Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
LORD AVEBURY
LAST Of OLD
TIME BANKERS
Known to America as SeIector Of
"Best One Hundred Books"
Has Few Successors.
BY BoERsIANER.

CHICAGO. June 2l-ln the passing
Of Lord Avebury not many Americans
viii recognize Sir John Lubbock. Sir
John was known internationally. Not
until he was made a lord did his name
become obscured Promotion to. the
House Of Lords is usually a demotion
in fame and popularity.
lie was the last Of what is called
the old school banker. But to people
On this side Of the Atlantic he is re-
membered as the selector of the best
100 books" He was the originator and
the exponent Of the idea that 100 we'll
selected volumes. thoroughly digested,
are equivalent to a university educa-
ton; one need not. in a lifetime, go
beyond such library.
This theory made him famous. And
yet few outside of financial circles
were aware that Lubbock was a high
ly successful banker of superlative
astuteness. He represented a certain
union of pecuniary sagacity and edu-
Gated refinement which was scarcely
to be found in any other part of So
ciety In a time when the business
element was mucn ruder than it now
is, many bankers possessed a variety
of knowledge and a delicacy of at
tainment which would even now be
unusual
Lubbock found happiness in variety
Of work, in public-spirited activities,
in scientic attainments in literary
pursuits, in love Of the country and
in athletics He was known in Eng
land as the typical banker Of the
olden times.
Modern Banker One Sided.
As a rule. the banker Of to-day is a
banker and nothing more OF course,
his name appears on the list of public
charities and movements, but he is
there in name only-not in person or
i'm spirit. His business engrosses him
quite wholly If he play golf or at
tend the opera, or the theater, it is
for the purpose of diversion, of re-
lieving his mind. There is nothing Sc
rious in the world for him before and
after banking hours.
II may be urged that the late j.
Pierpont Morgan was an exception,
Morgan's paintings, his subscriptions
to the opera may be offered in re-
buttal In reality, Morgan's interest
in music was conventional. In fact
it bored him. As an art collector he
stood high among bankers. but very
low among connoisseurs. To the lat
ter, back of their minds he was some
what of gudgeon. Oftener than
will be ever known. Morgan was i'm
posed upon grossly by dealers in pic
lures, old manuscripts and antiques.
The $4,000, 600 he spent In this way
could not be liquidated for a third
Of that sum.
Morgan Deeply Religious.
The only deep and abiding thing
for Morgan, other than his business,
was his religion. Contrary to years
long CyniCism and contentious by
friends and enemies alike, Morgan
was sincerely religious The proof
is the first paragraph of the will filed
early in May-words at once beau
tiful and devotional
There are, to be sure, exceptions
more numerous abroad than here
to the rule of the absorbed business
man banker. but these are so rare as
to make them emphasize the one
sideness of the call. Otto Kahn,
of Kahn, Loeb Il Co. has a
genuine love of music, His father
in-law, Jacob Sehiff. is fond of the
German Theater. Frank A. Wander
lip has a lingering sentiment for
journalism. which he practiced for
fifteen years. James Speyer, of
Speyer & CO.. is happy in society.
But perhaps the most all-around
and unalloyed exception is Charles
G.. Dawes. of the Central Trust Com
pany of Illinois. This ChiCagoan Is
a versatile genius in the genuine
sense of the term. He is widely read.
He writes well and his tiuency of
speech and eloquenCe as an orator
are the wonder of bankers and the
admiration Of outsiders Withal his
skin as a tinanCieT is attested by the
marvellous growth of the institution
of which he is president. Were
Dawes in London. Englishmen would
have no difficulty in choosing Lord
Avebury's successor.