Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1902 — OOM PAUL IN EXILE. OOM PAUL KRUGER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OOM PAUL IN EXILE.

OOM PAUL KRUGER.

How the Kx-President of the Boer* Spends Hia Time. The final scenes iu the long and adventurous career of the ex-President of the South African republic are being enacted at a little town named Hilversum, in Holland. According to the latest advices, his end cannot be very far off, and one of the most remarkable men of the last century will disappear forever from the stage of human affairs. Mr. Kruger inhabits a small, two-storied house, known as Casa Cara, similar in every way to the residence of the wealthy Dutch merchants, and of the usual type of country houses in Holland. There are grounds surrounding the building in which .the President spends a good portion of each day. Hilversum is a town of about 28,000 inhabitants, and is half an hour's ride by rail from Amsterdam. It is a favorite country residence of the Dutch, being very healthful and quiet. Oom Paul rises earl j", according to his lifelong custom, takes a cup of black coffee the first

thing in the morning aud when dressed repairs to the garden, where he remaius, as a rule, till 9:30. During this time he goes through his mail, which h;is previously been classified for him by his private secretary. He always takes with him on these occasions his two inseparable companions, a large pipe and a large old-fashioned Bible with large metal clasps. Although he knows the sacred books almost by heart, especially those of the Old Testament, and can always quote an appropriate passage from the Bible suitable for any given emergency, yet he, nevertheless, reads his Bible every day under the shade of a large tree in the pleasant grounds of the villa. At noon precisely, for Mr. Kruger is nothing if not methodical, he takes a cold luncheon. After luncheon he takes a siesta, which lasts till 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He then goes for a drive in a carriage bearing the former arms aud escutcheon of the- Transvaal, and returns to the house by ti o’clock. It pleases the old mail greatly to observe the general respect which he meets with from all classes of the public, and even the children strike up the Boer nntliionnl anthem, which everyone knows in Holland, as he passes by. He takes supper at t>:3o and retires invariably at 8 p. m.