EDITOR'S WALLET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2391, 28 December 1899, Page 66

EDITOR'S WALLET.

Cecil Rhodes's Idea. HIS HEASOX FOX DECLINING A DRINK IN THE EAKLY 'DAYS 01' THE KIMBEIILEY MINES. In connection with the foundation of Cecil Rhod&i's colossal wealth, there is a' story told by an old fellow miner, himself lately an old Colpnial Minieler of I'inance, which illustrates at least one trait in the character of the gieat South African financier and politician. During the- early days of the Kimberley diggings it was the custom when a miner found a particularly fine gem to invite tho^e about him to the ceremony of "wetting the stone" : i.e., drinking champagne at the finder's expense, with tie idea, that it would bring good luck in the discovery of another treasure. In the adjoining claim to that first taken up by Mr Rhodes, in the very centre of the crater holding the precious blue dirt, this invitation had upon a certain occasion gone forth, and the men were going their way up to the hotel when it was noticed that Rhode 3 stood aloof. "Hullo ! Come on, Rhodes !" shouted the lucky finder of tho gem. "Aren't you coming up to ' W6t the stone ' for good luck?" To which, however^Cecil Rhodes only shook his head. "I say, come on, there's a good fellow," persisted his neighbour. "What are you going to do," asked Rhodes, looking up. \ "Wet the stone with champagne, of course. " "Well," replied the future magnate, decisively, "I diet not come here to drink champagne, but to make money," and then went on with his work. That Mr Rhodes has succeeded in that purpose, probably beyond all flightß"*bf his imagination, is now a matter of history.