After the General Election to the Volksraad or Parliament of the Transvaal in 1898, the new members were formally sworn in, and President Kruger made a speech from the balcony under the awning to the crowd waiting in Church Square. The soldiers are the Pretoria Volunteers in their gala uniform.] The outward appearance of Mr. Kruger is in keeping with his sinister personality. A shabby frock coat deluged with coffee stains, a seedy silk hat without gloss, an immense scarf of office which sorts grotesquely with this apparel, and ill-fitting trousers barely long enough to meet the boots, are his familiar habiliments. He smokes and drinks coffee incessantly. He has the fervent piety of a Torquemada; believes himself under the peculiar protection of God; and interlards his discourse with religious ejaculations, as if God could smile upon tyranny and corruption. He has exaggerated the outward roughness of Cromwell, forgetting, however, that, to complete the picture, the vast tolerance, which is Cromwell's greatest merit, is required. [Sidenote: [1896-1899.] [Sidenote: Sir Alfred Milner.] To meet this man in a duel of giants, England sent out her greatest and ablest administrator. Sir Alfred Milner went to his arduous task with the solid approval--even with the prayers--of the whole nation. Messrs. Morley and Courtney, and all the faint hearts that masquerade in the party of Little Englanders, blessed the choice. He was known to be wise, moderate, restrained, strong. An Oxford man, he had learnt, in a school which imparts character even more than learning, that the Englishman's duty is not to seek wealth, luxury, or ease, but, in the highest sense, to live well. He did not parade religion, but then it was in his heart. He did not talk of patriotism, but then he had never been in foreign pay, like Mr. Kruger. His manners were not uncouth, his dress was that of the ordinary world. No act of meanness, of corruption, of unscrupulousness can be imputed to him. His career had been one of unsullied brilliance. He was "straight," as he was brave. At Cape Colony he was welcomed by all. He made no move, but sat still and studied the country, studied the situation, studied Mr. Kruger and Mr. Kruger's policy. He followed impassively the machinations of the Bond, the Dutch party which had organised itself in Cape Colony. Mr. Kruger fancied that here was another man who could be twisted round his thumb, but he was greatly mistaken. Sir Alfred Milner was only striving to discover the truth before he took action. [Illustration: OOM PAUL AND TANT' SANNIE. Paul Kruger and Mrs. Kruger, after whom Mr. Chamberlain enquired on a memorable occasion. The President has been twice married; the present Mrs. Kruger was a Miss Malan. The couple are familiarly known in South Africa as "Uncle Paul and Aunt Sannie."] [Sidenote: The Bloemfontein Conference.]