Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-27

magnificent house at Tuxedo, where Mrs.
Fish engineered a number of house par
ties. to which the best-known New York
society folks eagerly accepted invitations
He took boxes at the horse show and the
OPERA and Mrs. Fish invited the guests,
and generally succeeded in having the
'toasts of the town among them. He got
his clothes made in England, and some OF
them were remarkable connections of sar-
tora1 art He bought expensive fixtures
and presented one OF them, Rubens, to
the Metropolitan Museum. He spent his
money without stint, in fact. for anything
that took his fancy, and in 1904 purchased
the house of William C. Whitney, with its
store of art treasures on 5th avenue. He
early capped the climax of his social ambi-
ton by giving at Sherry's in 1902 a CO.
tillon which was swidely heralded in the
newspapers for it's splendid extravaganza.
Mr. Smith gave concerts at which Caruso
and other opera singers were highly paid
to entertain. During the summer season
he visited England, Scotland and the comfy
. nent. He secured a shooting box In the
Scottish Highlands and entertained lavish
ly at the two English residences of his sis
ter. also an heiress to his uncles estate at
Hurslay Park and in London.
He was enthusiastically taken up by
many of the English nobility, and each year
passed some time at Panderagee Castle
with the Duke and Duchess of Manchester,
and acted as Godfather for one of their
los.- .l-~l., Id
in the society columns of the London news
papers, with the result that he became
much-sought-afte bachelor both in Lon
don and New York society.
During this ascent of the social ladder
he was thrown into the company at numer-
GUS functions of Mrs. w. Rhinelander Stew
art who at that time had not been d.
vorced. Mrs. Stewart was Baltimore belle,
a handsome woman extremely fond of So
ciety, and one who appeared strongly to the
millionaire bachelor.
Later cablegrams stated that Mrs Smith,
with the body of her husband and other
members Of her party, had arranged to
leave Yokohama on April 10. They will be
met in San Francisco by Eugene thinner
man of Cincinnati, who is the father of the
Duchess of Manchester.
Founder of the Fortune
George Smith, the founder of the great
fortune which fell to James Henry Smith
upon the old mans death, was one of the
pioneer bankers of Chicago and the north
west. He was native of Scotland and
came to America in 1893. when he was TWEEN
ty-six years old. From New York he drifted
westward and, finally locating in Chicago
just before the beginning of the boom
period in that city, invested his small saw
ings in city lots. These increased in value
rapidly and with his increased capital he
returned to Scotland and organized a land
investment company. He remained in Scot
land but a short time, however, returning
to Chicago with his company and several
partners prepared for business.
Organized a Bank.
They prospered from the start, organized
a bank and eventually obtained large hold
ings in many of the enterprises of the
rapidly growing northwest. One of Mr..
Smiths most profitable investments prob
ably was a purchase of large amount of
anC sold at par. This single investment is
said to have netted aim more than &c.
OOO,OOO profit. Mr.. Smith never married,
and at his death the bulk of his great for
tune went to his nephew.
James Henry Smiths inheritance was es-
timated at 100000, but lis fortune had
increased steadily since it fell into his hands
in 1899, and the estate now is estimated at
between $6OCOo,O0O and $75,OOO,OOO.