The Washington times., 1904-07-10

Fair. Among the Beers were General
Cronje and Mrs. Johanna, Stertzel.
They were the typical Boer man and
Boer woman of the Afrikander lost
cause, fleeing from the tragedy of the
Transvaal. worn and hopeless. The one
left behind him In a South African
grave a wife killed byr the horror Of a
St Helena exile imposed by England
the other a husband who died from
exposure in the war with England
Both were heartsick almost beyond en-
durance. Each was silent, self-commuu-
ing, living in the past, neither asking
nor expecting anything of the future
The woman was accompanied by her
two children. for whose sake she was
coming 10 a free country.
Every day during the Boer war for
independence General Cron5e had held
religious services IN his headquarters
Iaager. praying, preaching. and singing
psalms among bis officers and men It
was not in his sincere fiber to abandon
or neglect such duties In the time of
tribulation. so he carried his old leather
back Bible under his arm when he went
aboard the Doones Castle. And on the
first night at sea, in the solemn still
ness OF the stars he preached 70 the
land-loving Boers, ION the great waters.
his voice deep with reverence and
shaken with suffering The woman
heard him.
The last time she had seen him was
when he had been a guest at her
patriot husbands tavern in Johannes
burg. coming ass one of the chief men
of the Boer volksraad. His associates
were Dom Paul Kruger, Joubert, Reitz.
and others of the splendid Boer group
that fought so well for freedom. With
them he had declared for war in re-
sistance to British aggression. 1t was
during these stirring days that the wo-
man on board the Doone Castle had
last seen the man who was now her
shipmate. And then, as now. he car
ri "a his leather-back Bible and read
aloud from its inspiring teaching. Thus
in company they crossed the ocean to
d new land. the man earnest and domi-
nant. the woman listening.
Little Band Devout.
So. too, it was when they came to
St Louis. In their camp at the World
Fair the little band of patriot Beers
have been as devout in their old-fash-
Toned way as II they were but a part Of
a big South African religious gather
ing They have paid no hee0 10 Worlds
Fair crowds or to their alien associates.
They have kept themselves to themsel-
yes, a peculiar people. too rOck-ribbed
in faith and custom TO be changed by
accidental environment. CrOnje preach
ed TO them on Sundays and conducted
prayer meetings on week nights And
Mrs. Stertzel heard him always. st.
PauFs ideal woman. not lifting up her
voice in the congregation Of elders.
These devotional exercises directed
by General Cronje. are impressive IN
their utter simplicity.
While speaking General Cronje stands
erect before his people. with face up
lifted. his eyes closed. his head bare
and hands folded. He is quite motion
less. save for a slight occasional nodding
Of his head in emphasis. The Beers lis
ten 20 his praying and preaching in alb
solute silence. They are profoundly at
tentive and seem TO be deeply interested
IN the grim old generals exposition Of
Holy Writ.
II was in the Boer camp at the
Worlds Fair that General Cronje's
courtship Of the Widow Stertzel began.
During the sea voyage they were friends
renewing Old acquaintance. and this re-
alization was maintained for some time
following their arrival in 81. Louis.
There came day, however, when It
was noticed that Cronje manifested a
greater liking for Mrs. Stertzel prefer
ring her society 10 that Of others, and
seeking It whenever occasion justified
Visited Her Tent.