HONOURING A GREAT EMPIRE MAKER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 8

HONOURING A GREAT EMPIRE MAKER.

-e MEMORIAL TO CECIL RHODES. • UNVEILED. The great Rhodes memorial, erected on Table Mountain, was unveiled on July 12 f (tho birthday of Cecil Rhodes), by Earl Grey. Earl Grey, in his speech (reported by Reuter), said he believed that no mail born during the last century had exercised a greater influence for good on tho character of the present century than Cecil Rhodes. His soaring spirit contemplated with exultation, the time when the people of the United Kingdom, and the Dominions should act as joint trustees with- the United States for the protection and expansion' of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic civilisation, and win the co-operation • of tho Teutonic race, to whom they were so closely related. A few short but crowded years, the romance of which is hardly appreciated as yet, have passed sinco lihodcs's death, bringing in their passage tho consummation of his greatest dream—the union of tho separate States under tho one flag. And now, beyond his home, Grooto Schuur, bequeathed by him to the nation as a residence for the Prime Minister of the Union, there has been raised, on the mountain-side, a monument worthy of tho man. Under the shadow of the grim. peak, over which tho winds of all tho seas pour in cataracts of clouds—on the slopes of that mountain to which he was wont to tell worried and disputing politicians to turn from "their trouble of ants" to its calm, they bavo erected a. memorial to "the immense and brooding spirit" of Cecil Rhodes. \ Tho site is one of the finest in the world. About six miles out of the city, beyond trim country gardens, past the oaks and pines, and half-way up to the steep purple bluffs of the Devil's Peak, near a favourite spot in his own grounds, the monument has been placed. Hewn from the granite ribs of Table Mountain, it promises to defy the ravages of time, and looks as though it would endure as long as the everlasting hills themselves. The design (the architect is Mr. Herbert Baker) is simple, and closely follows ■the Greek doric of the Sicilian temples. Flanking the great flight of steps leading to the main structure are eight bronze lions, almost tho last creation of Mr. J. M. Swan, E.A. By the samo sculptor, in tho central niche, is a colossal bust of Rhodes, left unfinished at Swan's death. Tho whole forms a magnificent setting-for Watts's "Energy," that bronze figure mounted on a gigantic steed, ready for the race, but reining the horse in while looking at the destination lie means to reach. Looking with that bronze imago across the mountains to tho north, it may be felt that herei if anywhere, is a land where Some work of noble note may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove. The monument is worthy of the genius of Rhodes and of the South African peo-v pic. ____________