The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-23
WOMAN SAID TO BE
CAUSE OF TROUBLE
THE PECULIAR ROMANCE OF
MISS FLORA SHAW.
She Narrowly Escaped Bringing
About a Difficult War with Eng
land on the One Side and the
Transvaal Republic on the other.
London Letter, Philadelphia Times.


London Letter, Philadelphia Times.
This is the story of Miss Flora Shaw.
Her name has probably never been
heard of before in America. As far rs
internationalities are concerned, she is
a nonentity, but the fact remains that
she has just narrowly escaped bringing
about a difficult war, with England on
one side, and the South African re-
public of President Kruger on the
other
IL Is almost amaZing-that story of
Miss Shaw. Until year or two ago she
had never been heard Of anywhere. The
world knew nothing of her; England
knew nothing of her. the county and
hamlet in which she was reared had
very little acquaintance with her Her
name was unknown in public places.
She was as unreCognized as any other
young woman in a great land. Her
immediate neghbors may have taken
notice of her presence, but no one else
did. If she saw her way through the
avenue of fame in her early days she
was side-tracked most effeCtually.
But Miss Shaw had a purpose. She
believed there was a mission for her
to fulfill. She believed there was some-
thing for her to accomplish. Others
may have paid sCant attention to her,
but she had In her own heart the de-
termination of success. With her
there was no side-stepping. no going
back.
ON THE LONDON TIMES.
For the purposes of this publication,
it is only necessary to say that she be-
came a member of the staff of the
London Times The intermediary pro-
cesses can be of little interest She
won her fame from small beginnings
to a large success and Il connection
with a great London newspaper.
SO much by way of introduction to
Miss Shaw. Her early days We're full
of contest and hard work. There was
little pleasantness in the beginnings Of
her journalistic career. ~ her indom-
table vigOr, however, she got to the
top and it was at the top that the
world first gained any knowledge OF
her existence
With no regard to Miss Shaw's per-
sOnality as concerned in her relations
with the events in South Africa, it
might be we'll to state right here that
she is a young woman; by ordinary
standards she may not be accepted
as beautiful. There is no classic out
line OF her face. Her forehead is
low, her mouth is large. her nose is
not well set; but her eyes are firm
and strong. and if there is anything
that has aided her in her great de-
termination it is found there. Her
eyes are blue. If she had brown eyes
she might never have become the most
important nersonage she has in the
affairs Of two nations.
CECIL RHODES.
1t is necessary to go back few
years Cecil Rhodes obtained a very
important position from the British
government in South Afrcai The
world knows about it and knows eX-
actly what he did. 1t was his dream
that n great Anglican republic might
be formed, embracing all the southern
portion of the African continent. His
first dream was narrow as compared
with those that followed. In the first
plan there was no thought of control
up through the many miles of coun-
Try stretching north of him. He was
content with a republic that would
take in only that portion of South
Africa which might give immediate
home to all those of home birth. EX.
pansiOn came afterward.
1t might have been better for the
eternal peace of Cecil Rhodes thai
gold, silver and diamonds should not
have been discovered i'm the land viii ii
he had taken under his immediate
control. Had there been no dream of
wealth the plans Of Rhodes and his
immediate adhercntS might have been
entirely different. He might have be-
come a VicerOy in his own right an /
the home government would have re-
Cognized him, hut the existence of pre-
cious metals and the gems in the land
over which he had reached his hare
became known there was an entirely
different aspect in the situation.
The British possessions in South
Africa promised to become the most
valuable properties of the empire.
Rhodes was at the head of affairs.
He was almost apDalled-great mal
though he undoubtedly is-by the stll-
pendous situation. Men from all parts
of the world were rushing in upon him,
Britishers, Americans, South Ameri-
cans and even MongOlians. The tide