The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1901. DEATH OF MRS KRUGER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10398, 23 July 1901, Page 2

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1901. DEATH OF MRS KRUGER.

Notkiko more pathetic in the history of the present war between the Boors and Britain has occurred than the death of Mrs Kruger^ wife of Paul Krugor, ex-President of the Transvaal. The deceased took no part in politics, but romainod content to fill her place as wife and mother, .wisely deciding that- the woman who ' worthily did her duty as such, left her liltisband little to complain about as regards his martial relationship: Whilst the Boer war,' in its early stages, raged violently and the balance of , victory* alternated towards each of the contending armies, Mrs Kruger sat'placidly-in her home at Pretoria, like a modern Griselda, awaiting the time when her husband would return to icr, and rcsumo his placid pipe and coffeb on the ironfc "atoep." Unfortunately for her, that time novcr camo, and it ia now. beyond tho powo of even earthly potentates to bring about such a reunion, as the patient trusting Boer wife now liea in her south -African , grave, whilst her obstinate husband Bits weeping useless tears in Holland for the loss of a true wifo and mother. The picture is n pathetic, but instructive one and should go a. long way towards imbuing tho recalcitrant Boer malcontents with the utter- folly of their attempts to overcome tho strongest nation on earth by their unaided efforts.' Paul' Kruger, it is reported, burst * into tears on the receipt of tho announcement of his wife's death, and no doubt much sympathy will be felt for him in his bereavement, but how much practical sympathy has ho displayed towards his own countrymen and relations . in their losses? If ho had ho, would never havo fled from tho Transvaal' to Europe, at a time when his presence ' might have been turned to practical use in tho direction of ending a useless and disasterous strugglo between his compatriots and ttie strongest nation on. earth, Neither would be have left the

wifo of his bosom to die surrounded by the people he was waging war against ; but who, unlike himself, thought nothing a trouble in their efforts to ameliorate her sufferings. When Mrs Kruger j was asked by Lord Roberts whether she would prefer a Boer guard to protect her dwelling-house in Pretoria, she told him she would rather have a British guard, as she had no wish to be drawn into any matter in dispute between the contending parties, being quite satisfied to live as a private person, free from all political responsibilities and suspicions. In this resolve Mrs Kruger showed her wisdom, at she was allowed to live as a private personage, and. without cither espionage or vexatious restrictions. This is where British magnanimity shines; it does not make war Uh women; ii reserves its resentment for those of the other sex who seek to use women as protective embankments, and measures out to such poltrdons the punishment they deserve.

So far as Paul Kruger is concerned, we have little sympathy for him in his bereavement. His place was in his own country and among his own subjects and kindred. He had not the courage to remain there, and basely took refuge in flight, under the pretence, of attempting to enlist the sympathy and' active help of one or more of the Great Pdwerfc of Europe, at a time he knew Buck all appeal to be perfectly liopclesS. Had he remained at his post in Pretoria and recognised the futility of further resistance, when he could not defend the capital city of the Transvaal, whoso fortifications were said by high military authorities to be practically invulnerable, he might have concluded an honourable peace with Britain, and lived to know that in doing 1 so ho had done tho right thing, and earned the gratitude of his deluded supporters, who are now, like himself, chewing the cud of bitter reflections and mourning the loss of those near and dear to them ; to say nothing of those of land and homesteads, and a life of peaco and plenty, which they can never hope to regain. Truly Paul Kruger has dropped the substance of an ideal life of peace and plenty for the shadow of a fugitive sovereignty, which has evaded his clutches, and left him in his last days without a shred of comfort, or the consolation that his actions were warranted by those of his opponents, or likely to succeed in placing him on the elevated pedestal of his vaulting ambition, which has o'cr-leapcd itself, nn<H)eft him lamenting in tho ditch of unsatisfied desire.