Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-07-16
The Richest Banker in the world.


At all times in the haunts of business,
especially on Change, Nathan Roths-
child was a marked object. There he
stood day after day, leaning against his
pillar, on the right hand, entering from
Cornhill. He was a monarch on 'Change
and the pillar in question may have been
his throne, but in this case solid one
of granite. No consideration would in
duce him to do business anywhere else,
SO devoutedly attached was he to that
particular spot. There, with his back
resting against the pillar, and with note
book in hand, he was always to be seen
during the usual hours of business, en-
tering into transactions of great extent
with the merchants and capitalists of
all countries. gsrsa ast So ~
Little would a stranger who chanced
to see the money potentate of the world
standing on the spot in question have.
fancied, from his personal appearance,
what an important influence he exerted
on the destinies of Europe. No one
could be more unprepossessing than he,
just such man as boys in the street
would have thought fine subject for a
clark" unless, indeed, they had been
deferred by the lowering expression or
aspect of his countenance. He always
looked sulky, never indulged in smile,
nor even relaxed the rigidity of his mus
cles. In private his intimate friends
mention that he occasionally made an
effort to smile, but never with any mark
ed seccess, his smiles at best being
hardly more than species of spoiled
grin. .-eo- ar
His countenance wore a thoughtful as
pect, but his whole appearance was
rather that of stupid, clownish-like
farmer of the humber class. His fea-
lures were massy. His features seemed
to be huddled together without anything
like regularity in them. His nose had
good deal of the cock-up form. His
mouth was rather large, and his lips
thick and prominent. His forehead was
more than an average hight, considering
the altitude of his face. His hair had
something Of a darkish hue, and was gen
orally short. His complexion was pale,
except where it was slightly tinged with
color by the weather. He was short and
thick though, being considerably un-
der the general hight, it is possible his
pot-belly and corpulent aspect generally
may have made him appear shorter than
he really was. He usually was to be
seen in great coat of dark brown
color; and as he paid little attention to
his personal habiliments, his tailor had
no difficult customer to please-that is,
in respect to taste and style, though not
on the question of price. -a
1t was one feature in. Nathan's con.
duct, when on Change, that he never,
except when engaged in business, en-
tered into any conversation whatever
with any of the multitude surrounding
him. -.
There he stood, apparently as deeply
lost in thought. and as melancholy
countenance as if he had been alone in
the "vast wilderness of shades" referred
to by Cowper, or been the ''Last Man"
described by Campbell. Whether his
reserve was constitutional, or whether
it arose from the pride of purse, or
whether from the matters which must
have been occupying his mind, or from
the conjoint operation of these three,
can only be surmised.-Packard'S
MontILy. fr ....---.