Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-27
NOT UNEXPECTED.
Rhodes Death No Surprise to Those
Who Knew Him.

London, March 26.-The death of
Cecil Rhodes came as no great surprise
to those few who saw anything of him
during his last visit to London during
the winter. Whether it was due to his
experiences during the long siege of
Kimberley or the accumulated ankle
ties regarding the war in South Africa
with an accompanying change of pub
lie feeling in England towards him,
there is no doubt he was almost COM
pletely broken down within the last
two years. Even his appearance
changed. His once finely chiselled face
had become bloated and his always
huge frame filled out until the Colos-
sus became so stout as to make walk
ing n matter of difficulty He frequent
ly was attacked with severe heart
troubles during which he exhibited the
stoicism which marked his extraor-
binary career. Nor did he allow his
bodily ailments to interfere with bust
ness Among his associates in the city
he never mentioned them, nor did he
permit them to be mentioned to him.
Up to the last Mr.. Rhodes kept a
firm grip on all those vast, South At
rican interests created and controlled
by him. Except that he was more ir-
ritable and more pictorial there was
no outward change in his method of
handling men, millions and empires.
Toward the social side Fof life he
soured visibly, however. Once his days
work at the office of the British Char
tered Co. was over, he shut himself up
from the curious in an unfrequented
London hotel, where he utterly denied
himself to all except half a dozen IA
vored intimates.
DIR. Jameson was his constant COM
panion. Indeed, none of DR.. Jafneson's
indiscretions ever affected the warm
friendship existing between the two
men. They could be seen in the park
in the morning taking solitary rides
on horses, never breaking out from a
walk, the cynosure of all eyes, vet Sc
verely unobservant of the hundreds of
London's political and social leaders
who had the right to a bowling ac-
workmanship.
More especially did Mr.. Rhodes SHIN
the present government leaders. He hit
terly expressed his contempt of British
army methods in South Africa and prob
ably never quite forgave Mr. Chamber
lain and Lord Miner for not consulting
him or endeavorinS to utilize the power
ful financial political machine which Mr..
Rhodes undoubtedly manipulated over
the whole of South Africa.
with increasing irrascibility which ne
did not hesitate to vent on duke or nle
bean who crossed his path. he grew moro
and more restless as the end of his life
drew near. He was never contented to
StaN long in nlpna Jic nj Il
devolved into an unceasing, purposelessl
quest of change of scene. During his re-
cent trip to Egypt this was particularly
noticeable He rushed from place to place
as if with the only object of upsetting
his own plans. Then he suddenly re-
turned to England
financially, Mr.. Rhodes death is not
likely to have any very far-reaching re-
suits. as all his enterprises were system
lied SO thoroughly as not to need the
master mind which was so necessary TO ,
their inception.
Thanks to very great success of the De-
Beers mines, the British Chartered South
Africa Co. and other great South African
ventures, Rhodes fortune had been stead
lily accommodating. He lost money over
the war, but what inroads that made
must have been trifiing compared with
the many millions he possessed. i
He never lost his open-handed and
somewhat reckless methods of handling
money. Not long ago he walked into the
office of one of his confidential subordi- !
mates and threw down a bundle of notes.
bonds, etc, saying: Invest these for
me- and went out without waiting to
have them looked at. Inspection re-
vealed the fact that they amounted to
over e1,0o0,OOO sterling. |
How they We're invested Mr.. Rhodes
never knew or cared, for months later. /
as on that night, he went off on one of
his wandering tours and refused to allow
himself to be bothered with the details
of the investment of his million until he
returned to England