The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-21

l---f oNDoN was just then talk
ing of one whose name IS
already a name and moth
ing more Reuben Rosen-
than had made his millions
- in the diamond fields of
South Africa and had come
" home to enjoy them accord
q ing to his lights; how he
went to work will scarcely
be forgotten by any reader
of the half-penny papers. which rev
elled In endless anecdotes of his origi-
nal Indulgence and present prodigality,
varied with Interesting particulars of
the extraordinary establishment which
the millionaire set up in st. Johns
Wood Here he kept a retinue of
Kaffirs, who were literally his slaves
and hence he woula sally, with enor-
nous diamonds in his shirt and on MS
finger. In the convoy Of IA prize
fighter of henous repute, who was
not however. by any means the worst
element in the Rosenthall 'menage. So
said common gossip; but the fact was
sufficiently established by the inter-
ference of the police on at least one
occasion, followed by certain magis-
terial proceedings which were report
ed with justifiiable gpsto and huge
headlines in the newspapers aforesaid.
And this was all one knew of Reuben
Rosenthall up to the time when the old
Bohemian club. having fallen on evil
days, found 1t worth its while to or
ganize a great dinner in honor of 50
wealthy an exponent of the clubs prin-
cipes. | was not at the banquet my
self, but a member took Raffies who
told me all about it that very night
Most extraordinary show | ever
went to In my life" said he. AS for
the man himself-well, | was prepared
for something grotesque. but the TEL
low fairly took my breath away. To
begin with, he's the most astounding
brute to look at. well over feet, with
a chest like barrel and q great hook
nose, and tie reddest hair and whis
kers you ever saw Drank like a fire.
engine, but only got drunk enough to
make us a speech that | wouldn't
have missed for ten pounds I'm only
sorry you wrent there, too, Bunny
old chap"
/ began To he sorry myself, for Raj.
fles was anything but an eXcitable per-
son. and newer had I seen him so eX-
cited before Had he been following
Rosenthall's example,? His coming to
my rooms at midnight merely to tell
enough to excuse a suspicion which
was certainly at variance with my
knowledge Of A. j. Raffles
what did he say?'' / inquired me-
chanically, OWNING some subtler ex-
PLANTATION of this visit and wondering
what on earth it could be.
SAY" cried Raffes. what did he
not say He boosted of his rise. he
Dragged of his riches, and he black
guarded society for taking him up for
his money and dropping him out OF
sheer pique and jealousy because he
had so much He mentioned names
too, with the most charming freedom
and swore he was as good a man as
the old country had to show-pace the
Old Bohemans. To prove it he point
ed to a great diamond in the middle
of his shirt front with little finger
loaded with another just like 1t. Which
of our bloated princes could show a
pair like that? As a matter of fact
they seemed quite wonderful stones,
with a curious purple CLEAN to them
that must mean a pot of money. But
old Rosenthall swore he wouldn't take
10000 pounds for the two, and wanted
to know where the other man was
who went about with $4,000 in his shirt
front and another 25 900 on his little
finger He didn't exist If he did, he
Wouluii nav ~ piuTN 20 ~
But ne haa-he tell US WY Ailu
pelore you eo',iu say jan fNooiii9o'l
ne had whipped OUT l''-cNlhs great
revolver
Not AT the 'apie
Al the table! IN the hilddle OF ms
speech But. IL was hothlng TO What
ne wanted TO 40 Ire actuaiiS wanted
US TO let nm write ms name III pui-
lets on the opposite wall to show us
why he WASH AFRAID TO go apoHt III
all his diamonds Ihat nrute fufVls'
the prize-nghler' VINO is ms paid puiiS'
mad TO pully MS muster oeloae ne
could be persuaded out OF II. mere