THE BOER. 33 



Thrift marks the Presidential residence. In the spring 

 I witnessed his small front flower-garden being 

 arranged for the coming summer. Two sma]l 

 beds were being bordered by reversed empty glass 

 bottles, the outer border being composed of wine-, 

 the inner border of lemonade-bottles. It was a pity 

 that all the labels had not been washed off; but 

 still the arrangement illustrates the homely and 

 economical, if not artistic, tastes of President Kriiger. 

 It must not, however, be imagined that these bottles 

 had been emptied in his establishment, as his honour 

 is practically a total abstainer. 



The power and influence of the President are best 

 exemplified at the deliberations of the Eaad. When 

 great opposition is manifested to a measure which the 

 President is anxious to pass, he will frequently adjourn 

 the House to the following day, and in the meantime 

 have an interview with the principal dissentients and 

 afford them further reasons for its advocacy. Many of 

 the Boer representatives are bewildered by financial 

 schemes they do not understand, and by political moves 

 which they think affect their rugged independence, and 

 it is then that these personal explanations so largely 

 contribute to the progress of business. 



The President is thoroughly in accord with his people 

 as to the belief in direct action of a Special Providence 

 guiding the fortune of the Transvaal ; and their present 

 position is still a source of devout wonder to most of the 

 Boers, many of whom really believe that at the last war 

 they actually beat the whole British Army. Of course 

 the President who has three times visited this country 

 and the other officials are not under these hallucinations, 

 but looking back at their early experiences much crudity 

 of thought is readily explainable. 



An extract from the President's speech at Krugersdorp 

 last year, when the memorial stone was laid of the new 

 Government Buildings there, will readily show his strong 

 feelings on this point *. " Burghers," he exclaimed, 



* The speeches recently made at the Paardekraal celebration last De- 

 cember more strongly emphasize these views. 



D 



