The times., 1899-09-03

LONDON, Sept. AIN going down to
Cape Town recently on the Union Line
steamship Scot. we saw Knot OF persons
gathered about woman who occupied a
steamer chair on the hurricane deck. The
southern trades were blowing hals gale.
the ship was rolling frightfulIy. and most
passengers were glad to seek shelter.
Hello said a Jameson raider, there
IS Cecil Rhodes sister,
Immediately the top deck became a eyn-
osure. for the name of Rhodes has con
quering power in the dark continent. More
over. next TO Olive Schreiner. au;soress
and champion of the Beers. the most IN
teresting woman in South Africa today ia
Miss Alice Rhodes.
Whenever the peeuliarities OF the for
mer premier are discussed by these xha
know the Rhodes family. the conversation
is sure to turn sooner or later to The &C.
centric sister. who is far famed for evinc-
ing the same dislike for men thar fhs am
pire builder shows toward women. Her
appearance, too, is so decidedly MASCULINE
as 10 attract all eyes. Her face ss as
!. Siliocthiy Siy norid as that OF the typical Eng
Iisn squire, with a voice to match she
usually sits with feet wide apart ana in
BeheraI lacks those qualities which go To
make up feminine aftractiyeness Tna
open and spice Of danger are the breath
OF life to her, and she is thorough Sports
woman.
With an active. healthy. and penetrating
ininu. sne directs her affairs with the sams
success as her brother who is the only
man for whom she seems to care. An an1pIa
fortune obviates the necessity of making
IrfSndS. but her impuisiye acts OF rsrar
osity have done this for her.
During TWO days she directed the athletic
contests on the Scot In a way that proved
hef executive ability. Sitting at the point
OF vantage on the promen6de deck. with
the captain. several officers. and a lady
companion, who is always at her side. Miss
Rhodes regulated the handieaps for the run
ming matches. umpired the cock fights
and was particularly active in the tug OF
war. Twelve husky Cornishmen had sue
| ceeded in pulling everything on the ship ex-
! cepting the crews expert team. They had
never been beaten
| Fifteen hundred passengers crowded TO
/ the starboard side to witness this HsrcuIeau
struggle. for Miss Rhodes was backing the
Corntshmen. and offered an additional prize
OF 80 TO the winners For one whole hour
the tug lasted, and no one seemed able 70
win. Finally the sailors sea training began
TO tell, and gradually. inch by inch, they
were nauifng tAS CORNWALL miners near the
fatal line, when Miss Rhodes sprang TO her
| feet and called out:
My faith. Cornishmen. take OFF your
shoes. That's why the sailors are beating
you" The committee on rules decided that
] this was 10 infTaetion. as the sailors were
| also barefooted. and then the tug went on
Fixing her eye on one big fellow who look
| ed as though he could pull railroad train,
Miss Rhodes would say from time to time:
| I'm counting on you. man." and the miner
! was so encouraged at this that he finally
made an effort which nearly broke his
! back. but yanked the sailors over the line
so suddenly that both teams went down Ike
ninepins-
When in Cape Town. Miss Rhodes lives
| at Groot Schur, a beautiful country seat
near the city. where she has collected a
| geological garden, including nearly every
! wild animal in South Africa She is versed
| in politics and stateeraft more thoroughly
| than many member OF the colonial office.
! She takes the opposite view. OF course
from Olive Schreiner. and was very fndig-
naRt recently when Sir Alfred Miners sis
! ter. who is the first lady OF the land in
| Cape Colony as his exeelIeney is not mar
ried. kissed a little Kafir girl who had
won prize at the public school examina-
| tions.