The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-16
THE LATE COLONEL NORTH.
Remarkably Successful I'm Bushes
hut n Failure I'm Politics.
Letter in New York Tribune.

Smalley's Letter in New York tribune.
Colonel North, whose sudden death is re-
ported this week, was one OF the first OF tnat
remarkable group of self-made millionaires
who have figured in the financial lie OF
England during this generation. He mad, OF
course, great abilities, and among them the
power Of perceiving and understanding Inc
conditions of success those modern condi-
tons which change from year TO year. IKE
the prices of the stocks he dealt in. He
formed connections useful TO him both in
politics and the press He understood men
very well-not only Englishmen, out South
Americans. who require separate STUDY. In
business matters whether within his special
department or not, he was match Tor al
most anybody. He understood the public
also, and had to interest them In his ven
lures. His attempts TO enter English society
had little success. Friends he had within
that difficult circle, bit friendships are not
always a passport. He was, in truth, very
rough diamond indeed, and he never seemed
to have thought it worth while to conform to
the standard which society sets up. 1t might
be easy to compare him with Baron HirSch,
who unlike Col North. did obtain a foothold
and keep ii in England If not on the CONT
nent. But Hirsch was very different type
of man. North never seemed at his ease in
what is called good company or, perhaps it
may be said. that he was too much at his
ease He put no restraint on himself, or not
rude of speech and also OF manner. Hirsch,
whatever he may have been underneath, had
veneer of conventionality.
when Colonel North went to Leeds to con-
test one of its divisions for Parliament he
outraged the provincial sense of propriety
by his coarSeneSs and something more than
coarseneSs. He really wanted TO get into
Parliament, but, shrewd as he was in many
ways, he had not Sirewdness enough to see
tnat ne must conform to the not very high
standard of department which electoral con-
test requires. Herbert Gladstone was his OPP
ponent and there were not few Liberals
who would have been glad to see that rath-
err positive person defeated. Colonel North
aid, indeed, cut down the Gladstone major
Buy from over two thousand to less than a
hundred, but there he stopped. The loose
Ness OF his tongue cost him the few other
votes ne needed to win.
In the city. however, that is in the bust
ness world of London, abrupt manners and
some brutality of speech Interfere little
with the success OF man who has a bus
mess head on his shoulders There it was
that Colonel North's real supremacy was
Ielt. The nitrate king was king in his own
dominions. II not elsewhere. He had the
true genius OF the speculator. Whatever
was grandiose in finance or any new spec
ulative enterprise attracted him. He was
Just as capable Of building a new Ostend
as OF floating new company. On the turf
TOO, ne had some success, and found n
pleasure in matching his own wits against
those of the gamblers in horsefesh to
whom the turf had been all their lives a
PROFESSION. 1t is game which has to be
ting De, as 1T is with most patrons of the
turf, the real object of running horses. it is
also one avenue, may be, to social life
but you mustyenter by the doors of the
Jockey club and the, jockey club is some
times exclusive.
Colonel North had good traits in private
HE; He had generosity. as his gift of Kirk
stall Abbey to Leeds showed and his kind
ness to many of his friends, and to some
VINO We're not his friends, Is we'll known