The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-27


ventional portrait Of John Bull Though
some OF the ways into which Rhodes was
drawn were tOTtuOus, il is nevertheless
true that essentially he was a transpar-
ent, simple. Straightforward. bIuf John
Bull who said what he meant and did
so with frankness that was often most
disastrous, and often wanting. uniDten-
tonally. in good taste as much as in dis
erection
Facing the Music.
Before the South African committee Of
the House Of Commons, which enquired
into the raid:
Seated there. amid all the raging mas
slons, fierce ambitions. tremendous CON
hlcts OF great political armies. Cecil
Rhodes must have known and realized
that the whole struggle ragged and turned
around his own single body Did he fail
or Quaver or slip? This is what you saw
seated IN the middle OF a horseshoe room
sat very large. massive man. he seemed
perfectly al east-so much so. indeed. that
he occasionally applied himself with evi-
cent gusto 70 the large heap OF sand
wishes and the foaming beaker OF stout
which were on table before him. and
often he was so intent on his food ap.r
drink, and al the same time so anxious IN
develop his ideas, that his words were
half stihed; and. in short. he shocked All
the proprieties OF those ancient books Of
etiquette " hich instructed US in our child
hood not to speak when our mouths were
full
TO say that Cecil Rhodes was AT his
ease gives but a very insufficient idea Of
the perfect equanimity of the man. He
was not merely at his case. but he was
talking 10 all the members OF the com
mIttee, including those who were known
70 be most hostile to him. as though r.
were in a private COnclaye OF his most
intimate personal friends. and thinking
aloud with the frankness Of confidential
and private conversation. Indeed. the
more bitter the personal and political
enemy the more closely did Mr. Rhodes
hold him 10 his bosom"
Attitude Toward Mr.. Labouchere.
This was strange enough in the case
Of Sir William Hsrcourt but the at
tude OF Mr.. Rhodes 70 Labby' was even
more quaint-indeed, il was nothing short
OF astounding. Here was the man who
had attacked him with every weapon of
ridlcule. scorn, disparagement; who had
secuted all his talk about empire as
merely the mask for his greed OF money.
who had, in short. been not merely an
opponent. but vehement, convinced. al
most ferocious personal and political enc
my. But Il was Just then that The curious
character Of Mr.. Rhodes revealed itself.
He dropped his voice almost tc a cooin,
whisper when he spoke 10 Mr. la
bouchere; in fact. he gave the imDressfo,
Of just asking Mr.. Labouchere 10 come
into corner away from everybody. where
the Two Of them could quietly talk over
inc affairs Of South Africa And II was
palpably the fun and immutabIe coDvic-
ZION OF Mr.. Rhodes that he and .Labbv'
Hau only 70 get into a corner together TO
ehtlrely agree In their views"
Life at Groot Schuur.
friend Of mine, who spent months
with him at Groot schuur, his country
residence, near Cape Town. told me that
be had never once seen Rhodes show anv
OF the excitement which could he st,-th
uted 70 excessive indulgence. He was
always a man Of a great. massive frame.
ne worked very hard. and he ALWAYS took
tremendous amount Of exercise. At 6
O'Clock he would be up. and. armed with
gun and accompanied only by a dog
would be securing the yeldt in search OF
game exercise, and fresh air. Il WAS
the same wherever he went Here In !
England he went of 10 some shooting.
IN Scotland he would stalk deer ne
restless spirit and his tremendous phvs
ic7i energy never allowed him 10 mis- |
tb- $500 rr-r. - "-ls9 |
CT moor OF veldt; and men cannot take
appetites-
The only foundation for these calm,
MES about Rhodes Is that, like Bismsr,l |
and other strong, big men. Rhodes was |
q great eater. and could probably take
more 81 table than the average man.
PreseHtment of Death.
II he should die now it is a curious |
Instance Of the realization Of a lifelong