The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-16
BANK OF C0UTTS
R0MANCEs OF ONE OF ENGLAND's
 GREATEST BANKERS.
Thomas Coutts Was . Canny scotsmas Who Had q Rare knack For Mak- ing Frfends--a1arrlea .. House. maid, But Thfee Daughters
 Married Tltles.

F@ .-%-~- Tit Bits.
 The death of that grand old lady. the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, has set all the world talking about her fabulous wealth. In the annals of the cornnner- cial world it 1t doubtful if moro re- markabie story can be found than that connected with the banking house Of Messrs. Coutts and Company. Business success and love and romance are in termingled in a manner stranger than any fiction ever written.
 Almost two centuries ago James Coutts--the eldest son of John Coutts, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, who start ed the first private banking business house in Eeotland--came to London and became a partner in the banking firm of Campbell and Coutts. in the Strand. James was joined by his brother Thomas, the shabby little man" who was once mistaken for a beggar, who married his brothers housemaid, Betty Starky, and on her death espoused an actress. Harriet Mellon. Three of his daughters became the wives of the Earl of Guilford. the Marquis of Butte and Sir Francis Burdett.
 Evidently Thomas Coutts was firm believer in the old saying, Look after the pence; the pounds will take care of themselves"
 Meeting an old school friend he ask ed him to dinner, and gave him 6 sumptuous repast. Next day his friend met Coutts at the bank to arrange some business accounts, and on balanc- ing them it was found that the sum of one penny was due to Thomas Coutts. His friend laughed and said:
 "of course you won't want me to pay you that pennyT'
 Pardon me, do," said cuotts.
 What" cried his friend. you give me sumptuous dinner one day. and ask me for @ penny the neAt?"
 Excuse me-" said Coutts; Tt l had not been so particular in setting my pence should not have been able to give you any dinner at all, my friend
 Thomas Coutts had shrcwd eye to business, Hearing a banker relate at his own table how a certain noblcn,an had asked for 0 loan S0,0e0 pounds which the banker said he had refused to give him, coutts set of to tho mo- bleman's house the moment his guests had retired, and requested the favor of an Interview with the peer at his bank the next day. Un tho noblenian arriving. Coutts at once rendered him S0.0o0 pounds in notes. The nobleman was surprised. and remarked that he found he only required le,oOo pounds at present. He begged. however. Coutts to place the remaining $20,0oo to the credit of an account which he forthwith opened with coutt's bank, and which proved an extremely lucrative one. The nobleman shoru. afterward paid 100000 pounds into it, besides recommending Coutts bank to all his friends, including George III, who, with Queen Charlotte, honored 1t with their patronage.
 Thomas Coutts had a rare knack of making powerful friends. Coutts' be- came royal bank after George III. opened his account there, while among foreign royalties Louis Philippe. the King of the Belgians, the King of Por- tugai, the Shah, the late Empress of Mexico and the late Empress Frederick have all been customers. The exEm- press Eugenie also banks at Coutts', and was often to be seen entering the doors of the famous old house Among thousands of other notabilities who banked there were Lord Nelson. the Duke of Wllington. Pitt, Dickens aud Benjamin West In fact. lhe old ledgers contain what would make the most wonderful collection of autographs in existence.
 Except to increase the success of the hank Thomas Coutts was quite devoid of any ambition; for while his brother flames became Q member of Parliament Thomas worked hard aInassing large
  his spare time at the theatre. Match. making n1arnmas spread their nets in vain for him. until in disgust they termed him ''the most cold-blooded ant. nal that Scotland ever produced"
 What was their amazement. there fore, when they learned that he had actually led Betty Starky. his brothers housemaid, to the altar! Even his brother James grew angry. But Thomas did not care a brass button for the worlds opinion. Betty had all the virtues he looked for in wife cleanliness. industry, good humor and modesty of demeanor.
 But although Thomas Coutts consid- cred that great happiness for himself was to be found in humble marriage he evidently held different views in rgard to his daughters. who. on marry ing, became respectively Ladv Francis Burdett, the Countess of Guilford and the Marchior ess of Butte. The late Baroness Burdett-Coutts was the youngest daughter of Lady Francis Eurdett and the favorite eranddaugh- ter of Thomas Coutts. It was because of the latter fact that, when his sec ond wife--who afterward married the Duk of St. Aibans--died, she left the bulk of her fortune to Miss Angela Burdett. who thus, at twenty-three years of age, became a millionaire.
 The second marriage of Thomas Coutts was a no less romantic affair than the first. It has already been mentioned that the banker sought re- taxation at the theatre, and 1t was at Is-r'ry Ian that he first became shit ten with the charms of Harriet Mellon, who was forty-five years his junior, generally considred to be the handsoni- est Audrey on the stage. Surely the romance of life was never more extra ordinary than in Harriet Melons case The daughter of strolllng players she won for herself a place among the leading actresss of the Georgian era, became the wife of the richest banker in London, and finally a duchss In the peerage of Great Britain.
 Despite the disparity in age, Thomas Coutts and Harriet Mellon lived very happy married life toeether for seven years, and 1t is striking proof of the bankers devotion to his second wife that he not only allowed her to spend f40,000. chiefly among the charities in which she was intereSteS. during the hst year of their marriage, but when hA died left to his actress wife all the wealth Of which he was possessed.
 This was in 1922. and five years afs fer inc bankers death hts widow mar ried the ninth Duke Of St. Albans. She died in 1887. and. with a noblenesS of mind which proves that the maxim "noblesse oblige" may actuate one