Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-29
AyExrLEp BANkER's HOSE
Charles Phillips LfFt"g
I'm Poverty Near Paris.

~
yx-Pre,isept Charles Phillips Liytng
I'm Poverty Near Paris.
philadelphia Times.l
ga man prematurely old, with bent
form. white hair, and wrnkled iace'
only forty-fve years old. but looking
sixty.fye." was the description given
Yesterday by a man who had Just re-
turned from Europe Of Charles Philips
president of the defunct Columbian
Bank. and few years ago one OF the
financial maSnates of the city. The man
was William b. Sullivan, who went 70
Europe in July. u
Mr.. Sullivan was the manager OF the
foreign department OF the COLUMBIAN
Bank until q year and half before the
collapse. While standing in the Amerl'
can Exchange on the Boulevard de
Capucines ia Paris a white-haIred, fee
bic looking man accosted HIM. Inc
man were suit OF black clothes, rusty
with long use. il was with difficulty
that Mr.. Sullivan recognized in the bag
gard old man the once portlY bank
president whose princely manner was
formerly one of the destinations OF
financial circles. "With something OF
bis old manner, said Mr.. Sullivan, me
insisted upon my dining with him at bis
house" ~
it was a long and dready ride that Mr..
Sullivan took before reaching the ex-
bankers house. After passing through
the Notifications. and the dreaiy waste
about the Notifications, which the French
Government hes prepared IN case an
enemy should approach the walls OF
Paris, the visitor struck a dusty ROAD
dotted with houses bearing anything but
an air of prosperity.
Rx-PRRSuDENT PHILLIPs's HONE.
On this road the Rue Bourbon, on the
banks OF the muddy Seine, an hour =
ride from the city, was Charles Phillips
house. 1t WAS little two-stOry dwelling,
almost hidden by big stone wall that
surrounded it, AIR. Sullivan was told
that the ex-president wes paying no rent
for it. He had secured IT through the
Intervention of some friends. A Partisan
architect. the story went, built 1t for
himself His fsvorite daughter died,
aud be would not move into it. lie gave
it to Philips rent free.
The visitor was ushered into a house
poorly furnished. From cellar to garrett
there was no sign Of carpet Dir. Phil
lips received him with the same dignity
with which lie would have met a guest
in his ra,miest days. lie showed
him, with considerable pride, bis
girl and two boys who were living with
him. Three of Mr. Philhps's children
are in Philadelphia. One Of the girls IS
at the st. Joseph's School, at Chest
nut Hill. a branch of the st. Joseph s
ASYLUM for Children at Seventh aud
Spruce streets. Another Is with the SIS
tiers Of Notre Dame on Rittenhonse
Square. Lawyer p. d. Mclaughlin has
the boy. Mr.. Phillips oldest daughter,
Mary Frances, VINO brought the children
to this city early in the summer, Is now
on her way back TO Paris. Julia, q
pretty girl Of eighteen, and two small
boys are with their father.
AR. Pbillips's visitor found that the
house was under the management OF an
old woman Of eighty. a servant who had
been in the e, ploy OF the banker )
mother. Faithful to the last, she exacts
no pay for her services, and seems to be
happy in directing the households
modest affairs and watching the golnRs-
out and the comings.in Of the little
family.
THE Ex-BANKER TO RETURN.
After q plain little dinner. over which
Mr.. Philips presided with as much
dignity as though he sat at the head OF a
BANQUET conversation turned upon the
ex-banker's affairs. If Mr.. Phillips
looks did not show that he WIS greatly
troubled his conversation betrayed IT,
His visitor saw that he felt his position
and his poverty keenly. He seemed to
be doing nothing. lie WAS supported by
money sent by the few friends in this
CITY who have remembered him in his
downfall. Once while staying at q
small hotel in Paris he had considerable
trouble about the payment of his bills.
Phillips said that he would paya visit
10 this city in a short time. He could not
entertain the idea of remaining here.
lie said that he did not think a success
full prosecution could be brought against
him. although he had no doubt a prose
cution would be brought. lie had been
guilty, he said, only Of mistakes OF
Judgment. lie declared that he had
no funds with watch to defend him
self and no friends mere whom he could
depend upon. His former friends had
begun to imbibe the prevailing III feel
ing against him. 81 had five or Fix
hundred dollars saved up" he said,
"and with that | paid OF to the last
penny a number of little depositors III
Germantown who thought might suffer
for want of the money. They have been
the loudest in their abuse OF me.
The ex-president seemed to be in con-
tinual fear tina. even his present slender
source of revenue would fail him and
leave his children unprovided for. lie
spoke of doing some literary work to
help himself along. He WAS editor OF
Lippinc0tfS BGgazinc before he or
gained the Columbian Bank. He had
been told that the sssignees OF the bank
would do we'll if they paid twenty-five
cents on a dollar. Mr. Sullivan does
not think Mr.. Phillips will ever return.
Mr.. Sullivan was in Paris ten days.
He saw Phillips on several occasions. He
found that the reason the ex-presldent
lived out of town was because food was
cheaper there. Every article OF food
that passes the Notifications into Paris is
taxed.
Fire in Chicago.
lBy telegraph 70 the Dispatch.l