Page:Last Will and Testament of Cecil Rhodes.djvu/104

90 puzzled the ancients. “Canst thou by searching find out God?” Are not His ways past finding out? Perhaps yes; perhaps no. They “did not know everything down in Judee.” Anyhow, Mr. Rhodes was much too practical and thorough markets will be all right for the corn and vegetables and fruit which you and your colony will produce. And if you think the locality will be suitable, you had better send some capable officers to survey the country. They can select the district most likely to answer your purposes, and you shall have what land is necessary.”

This offer Mr. Rhodes made in the most deliberate manner twice over. Of course, he knew what I wanted to do. I wanted the country for the people, and he wanted the people for the country. So far, we were one, perhaps not much further.

As the interview closed, something was said by me bearing on his spiritual interests. I forget what I said, but it was something straight, personal, and it was understood by him at once. While he did not assent to my remarks by any passing pretensions to religion, he was serious and thoughtful, and when I said I should pray for him, he responded, “Yes, that was good.” Prayer, he considered, was useful, acting as a sort of time-table, bringing before the mind the duties of the day, and pulling one up to face the obligations for their discharge. A little incident that occurred some years afterwards showed that my remarks made an indelible impression on his mind.

Our next meeting was in England. In company with Lord Loch he wanted to see the Hadleigh Farm Colony, and an appointment was made for a visit. He specially desired that I should accompany him, and, of course, I gladly agreed. My son (the chief of the staff) was with us. We went down together.

After the journey down we lunched together, and wandered over the colony and discussed its principal features. Mr. Rhodes was interested in everything. Nothing struck me more than his inquiring spirit. “What is this?” and “What is it for?” and “How does it answer?” or “Who is this?” “Where does he come from?” “What is he doing?” “What are you going to do with him?” were the questions constantly on his lips, and to say that he was interested is saying very little. The whole thing evidently took a strong hold of him.

That night Colonel Barker accompanied him to his hotel, where he again talked over the things he had seen, and assured the Colonel that he would see all the social work we had in the way of shelters and elevators, and homes, and everything else of the kind before he returned to Africa.

In 1899 Mr. Rhodes made a speech at the Mansion House in support of the army. He said: “The work of your organisation is a practical one. (Loud applause). The Cabinet, of which I was a member, was appealed to for a contribution for the army in that part of the world. Statistics were called for, and we gathered that you offered homes for waifs and strays, and those, perhaps, who had fallen in the colony, and who, when released from prison, had