Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-08-12
THE RICHEST BANKER IN THE
WORLD

At all times IN haunts OF business, eS-
pecially on Change, Nathan Rothschild
was 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 be said to have
been his throne-but in his case, solid
one of granite. No consideration would
induce. him to do business anywhere else,
so devotedly attached was he to that par
ticular spot There, with his back rest
| ing against the pillar, and with notebook
in hand, he was always to be seen, during
the usual hours of business, entering into
transactions of great extent with the mer-
chants and capitalists of all countries.
Little would 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 uDprepossessing than he--just
such man as the boys in the street
would have thought fine subject for a
clark, " unless, indeed, they had been de-
tered by the lowering expression or sui
len aspect of his countenauce. He al.
ways looked sulky, never INDUCED in a
smile, not even relaxed the rigidity Of his
muscles. Tn private, his intimate friends
mention that he occasionally made an eff.
fort to smile, but never with any marked
success, his smiles at best being hardly
more than a species of spoiled grin.
His countenance wore thoughtful
aspect, but his whole appearance was
rather that of stupid, clownish-like
farmer of the humber class. His fea-
lures were massy, and seemed to be hud-
died together without anything like reg
ularity in them. His nose had good
deal Of the cock-up form. His mouth
was rather large, aud his lips thick and
prominent. His forehead was more than
an average height, considering the alti
tude of his face. His hair had some
thing Of darkish hue, aud was generally
short. His complexion was pale, excepi
where it was slightly tinged with color BY
the weather. He was short and thick
though, being considerably under the
general height, it is possible his potbelly
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 but little attention to bis persona
habiliments, his tailor had no difficult
customer to p!ease-that is, in respect tt
taste and style, though not on the question
of price. mar.. ra.
It was one feature in Nathan's conduct
when on Change, that he never, except
when engaged in business, entered into
any conversation whatever with any OF
the multitude surrounding him. There
he stood apparently as deeply lost in
thought, and as melancholy countneance
as if he had been alone in the "vast wild
erness" of shades referred to by Cowper,
or been, the ''Last Man" described by
Campbell. Whether his reserve was con-
stitutional, or whether it arose from the
pride of purse, or whether from the mat
ters which must have ever been occupying
his mind, or from the conjoint operation
of these three, can only be surmised.-
Ptchards Monthly, s.. --