New Outlook Volume 56 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 Excerpt: ...has been holding conferences with the Colonial Premiers. As a result of these conferences (according to the New York " Evening Post's" London correspondent) a strong section of the Cabinet with protectionist sympathies hope to see a scheme emerge for putting round the Empire a fence of low duties against the foreigner, while the nearest possible approach to free trade shall "prevail within the Empire. (r) The suicide of "Barney" Barna'to--the South African diamond and gold mine operator, who leaped into the ocean from the steamer on his voyage homeward from Africa--was the result of a temporary insanity, and ends a singularly dramatic career. He is supposed to have been born of Jewish parents in London. As a boy he gathered rags and old iron in the Whitechapel Ghetto. Afterwards he wandered off to the South African mining country and. became the hanger-on of a circus. He then began dealing in precious stones. His business grew, and from dealing in single stones he became a dealer in diamond mining properties. This business also grew so rapidly that he soon had capital enough to invest in the new Transvaal gold-fields as well. His interests and those of Mr. Cecil Rhodes clashed for a time, but nearly ten years ago these gigantic operators combined. Barnato was the soul of the so-called " Kaffir circus," which took advantage of the drop of id e capital in London three years ago. During that one year not less than $25,000,000 of stock of mining corporations was listed on 'Change. The next year the notorious ' Barnato Bank " was started, and then came the organization of " Consolidated Companies." This last venture was the most colossal of any; the capitalization of mining companies was rushed up to a total m.