ever, when It was noticed that Cronje
manifested n greater liking for Mrs.
Stertzel. preferring her society to that
Of others and seeking H. whenever oc-
casion justified.
Woong Was Pious.
II was pious wooing. since woolng
n esu.aJtIv hnoaynp NJ. Itnrty,lto
tent was situated about 100 yards
from that Of General Cronje In the
boer camp the kraal of the kafIlrs ana
a street Of the British camp interycn.
ing, and Il became custom Of
CrOnje's TO repair To the widows
modest little canvas home every even
Ing, Bible In hand, and there read 10
her from the scriptures. afterward
talking grayely and. for the most
part. on matters Of spiritual concern.
There must have been something
pathetic In this solemn courtghip.
The old boer general had only yeai
before lost the wife who had been his
company for fifty years II was then
that. lonely and sorrowing, he had
given up his large estate near
potchesfstroom In the Transyaal, ap
portionlng handsome farms to each OF
his eight children. Mrs. Stertzel's
husband had died In 1902 from OK.
posure, being at the time in command
Of line Of boer FORTH cations oppos
Ing the British advance, and she, like
Cronje. found the solitude OF her old
home too oppressive TO be endured
50 these old friends. thrown TO
gcther BY fate. consoling one another
By converse and sympathy. drlfted
toward a closer relationship that
should sweeten their reclining years.
II was not long until Comic In add
ton 10 visiting the Widow stertzel
every evening. began escorting her to
the boer gatherings on week days
and Sundays, and the truth became
manifest that 4 romance was In pro
greas. a romance In which the two
principals studied the word Of Goo