St. Paul daily globe., 1895-10-20

The life of Barney Barnato reads
like a romance, says the New York
Record. He was born of Hebrew
parents, in the Whitechapel district
of London, forty-fve years ago, and
grew up amid surroundings the re-
zsVerse of favorable. The active life
of the streets appealed to him, how
ever, and at an early age he became
a strolling juggler and contortionist,
spreading his mat on the pavements,
wherever a crowd be gathered, and
giving, with the aid of his brother,
one of the usual exhibitions peculiar
to the English metropolis.
But the humble acrobat had ambi-
tion to risa beyond his lowly calling.
He was always shrewd, and, finally,
in the early seventies, when the
South American diamond craze over
spread Europe, he saw his oppor-
tunity, and, with his brother, sailed
for the diamond fields.
In due time the brothers arrived at
the diggings, but their introduction
to African life was anything but
suspicious. They gave open-air ex-.
hibitions, presumably doing well
enough, but the infinite audacity of
the man crept out when Barnato
hlred atent, and on the spot where
the town Kimberly now stands play
ed Hamlet to audiences of easilv
satisfied miners.
Inc little Hebrew, however felt that
his opportunity was near al hand and
when the profits ofsnis thea trical VEN
lures warranted it, he began to buv
and sell uncut diamonds, and, finally
rose to the dignity of a speculator in
mining shares generally, acquiring
stock that represented no particular
value at the time, and, by adroit man
ipulation, disposing of it later at
good price.
The real rise of Barnato. however
dates from his connection with Cecil
Rhodes, who was at that time the in
valid son of an English clergyman
temporarily sojourning in South AZ
rica.
Rhodes career is as dazzling in
way as that CT Barnato. At the time
thelr acquaintanceship began he was
poor, but even his enemies conceded
ms genius, and he was ambitious to
an extreme degree. 1t was case of
the communion of kindred spirits. how
ever, for they formed a compact of
the most daring nature. BY methods
not necessary to rehearse here, they
actually forced down the price of
diamonds, until the gems were a drug
The stock Of the companies fell in
sympathy, but were quietly absorbed.
until one day South Africa awakened
TO the fact that Rhodes and Barnato.
through capital which they controlled.
were in command of property worth
untold millions of money. Up went
the prices of stocks again, and it was
not long before the most famous mines
OF Kimberly were reorganized as a.
. part of the property of the D. E. Beers
Mining company with a capitaI OF
$50,000000, Rhodes and Barnato hold
ing large slice of what was said TO
be the richest concern in the world
This leap from obscurity into fame
and wealth would have satisfied ordi-
nary men, but it was only a stepping
stone for the two leaders in the mad
race for wealth in one of the widest
territories ever entered by man.
The real opportunity of the Rhodes
Barnato combination came, in fact.
after they had completed their dia-
.1nond deals.
Africa is, in truth, the continent of
mystery. Out of it for years had
conIestories Of fabulous gold mines and
mineral wealth beyond tlie-sdrean}s of
avarlce. Reports. of the rediscovery of