The Irish standard., 1899-07-15
GREATEST Al MILLIONAIRE Of; i. .1uE DAY
Strides Over Two Continents 4
Veritable Colossus.
ORGANIZER Of DIAMOND sYNDlcArE
Ambitious to Grab tho Territory
OF the Transvaal.

Mr.. Cecil Rhodes is without question
the mightiest millionaire of the age,
says the London correspondent of the
New York World.
Other men may control more dollars,
but none possesses fraction Of his
power over his fellows, his ability to
shape the worlds destiny, his imagina-
ton to devise and execute schemes OF
worldwide import.
Having no official position, he goes to
emperors and kings in his own right,
making treaties and planning conces-
sions; hated by many, feared by more,
worshipped by endless throngs, he
strides over Europe and Africa verita-
BILE Colossus, making the mightiest of
his fellows seem dwarfs beside him.
Yet when one first glances at this
African ruler the sensation is one Of
disappointment. Picture a dull-faced,
heavy-jawed, clumsy-looking man, big,
broad shouldered and burdened with
over-much flesh. His face tells no
story. Those apathetic eyes seem to be-
long to lazy soul whose chief interest
is in food and drink. The slouching
gait, the sphinx-like vacancy of express
sion are an impenetrablc mask cloaking
the soul within.
Such is Cecil Rhodes in repose. But
to see the man at work is to see another
being. When he rises to move great
gathering the dull eyes waken with a
life-like flash, the slouching figure be-
comes erect, the air of stagnation passes
and the onlooker discovers man of un-
firing energy, of unbcnded will, one
who can fire his fellows with madden
ing enthusiasm, who displays in his
every move vigorous, virile and in
tense life.
Twenty-seven years ago Cecil Rhodes,
then tall, thin, lanky lad, in delicate
health and with little money, hurried to
the newly discovered diamond fields Of
Kimberley in the hope of making his
fortune.
The son OF an English clergyman, he
had broken down in health while at Ok
ford, and sought South Africa in the
hope Of saving himself from an early
death by consumption. A wetting while
boating at college had brought on a
chill and the chill induced a serious
lung complaint. On a subsequent visit
to England he went to see the doctor
who had ordered him abroad. The doc
tor, he found, had died, but the doctors
son searched the register for the name
Of his visitor.
"Three years ago, you say? Rhodes!
Rhodes! Say, here is an entry, Cecil
John; but-ah-it cannot refer to you"
"Why not?" asked Mr.. Rhodes
"That is my name."
ooh, is it?" said the doctors son.
But it cannot surely be you. My father
added foot-note to this case: Can
not live more than six months.'"
If the old doctors representation
had been true, the history OF modern
Africa would have been different. But
midst the dust and heat OF the diamond
fields the young college man got back
his health. They were rough tribe in
the fields, with the pick OF the rascadom
OF the world literally scattered among
them. Illicit diamond buying was the
most fourishing business, and some
who are now widely known as million
aires laid the foundation of their for
tunes by buying stolen diamonds from
the blacks. But the college lad was too
smart to let his black boys steal many
OF his gems.
Cecil Rhodes was not content to
watch over his negroes digging in his
own diamond patch. He invested some
Of his first savings in old agricultural
engines and began pumping two mines
The days were hot, and the diggers
were willing to pay literally for cooling
drinks. Traders brought up bad whis-
key and worse brandy, but Rhodes
thought he knew game worth two OF
that He ran an icc-making machine
and had no difficulty in disposing of all
the ice he could manufacture
The black boys then began to look on
him as a demi-god. "Look!" they
to one another. "The inkosi
(the chief is great medicine man. He
can make bricks out of waterp'
After two or three years on the fields
Rhodes surprised his associates by re-