Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-22
KING OF DIAMONDS.
Had $5,ooo,ooo Annual Income and
Saved s2,5o0,O0o Each Year.

1t is doubtful If Harry Barnato, the
South African millionaire, who died
the other day, knew exactly how much
he was worth, says the London CORES
pondent Of the New York World, or,
If he did, realized the prodigious pow
er his wealth might have exerted.
Probably he was the richest commoner
in Great Britain. His income for the
last two or three years was $5,000,000,
and an estimate has been made that
he was worth $50O00,0OO For the last
ten years Harry Barnato, who began
life as a juggler, had saved on the
average $2,5OO,0O0 a year. He had Of
ten shown, incidentally not boastfully,
checks for 100000 received in payment
of monthly dividends.
Harry Barnato never talked about
his possessions. Sometimes his inti-
mates chaffed him about being the
modern Croesus. Then he would say
very gravely:
1T is better that I should have this
money instead of somebody else, for
I take care Of 1t and do a certain
amount Of good with it. Somebody
else might waste it without profiting
human being"
Had Harry Barnato been worth ten
times as much he would not have
changed his manner Of life in the
slightest. So far from being parsim-
onious, he was generous, but he vas
not extravagant, and he was anything
but luxurious. Outside Of his raiment,
he did not spend $25 a week on HIM
self. He lived very quietly indeed,
not more than half the rooms in his
great house on upper Hamilton ter
race were in use; but, Of course, 1t
cost great sums to maintain that es-
tablishment. He passed most OF his
time between his home and the office
Of the diamond syndicate in Ely place.
Barnato would arrive at the Office OF
a morning wearing a frock coat and
silk hat. The hats brim had rakish
curl: the wearers mustache was curl
ed; he looked for all the world like
the proprietor Of circus-until he
began to talk business. He smoked
cigars which are kept in the office to
offer to prospective buyers. He had
his luncheon at the office for nothing,
and his tea, too. If he wanted a drink
a dozen men rejoiced to pay for 1t, for
the privilege Of talking to him for a
minute.
If Harry Barnato thought he was
right he would dispute shilling's bal
ance in q bargain, and, gaining the
shilling, would toss it to the first beg
gar.
He owned and ran a few horses, but
never bet more than S. or SO on one
to win or for the place. Two ideas
beset him; one that his dead brother,
Barney Barnato, was the most saga
cious, clear-headed man that ever
lived; the other that the house Of Bar
nato Brothers, conducted by his neph-
ews, Sol and j. B. Joel, Is the most
remarkable and successful business
establishment in the world. But Har-
ry Barnato very seldom went into the
senator's private office, where he had
such vast interests. They preferred
to conduct the business without con-
sulting him, and he had great faith In
his nephews, and did not want to in
terfere so long as he received his huge
checks.
Mrs. Asker of Berkeley Square, Har-
ry Barnatos daughter Is to receive
from his estate nearly $5,000,000.
What disposition Is to be made Of
the rest of the money and property left
has not been made public.