The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-23

was great and the feeling was in
tense. Almost before he realized 1t
there came a discovery that the rich
est fields of gold and silver and pre-
cious metal extended into the terri
tory of the South African republic
the Transvaal-of which Preslder.
Kruger is the head
This is where the clash came. There
was no chance OF 1t in any other way.
There had been no immediate laying
out of geographical lines, but there
were fairly good limitations for the
boundaries Of British possessions.
Naturally Rhodes sought for extension.
At each step he was fought by this.
venerable Dutchman. Kruger, president
Of the Transvaal republic. English
men and Americans had invaded the
Transvaal. They had accumulated
property and secured certain rights
There was little gansaying their title
They had their own under right cf
law, and they held 1t. Kruger, how
ever, was opposed to anything APP
preaching foreign Intervention. 1t
was his theory that the Transvaal
should control its own affairs and that
all foreigners or "outlanders" should
be entirely submissive.
RHODES TRIP TO LONDON.
1t was at this juncture that Cecil
| Rhodes, premier of Cape Colony, found
it necessary to make a trip to London.
He little knew at the time he decided
| upon that journey that he was going
to his downfall and that a woman was
to be the medium OF it's accomplish
ment
This woman was Miss Flora Shaw
When Rhodes landed IN England he
knew little or nothing of the Identity
, of Miss Shaw. He had small conception
of the power of her pers )nali!y or pn-
sition. Put she had risen by this time
to the position of colonial editor of the
London Times and she deserved all
| that came to her. .Shn was giriish,
suave and demurc, but behind all these
attributes there was IN ,navhaustibla
power. She was as wHll Informed ot
the situation in South Africa as EEUdes
himself She had studied the matter
| and had everything at the tips Of her
| fingers. 1t was not by any idle canoe
that she had reached tc high POSITION
she held
| The story from this poiat on must be
that of this woman She controlled the
| destnies of the British Empire as far
as its immediate possessions in South
| Africa We're concerned.
Cecil Rhode was checknated by this
! young woman. lie found he could not
make her his tool. She had IDEAS of
her own and was determined to ad-
vance them. The mere fact that Cecil
! MI. IL. -. 8
| rica had no influence upon her actions
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.
Miss Shaw had made a higher con-
nection by dint of the hardest kind OF
work: she had gained entry to the office
! of Joseph chamberlain, who was the
/ Home Secretary for tn" Colonies. Mr.
! Chamberlain has little faith in women.
but in this instance he could not fail to
recognize Miss Shaw's strength and
power. She almost held him, Home
| Secretary though he was, in the mol
| low of her hand.
Rhodes went to England with def
mite plans. He found them all thwart-
ed by this interested young woman. 1t
did not take him long to see that she
held the rens. She may not have DOM
| mated Mr.. Chamberlain entirely, but
she assuredly had great influence in his
| Office.
Rhodes made his strong play. 1t was
| his belief that England, with superior
power, could take unto itself all the
rich mining and jem land of the cOun-
! try north of Cape Colony lie knew It
would be valuable ACQUISITION to the
empire. There was no question about
! that in his own mind. He had made
the long journey from South Africa to
London with a full purpose of accom-
| plshing his plan.
But Miss Shaw net him. She had
been in constant communication with
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain and was well
acquainted with all the workings Of
the Colonial Office She knew all the
! Under-Secretaries and all the clerks
there. In all England there was nc
person with a better knowledge Uf
| South African affairs than Miss Shaw.
/ She was nimble of wit and acute of
! intelligence. She had learned her les
son we'll