Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-24
THE BANKER IN NEW ASPECT
Shown to be Important Figure IN LIT
eraturo ins1ook by johnson
Brigham.

Accustomed as we are to think OF
the banker as lender OF money and
credit. a custodian Of securities and
. counsellor Of the financially troubled.
II comes as an almost startling revela-
ton to and that one who Is looked
anon as a close-hstad man OF business,
and who has even been called skin
flint. really occupies prominent place
in literature, both as creator OF poe
try and prose and as figure with
which the great literary artists have
delighted to deal.
This revelation comes to us through
book by JOHNSON Brigham. state
librarian Of Iowa It Is entitled The
Banker in Literature, and is published
Nv The Bankers Publishing CO. Of New
York. (Price $1,000
AS a creator Of literature the banker
has by no means been circumscribed
by the lines of his own business. His
tory. poetry. criticism all the depart
ments OF literary effort-have Claimed
his attention and contributed to his
fame.
Il was London banker George
Grote- who wrote what yet remains
a standard History Of Greece" and It
was also London banker. Samuel
Rogers, who wrote e'The Pleasures OF
Memory" and ITALY"
In our own country two dis
tinguished poets, Fitz-Green Halleck
and Stedman were bankers at one
time in their lives.
To enumerate all the bankers who
won fame as essayists, poets, drama.
lists and novelists would result In a
list or names surprisingly long and OF
high repute in the world Of letters.
We should find prominent In this list.
besides those already mentioned, Will
liam Paterson, John Law, David RI
cardo. William Roscoe, the Lubbocks,
Walter Bagehot, Westcott (the lament
ed author of David Harum') and a
number OF others.
Asa character in literature the
banker has figured prominently In the
works Of Balzac, Dickens, Thackeray,
Bulwar, Dumas, Reade, 1bsen and 9th
er writer's. These pictures AFFORD the
banker an opportunity Of seeing him
self as others see him.
Mr.. Brigham has given us sufficient
historical sketch OF the literary bank
ers to enable us to Judge what manner
OIL Hell LuSy WGIO, oAu loS lUOl ally
quoted from their principal produc-
tions. Several anecdotes also enliven
the book.
It may be doubted whether the de-
mands made on the bankers time and
energies by the stress Of modern BUSH
ness life would permit any one to
achieve the solid literary fame Of some
Of those whose work Mr. Brigham has
so delightfully."- called to mind. These
men belonged, if not to "the good old
times" to an elder day. Of more polite
ness, elegance and leisure, when the
cultivation OF the fine arts was less in
harmonious with the bankers calling
than 1t seems now.
The book contains peculiar charm.
In its pages the banker will realize q
delicate reminder Of his own occupa-
ton, but he will be held by thread
so fine as not to be gallinga mere
reminder of busy hours, while he is en-
joying himself in company with men
who were bankers and who have
earned lasting fame as creators of lit
erature.
Appropriately enough, the book is
dedicated to John Pierpont Morgan
LII. D.. Americas foremost banker
and patron OF literature" Not only d