The morning news., 1899-09-03
CECIL RHODES SISTER.
She Is the Most Interesting Woman
in South Africa, Is Rich and Ec-
centric


in South Africa, Is Rich and Ec-
centric.
New York, Sept. lin going down to
Cape Town recently on the Union Line
steamship Scot we saw a knot of persons
gathered about a woman who occupied a
steamer chair on the hurricane deck. The
southern trades were blowing half a gale.
the ship was rolling frightfully, and most
passengers were glad TO seek shelter.
"Heflo' said a Jameson raider there
is Cecil Rhodes sister"
Immediately the top deck became a cy-
nosure, for the name of Rhodes has a con-
quering power in the dark continent. More
over, next 10 Olive Schreiner. authoress
and champion of the Beers, the most in
teresting woman in South Africa to-day
is Miss Alice Rhodes.
Whenever the pecuiarities of the ex-
premier are DISCUSSED by those who know
the Rhodes family, he conversation is sure
10 turn sooner or later TO the eccentric sis
ter, who is far famed for eVinc ng the same
dislike for men that the Empire builder
shows toward women. Her appearance, too,
Is so decidedly masculine as to attract all
eyes. Her face is as smoothly florid as
that of the typical English squire, with
a voice 10 match. She usually sits with
feet wide apart, and in general lacks those
qualities which so to make up feminine
attractiVeness. The open aud a spice OF
danger are the breath OF life to her and
she is a thorough sDortswoman.
With an active, healthy and penetrating
mind, she directs her affairs with the
same success as her brother, who is the
only man for whom she seems to care. An
ample fortune obviates the necessity of
making friends, but her impulsive acts Of
generosity have done this for her.
During two days she directed the attn
letic contests on the Scot in a way that
proved her executive ability. Sitting at
the point Of vantage on the promenade
deck, with the captain, several officers and
a lady companion who is always at her
side Miss Rhodes regulated the handicaps
for the running matches, umpired the
cock fights" and was particularly act
i've in the tug of war. Twelve husky
Cornishmcn had succeeded in pulling ev-
erything on the ship excepting the crews
expert team. They had never been beat
en-.
Fifteen hundred passengers crowded to
the starboard side TO witness this Her
culean struggle, for Miss Rhodes was
backing the Cornishmen, and offered an
additional prize of f5 to the win
ners For one whole hour the tug lasted,
and no one seemed able TO win. Finally
the sailors sea training began 10 tell,
and gradually, inch by inch, they were
hauling the Cornwall miners near the ia
tai line, when Miss Rhodes Sprang to her
feet and called out:
my faith, CoTnishmen, take off your
shoes. That's why the sailors are beat
ing you" The committee on rules decided
that this was no infraction, as the sailors
were also barefooted, and then the tug
went on. Fixing her eye on one big fell
low who looked as though he could pull
a railroad train, Miss Rhodes would say
from time to time: I'm counting on
you, man." and the miner was so encour-
aged at this that he finally made an ef-
fort which nearly broke his back, but
yanked the sailors over the line SO sud-
denly that both teams went down like nine
pins.
When in Cape Town Miss Rhodes lives
at Groot Schur, a beautiful country seat
near the city where she has collected
geological garden, including nearly every
wild animal in South Africa. She is vers-
ed In politics and statecraft more thor
oughly than many a member of the colo
niai office, She takes the opposite view,
of course from Olive Schreiner and was
very indignant recently when Sir Alfred
Miners sister, Who is the first lady Of
the land ia Cape Colony. as his eXcellency
is not married kissed a litJle Kafhr girl
who had won a prize at the public school
examinations. a. S.