The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-11
Has Become a Millionaire in
the Diamond Fields.
MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR The WAR
Now Surrounded by Beers in'the
City Of Kimberley. t

No name is more prominently before
the civilized world to-day than that of
Cecil Rhodes, the embodiment OF Brit
ish imperialism in South Africa, the
man whose dreams OF dominion em-
brace the Dark Continent from Cape
Colony to Cairo. Mr.. Rhodes is the
son OF poor English clergyman, the
late +. w. Rhodes, who was vicar OF
Bishop Stortford, Hcrts Hc is in his
forty-scventh year. He was educated at
a school in the locality OF his birth, and
partly on account OF his health, and
partly moved by ambition for greater
opportunities, he went, while still a
youth, to South Africa, where his eldest
brother, Herbert, had preceded him.
On the discovery of gold in Griqua-
land West, Herbert Rhodes took part in
the "rush" to that vicinity, and was
joined soon afterwards by Cecil. The
latter, while working in the gold fields,
managed to devote share OF his time
to reading, in order to qualify himself
for collegiate course He entered
Oriel College, Oxford, and was gradu-
ated from that institution of learning.
All this time, however, he kept up his
residence in South Africa 1t is an in
tcresting fact that General Gordon, the
hero Of Kfartoum, was attracted to
young Rhodes, and offered to make him
his private secretary. Had the offer
been accepted, Rhodes would probably
have shared the fortunes and met the
late Of Gordon, who was killed by the
followers of the Malldi, when they cap
tured khartoum.
1t is also worthy Of note that Mr..
Rhodes laid the foundation OF his for
tune in Kimberley, the very place in
which, at the opening of hostilitics with
the Beers, he stood prepared to defend
with his life the flag OF Great Britain
and his own vast mining interests.
Along with friend named C. D. Rudd,
who had also cnigratcd to South Al
RIGA on account of his health, Mr..
Rhodes bought small interest in the
Dc Beers Diamond Mine. This interest
grew until MIR. Rhodes became a mil
lionairc. The Dc Beers and Kimberley
companies were united, forming what
Americans would call diamond trust"
and the South African supply OF dia-
monds, which was virtually the world S
supply, came under one control. In
these operations, Mr.. Rhodes gained a
high reputation as fnancier.
He was equally successful in states
manship, and claims to have added near
ly three quarters OF million square
miles to the British empire. Whether
his methods in accomplishing this have
always been creditable is at least doubt
ful. There is no other country in the
world so wholly within the grasp of a
wealthy monopoly as South Africa is
within that OF the De Beers Mining
Company, controlled by Cecil Rhodes.
The Bocrs aver that Mr.. Rhodes pro-
vokcd the present war, in order TO sweep
away all opposition to his power and to
his schemes. He is certainly not man
OF fine scruplcs; and, while his career
contains much that is worthy OF study
and emulation by young men ambitious
OF success, it also includes features to be
avoided by all who value honor above
wealth and power
In considering the causes OF the great
success Of Cecil Rhodes, it should not
be forgotten that his personal mag
nctism is extraordinary. He has many
bitter enemies, but also host of friends
who are sincerely attached to him. He
is fearless Of physical danger, and most
generous and often unsclfsh in his ben
cfactions. Many settler owes his res
cue from financial ruin to the unherald-
cd libcraity OF Mr.. Rhodes.
The price OF diamonds is going up,
and this is why:
One day about ten years ago Barney
Barnato. who began life in South Africa
as pcddler OF cheap jcwclry and ended
it (by his own act) as the diamond king,
proposed to Cecil Rhodes that they put
all the diamonds at Kimberley in pail.
Good enough!" said the continent
grabber. "Pour them in. I'd like to
see how they look"
Barnato placed large bucket on one
OF the sorting tables in the main Office,
and into that dumped all the rough dia-
monds that had been mined during the