Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-05-08

had paid 80 per cent to the snare
holders. But the diamonds were so
astoundingly plentiful that this fourth
of the surplus turned out for the ten
years before the war about a million
dollars a year. When it is considered
that Rhodes and Belt were likewise
the chief shareholders, with their 80
per cent. and their three-fourths of the
surplus profit, one can understand how
it is that they didn't run short of pin
money.
Suffered by African war.
OF course the war cut off most of
this income and Mr.. Belt doubtless
feels the pinch of poverty severely.
1t is hard to have to live on the in
terest Of $100,O0O,00O or so when you
have had formerly an additional in
come of maybe a million or two year
for current expenses.
The Belt interests are not limited,
however, to Johannesburg and Kim
berley. He helped to originate the
British South African company, and
has huge interests in the Chartered
company. paying his share of the COM
pany's annual deficits with steady
confidence that showed his loyalty to
Rhodes. The De Beers company got
grant of 400 square miles in Rhode
STA, too, in return for their help at the
time of the Matabele war. Belt is a
director in the Rhodesia railways, linn
tied, and was so much in sympathy
with Rhodes that he had hand in the
Jameson raid. Through his firms he
controls companies having a nominal
capital of $100,000,000 and as most of
the stock is listed at high premiums
it may be imagined how great is the
influence he exercises. Like Rhodes
again, he doesn't speculate, and the
confidence in his judgment and ffnan-
ciaI integrity are so great that there
is whole swarm of little fellows with
only $10,000,000 or $20,000,00O apiece
ready to put as much as he asks for
into any scheme he has on hand.
One of the Quiet Kind.
What manner of man is it who has
! a grip of more power over human fort
unes than even the Autocrat of all the
Russias?
He seems to be chiefly remarkable
! for negative qualities. He has none OF
| the slapdash, devilmay care ways that
distinguished Barney Barnato, none OF
| the taste for blufing that made HoOley
celebrated, none of Rhodes command
! ing individuality, no fads, no taste fol
OstentatiOn, and no niggardness. You
could not find a better example OF
a polished, courteous, reticent, we'll
! balanced man of the world
A man who has dined occasionally
in Belts Park Lane house says he is
an admirable host; not ELUSIVE Ger
tainly, but simple and cordial and
genuine. The house itself has beer
furnished with an eye to the avoidance
J OF display. Perhaps it's most striking
feature is a rockery just off the dining
room, which, with the pressure of a
! button, becomes beautiful series OF
waterfalls, delighting the eye anG
cooling the air Choice dinners are
given there occasionally, and high and
mighty folk are often among the
| guests, but most of them are business
connections of the host in one way OF
| another, and women are rarely in
cluded.
| 1t is dramatic to picture a multi
millionaire as working harder thar
any OF his employees, and as being
obliged to live like Rockefeller on
| crackers and milk-providing one
can't go to the other extreme and have
him light his cigars with thousand
dollar bills and have his pet poodle's
teeth filled with gold-which last
manifestation is a matter of record
in the history Of Hooley. But, unfort.
unately, this quiet, courteous little
| German Jew does not come up to any
of these requirements. He does not
| even work hard nowadays, and spends
a good deal of time riding, a recrea.
ton of which he is as fond as Sir
! Charles Dixie. He has succumbed to
he fascination of golf, too, and al
though by no means a bon viviant. he
seems to get good deal of quiet en-
! jOyment out of life