The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27

ehaA y W DuibuOEuuhnObot bIO Luuet BNbAly /
approached of men. He believed in taking |
broad views, and did 60 when mon who are mere
money spinners would take narrow ones. Thon
no was SO open-handed. His readiness for Civ
ing : free calls has become a kind OF proverb.
There are always lots of people to tease sue
cessful men with their parasitical attentions
needy scribblers who pretend to DO Journalistic
touts, people who think they have done
the millionaire a good turn, and 80 on.
Some men choke these people of by
deputy. Barney did not choke them of whom
he could recognize anything like a claim. I
have heard tales of his accompanying informa-
tion for print with u free call for q few Of the
shares to DO influenced by the publication, the
call to be made on a certain future date. This
meant that on the fixed date tho happy Jour
nalist' had the right to cali for the shares at
the fxed price, or, II they had gone up In price
in the mean time-which they probably had done
to receive a check for the difference between
the fixed price and tho market price. That's
how it's done. No doubt some OF these tales
were true. 1t 10 certain that the beautiful
bountiful Barnie' as q poetaster once called him,
gave away many a free call and many q tip
which was far moro valuable, to people in q far
grander social position than are tho hangers-on
! OF financial and other 'organa.' Perhaps such O
policy paid well by extending the ananoier's
reputation In various and devious ways.
"Recklessness too, of the gamblers kind may
have had something to do with his admitted
success. But q certain kind OF genius was also
requisite. There were deeper strains in Barney
than many were able to detect. With such o
man there Is much pe~rsifage-much that seems
debonair. and that misleads tho casual be-
holder; in the recesses Of his own windowless
mind the successful fnancier keeps q deadly
grip on his essentials-a grip that never rela1ea.
Ono OF Barney's many biographers once quoted
some of his subjects homely sayings, which
struck me as very characteristics. For example,
Barney was an accomplished boxer, and was
fond OF drawing SMILES from the noble
art Of self-defence. Said he: Never let
q man put his hand on you without
giving him what for" and always have the
first hit He frequently scted on this principle,
as some friends have the misfortune to remem-
Der. His opponents found him a Heather Chinee
for ways that are dark and tricks that are vain
and vexing. Withal he could be fair and above
board. You have no right said he, to spoil
another mans game as long as he plays it clev-
erly; he will expose himself soon enough when
he ceases to DO clever at it. Another OF his Sam
Slick-like observations, combining shrewdness
Of o very worldly kind with q knowledge Of
human nature. was: Never play a game above
the peoples heads. Let them think they under.
stand it-but keep q bit in hand every time"
As to the causes Of Barnato's suicide. It may
be said without reserve that financial embarrass-
ment was not one of them. The market value
Of his possessions, say in September, 1895, was
between $50, o00.o 600 and 800. 00o, 600. The
collapse in the market since has probably 70
duced this below $40, 900, 900, but Barnato at
the time of his death was probably still O million
aire several times over in pounds sterling. The
man was always a reckless liver, but not so
viciously dissipated as has sometimes been rep
resented.
And. in conclusion. here are a few paragraphs
from the latest current gossip about poor Bar
ney.' as London now calls the dead millionaire:
1T was q curious thing about the firm Of Bar
nato Brothers that when under the guidance Of
Barnato no division Of profits ever took place, It
being left to the discretion Of the partners to
draw what they liked.
Careless of dress and manner, and perfectly
transformations unless he had a purpose to serve.
bis morning johannesburg drive. from 9 to :.
was often taken in pajamas, overcoat, and slip
pers; and 1t was then that he would talk mos
freely of his plans and views for the future.
He was much chagrined at his inability to
keep up Barnato banks. He constituted him
self the practical manager. and spent hours a
day in looking after details- 1t was a pet scheme
of his, and when it proved a failure he never
really took any further direct interest in the
London stock market
N-AeSo wv otNCupiCu ~ OhSC0 hlb huLn-
bic origin. and in the days OF his prosperity he
stuck TO the old friends and the old tastes of his
youth Fish fried in oil, after the Jewish fash.
ion, he invariably introduced into the menu OF
the great suppers given TO his friends in his
own home. A sister Of the millionaire to this
day keeps a fried hsh shop in Middlesex street
more familiarly known as Petticoat lane-and
Barney was q frequent visitor there. When he
decided to settle in Park lane he offered to pro
vida nm aafa hliahnanf ~ thA Wat End FOR haw
but she declined either to retro from business
or to leave the neighborhood In which abe had
passed her life.
while he was q tenant Of Spencer House his
wife gave birth TO q son, who was called by the
name of Ladas-not after the courier OF Alex.
ander the Great. hut after Lord Rosebery's horse.
which had just won the Derby-and Mr.. Bar.
nato. to honor the event, proposed TO present his
wife with q parure OF diamonds. The 3eweller
waited upon the millionaire at Spencer House.
and Barnato. who opened the front door. com
planned to the dealer in precious stones, who was
also q friend of the host. that. although he
had seventeen servants, hs could not get one OF
them TO open the door. but had TO do 1t himself.
The parure Of diamonds was examined, and O
popular low comedian, who had the run OF
Spencer House in those days. was asked for his
opinion whether something better ought not 10
be found for Mrs. Barnato.
Certainly. said the comedian. throwing the
parure across the table. but don't you think.
Barney. that this would do for the baby TO play
with r."
Mr.. Seton.Karr. who has recently returned
from Africa. has been giving TO the Royal In
~stitution some account OF his highly interest
ing and important discoveries In that cont
nent. In November last. he discovered the
great flint mines OF Egypt. which. In itself. is q
most notable achievement. though II has moi
that fascination Of vague conjecture which II
possessed by another result OF his wanderings
for he claims to have found In Somaliland the
original homo Of primeval man.
With regard to the discovery Of the long-losI
, flint mines. Mr.. Karr says that he had pre-
, viously discovered stray hints In Thebes, bu'
, uas most anxiouk tn proye that there WAS nc