The Indianapolis journal., 1902-01-27
'Groote Schuur" His Pleasant Retreat
i'm south Africa.

Pearson's Magazine.
Home" and Cecil Rhodes are not
words which seem to have much affinity
with each other 1t would fit the facts in
be described as the headquarters rather
than the home of that famous South Afri-
can. And there are good reasons for hold
ing that If he had never become prime
bilities to discharge in the way of enter
tanning, Groote Schuur would never have
known him for master.
1t will surprise most people to learn that
Cecil Rhodes has strong Dutch sympathies.
Groote Schuur is a standing proof of that.
TIE name of the house, meaning Great
Barn., is Dutch to begin with, and all its
most interesting associations are con-
nected with the early settlers from Hol-
land. For some years before Mr.. Rhodes
bought the place il had been known as the
Grange, but Immediately upon it's coming
into his possession he revived the old
Dutch name. And inside the house and
outside the house Dutch atmosphere is
all prevailing. Teak, the wood the Dutch
introduced into the colony in it's early
days, is used everywhere, and its preserva-
ton is insured by constant oiling, prac-
tice which contributed to the disastrous
nature of the fire which caused such havoc
at Groote Schuur a few years ago.
Then the house is full of such articles as
a wealthy Dutchman loves to gather round
him, rare old chests and fine vases, and
massive carved seats for the stoep, and
here and there an ancient cannon which
the past. The quaint home life of the
Dutch seems to appeal to Cecil Rhodes as
nothing else does; those who know him
best affirm that Groote Schuur is the only
evidence he has given that there is a SEN
timental side 10 his nature.
Difficult indeed would ii be to imagine
any situation more romantic than that oc-
cupied by Groote Schuur at Rondebosch
on the lower slopes of Table Mountain
some five miles from Cape Town The ap-
proach to the house is along a lofty avenue
of magnificent pines, and when the main
entrance eventually opens into view there is
at first a slight feeling of disappointment
that this should be the home of a man
whose name is suggestive of colossal
things. The overtowering trees behind the
house and the massive mountain in the
background seem TO have a dwarfing ef-
feet. But when Groote Schuur is surveyed
from the rear, all this is forgotten. The
stalwart pines give a delightful setting TO
the building, the Dutch terraced garden
weaves around ii a garland of color. and
the dreamy distance of the Cape Flats
almost removes the picture into the realm
of the ina gination.
The apartments in which Rhodes un-
bends himself most to his guests are the
library and billiard room. In the former
are kept his famous typewriter transla-
tions of the classics and old books of South
African history; in the latter, the flags
and other relics which serve to recall the
countless enterprises ''up country in
which he has taken part Among these
now are samples of the Long Cecil ex-
by the Beers into Kimberley Hanging
against the bookcase, too, may be seen
the flag which he has had designed for the
Cape TO Cairo route.
With all his love for Groote Schuur Cecil
Rhodes looks upon his study walls as so
much plastic clay, to be nodded this way
and that, as he thinks fit. Most men pos
sessing such property would feel their
ideas to its internal economy limited by
the structure it came into their hands
Not so Cecil Rhodes, he thinks through
stone walls, be they ever so thick
On one of my visits L found some work
men laboriously hewing their way through
a massive stone wall in one Of the smaller
halls. Inquiry elected the fact that Cecil
Rhodes had picked up somewhere a set OF
old oak shelves and had given orders that
they were TO be placed in a certain cor
ner of that hall. He was told that they
could not stand there, as they projected a
foot into doorway. Then cut new
doorway somewhere else" was his reply