The leader., 1904-07-27
loom" PAUL KRUGER.
he WAS FOR YEARS 4 HEROIC FIGURE
IN THE TRANSVAAl..
Stories in Career Of a Man Who De-
Iayed The March Of an Empire
for Many Years.

for Many Years.
Stephanus Johannes Paulus
Kruger, the last president of the
Boer republic, was one Of the EN-
pire builders Of South Africa and
THE life-Iong enemy of Cecil
Rhodes. For twenty five years
Kruger thwarted the ambition Of
Cecil Rhodes and delayed the
march Of the British empire from
Cape Colony north toward the
equator.
He lived long enough to see the
death of his greatest enemy and
to witness in lonely exile, the
triumph of the greatest foe Of his
people. In his life he was one Of
The worlds rugged, heroic figures.
In his death he was still world
figure, pathetic in loneliness, an
exile by bis own choice.
OF Paul Kruger much has been
written about the wonderful feats
of endurance, his fearlessness as
lion hunter, his marvellous
strength, his bravery as soldier,
his ability as a ruler, bis skill as
a diplomat. Much more might
have been written.
Unique Personal Appearance.
In personl appearance Dom
Paul' could not be called hand
some. He was over 6 feet high,
but fat and unwieldy, and had a
waddling walk. His face was
dull, fabby and expressionless.
His small, bleared eyes were half
hidden by the heavy lids. Long
thin struggling hair covered his
head. He shaved his chin and
upper lip but allowed an untidy
fringe of hair TO grow all around
his face. In dress he was sloyen-
| " and careless. He was a good
ltalker; better listener. When
ready fol an interview he lighted
3 long clay pipe and pulled at it
frequently and vigorously. 1t
was only when he spoke that the
naturally determined character
and shrewd, hard headed common
sense of the man came out. He
was credited with possessing more
power Of logged resistance, COM
bined with daring adventure, than
any of the other Boer leaders.
How He got Religion. !"
Kruger was one Of the most re-
/ Iigious of men. He was brought
lup in a pious Dutch family and
was never bad boy, but it is said
that many years ago, when Kru-
ger was a young married man, he
got religion" in a most striking
and characteristic manner. One
day be handed an open Bible to,
| his wife and asked her to read
several chapters which be had
parked. While she was reading
he left the house. For several
days he was missing and finally a
party Of friends went out to look
for him. They came back with
out trace of the missing man,
only reporting that they had heard
some one singing far off on the
mountains. A day or two later
another searching party went out.
This time they found Kruger in a
condition of almost complete ex-
haustion. having gone entirely
without food or water during his
absence. He had gone up into
1.-The hills to wrestle with himself
in prayer.
AuSterity Of His Religion.
Kruger's religious creed was
austere but simple. Whatever
God sends is right and must be
endured without murmur. If
death comes it is right and there
must be no unseemIy mourning.
If there is a famine, all right. If
there is a drought or if plaques
atfiict, all right still. All this is
Gods will.
In 1894 there was locust pla-
que in the Transvaal. The locusts
came in thousands. Their com
| ing darkened the sky. They ate
Iup everything. The farm crops
were destroyed, but Com Paul
forbade them to be killed.
lit IS the will Of God that the
Iocusts should come, " said he.
So they lived and thriyed until
there became several generations
of locusts in tile Transvaal.
Famed as a Mighty Hunter.
II was ID bis boyhood and ear
" manhood that Paul Kruger
achieved his fame first as a nigh
ty hunter and afterwards as 4 sol
|dier. He lived constantly ID dan
ger from savage beasts and still
more from savage men. He kill
cd his first big game when Z years
old and slew his first lion when he
was onlyalI.
The stories Of his strength and
proWess as hunter are many and
marvellous. When boy Of l68
be was sent BY his father to take
home an empty oxcart and maps
|of oxen. With him went his lit
Gle sister. Paul. said his faith
Ter at parting, take good care Of
your sister. "
Five miles from home full
grown panther sprang from the.