The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-04-14

AASASJ. oals AAhS oSklcl 6lSal 6dIIlDleTS
whose game is war, Napoleon was at
last destroyed by forces he had himself
unleashed.
Gamblers who, like Solomon, wiz In
he long last, are those who devote
their genius and fortune to the cause
OF prosperity n peace. For, then, the
laws of nature and the interests of
humanity fight on their side.
The latest famous gambler Of this
sort died only the other day.
His name was Cecil Rhodes.
A MODERN WORLD-MAKER.
Let the young men in this audience
listen; for this is a story Of a young
man.
Cecil Rhodes, an Englishman, gam
bled more for England's sake than his
own.
He was nothing astounding to look
at-a quiet, courteous young Oxford
graduate, delicate Of constitution Che
possessed, observant, thoughtful. But
no man in England had a soul so big,
deep and daring as his. And he was a
gambler to the marrow.
He needed Africa not for his bodily
health only, but for his mind and i'm
aginatlon, too.
Remember that nothing else is more
indispensable to greatness in q man
than imagination. The best men have
for. the Imagination of Christopher Co.
lumbus, where would we be today?
England is an island-quite an
island, too, in it's way-but Rhodes
could not get air enough to breathe
In 1t: his imagination was not insular,
but continued. nay, worldwide.
The continent Of Africa served to set
him going.
Some memorable in their degree
regard Africa as a place to shoot big
game in; beyond that they see nothing
in it.
Others-l!ke Livingstone-have spent
unselfsh lives in the effort to enlighten
the minds and uplift the moral nature
of black men.
Still others. like Belt and Bernato,
sought Africa for fortunes and made
them.
Compared with such people, Rhodes
as a California sequoia to the sap
ling peach tree struggling for life in
your backyard.
Sitting in meditation in his veranda
chair one evening, his mind surveyed
the mighty region to h north-rivers.
mountain chains, forests, valleys, table
lands-and his Imagination pictured all
as an empire for England-as the flu
ture scene of a national power and
wealth and Of a human expansion and
development. the like whereof the
world had w yet beheld.
He said-but so low that the man
in the neighboring chair did no. catch
the words-"Iu do it."
He was a mere boy in years, utterly
unknown, with no pull social or polit-
ical. and with an income Of perhaps
$500 a year.
But he had that soul. and that i'm
agination, and he was a gambler.
AT dinner thai evening he remarked
to the man opposite, "A railway from
the Cape to Cairo would be a good
thing"
The mar opposite chuckled indul-
gently. Dreams, my boy. Get down
to the practical"
Rhodes said (to himself his time),
Money is my need. Well, I'll get it,
Kimberly diamond mines were start
ing then. Belt and Barnato were in
them. Rhodes, using men, in his quiet
way, as we use a spoon for porridge,
Joined them; and money began to
come.
For none he personally care no
more than do you for your last years
shoes; but for it's aid toward realizing
his dreams he did care. So he dug dia-
clay in the conical pits; and broke off
clusters Of gold from the reefs Of the
north, till he could count his wealth
by millions sterling, and his credit in
countless millions more.
Child's play-for him-but useful.
He also recognized the value of po-
litical influence; at 81 he was in the
Cape ministry; at SO he was prime
minister.
England and the world had begun to
know him now and followed his course
with mouths agape.
His dream of empire was taking
form. Study the plans he laid and
the deeds he did-their far reaching
wisdom and tremendous energy.
But all at once. the Boer war hap
pened.
What was a war to Cecil Rhodes?-
A gamblers risk. He shrugged his
shoulders. but hinched or
swerved.
Summoned to England to explain
things. he appeared before a parlia-
mentary committee composed Of the
ablest men in England.
Rhodes treated them as the head
master treats the kindergarten class
kindly. patiently, but with the invinc-
ible superiority OF his genius.
He dominated them as Pixies peak
dominates Colorado Springs. He gave
them a needed lesson in the meaning
and ethics Of gambling; after which
they bowed him humbly out. and never
again meddled with him.
The world-beater resumed his la
Dor of world-building.
But now came a new Interruption
Death.
Another gamblers risk, which
Rhodes accepted with composure. For
he knew that the seed he had owl
would bring forth grain, and was too
great to grieve hat it would be reaped
by others. He died. assured that his
work would be completed. He died
but will live as long as England.
THE COMPANY.
But whether Rhodes had lived or
died, men Of his strain always arise
to keep up the great tradition.
Always will there be great world
builders. leaders Of civilization, to car
ry on the mission begun by their pre-
decessors.
Invention discouery comr,oroo In