* * * * *

It is said that the health of good old Oom Paul is failing, and that he is not likely to live very long.

In spite of this, the rugged old President of the Transvaal is so anxious to be re-elected that he is going round the country making speeches and trying to secure votes, as if he were still a young man.

Oom Paul has three times been made President of the Transvaal.  The presidents of the South African Republic hold office for five years, so the reins of government have been in this one man’s hands for fifteen years.

He is opposed by General Joubert, the man who beat the English at the battle of Majuba Hill.

General Joubert is also much beloved by the people, and has twice before opposed Oom Paul for the office of President, but there is little chance of any other candidate being elected, so long as Paul Kruger is willing to run for office.

The Boers have a reverence and love for this great leader of theirs which is touching.  They regard him as the father of their country, and feel it their duty to support him.

One old man who was asked at the last election whether he meant to vote for Kruger or Joubert, replied indignantly: 

“Paul Kruger is as my father; I am as his son.  Do you think I would disobey him?”

As the majority of the voters in the Transvaal seem to feel in the same way, there is little doubt that Oom Paul will be re-elected.

* * * * *

There were grave murmurs against the city government the other day.

One morning the papers appeared, telling in indignant words the story of how the aldermen of the city of New York were about to give away the right to build a railroad on the Kingsbridge Road.

Now the people who know most about city government think that the companies who desire the franchise which gives them the right to lay tracks and run cars through certain streets, should be made to pay a yearly sum to the city for the privilege.

There has been a good deal of trouble over this Kingsbridge Road franchise.  Two companies have been anxious to secure it, but neither has offered to pay its real value for it.

The granting of the franchise is done by the vote of the Board of Aldermen, who pass the resolution much in the same way that Congress passes a bill, and send their resolution to the Mayor for his signature, in the same manner that bills are sent to the President.

In the matter of the Kingsbridge Road franchise neither of the companies made much headway.

Both companies were extremely anxious to get possession of the line, but the aldermen were equally divided in their favor.

At last a rumor got abroad that in their desire to get a decision the companies were trying to influence the aldermen.

A few days after this report was spread abroad, people were startled to learn that the aldermen had reached a decision, and that the franchise was to be given to the Third Avenue road, for a sum that was nothing like its real value.