The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-28

Alfred Belt, Diamond Magnafe
the Polished Gems from the Mines He Controlled

London continues to tell good stories
late Alfred Beit,y the Sourh African dia-
nond magnate. He was as generous
as Russell Sage was penurious, and the
extent of his charities will never be
known. His hand was ever. in his
pocket. It is said that his gifts aver
aged more than $1,000 900 yearly. A
leading writer remarks that only his
personal friends knew the man. Z.
Ills tastes were scientific, antiquarian,
and artistic. In his Park lane house
in London, he had several very fine old
and Rubens. He was a discriminating
buyer, not prone to be- deceived, but
prompt to conclude purchase if he
were really bent upon it. AS an in
| stance in point, he went to STAY with
an Australian fnancier in Hartford
shire for the weekend. The house
and grounds pleased him. After dinner
ne asked his host whether he cared to
sell. Yes, he was told, Eat price,
~ want the place as it stands furni-
MR. B ssxan' b h9rgsi ana stuek sa da
the spot, the host only insisting on tax
ing away his wife's portrait. Two days
later Mr.. Belt entered into possession.
-, Mr.. Belt was at least once fascinated
by the troopers life. It was during
Lord Randolph Churchill s visit to
South Africa in 1891, when the camp
fires were lit, and every one made mer-
ry with song. and dance and champagne
suppers. Mr.. Belt was there, and re-
solved one night to enlist as a trooper
on the morrow! .s = s.
."What s the use Of being million
aires" he exclaimed" "Nothing! 3 A
trooper s life for me! No cares: no
troubles! All the world before you,
and no worry from morning till night!
A millionaire-suspen all the day
long! [ shall enlist tomorrow But
morning brought other reflections, and
Mr.: Belt did not become trooper.
Now and then Mr.. Belt did some
thing to amaze the diamond trade-but
not the PUBLICAN example being the
OCCASION on which he had a pure white
4281A carat rough diamond cut to a
228h finished stone and exhibited in a
little shop window in the Rue de Ia
Palx, Paris, the luxury capital of the
world, as ga sample Of our goods
A story which Mr.. Rhodes used tc
tell illustrates the fnancier's marvel
lous memory. Late one night in Kim
berley, Mr.. Rhodes, Mr.. Belt, anc
, some others had an important business
transaction together, and an agreement
was Hoo, VI WHICH, Iuf. hnOQoS COOF
, possession. The next morning MI
Rhodes failed to remember where he
had put the document Active search
was made without it's being discovered
l go and. ask Alfred,' said Mr.
Rhodes, "heu remember where
put it,
. Mr.. Belt was duly Awakened. Turn
, ing round sleepilyin his bed, he said
lit is in his left-hand waistcoat peck
| ct. He took his waistcoat off because
ne felt too hot, and threw it under the
sofa The waistcoat was found; there
!, in the lief t-hand pocket, was the missing
I 4 document. : w.. e.. .'f
; His devotion to his old mother was ;
! noteworthy trait. "You can't offe,
: Jameson anything,' Cecil Rhodes uset
q q to say, H"and as for Belt, all he wants
5 in this; world is thousand year TO-
2 his mother.'
= Mr.. Belt had the highest regard TO
y the business and technical genius of tn,
American, nation, and wherever he &C
) qulred new interests he passed by mel
y of his own and his adopted nation
= German and English, and obtained
= Americans. &Wherever, Mr. Belt IS en-
terprises were found, in South Africa