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 to wards each of the contending armies, Mrs Kruger sat'placidly-in her home at Pretoria, like a modern Griselda, await ing 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 over come 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 sym pathy will be felt for him in his bereave ment, 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 dis asterous strugglo between his com patriots and ttie strongest nation on. earth, Neither would be have left the

THE WANGANUI HERALD, TUESDAY, JULY 23, 1901.
