O X THE LUBBOCKS 1803 NE of England's greatest mathematicians and astronomers, Sir John W. Lubbock, was a banker and the son of a banker. At the age of twenty-two, he became a partner in the London banking-house of Lubbock & Company. Until 1860, he divided time between banking and physical science. The herculean tasks undertaken by this man of affairs in mathematics and astronomy would seem to have made it impossible for him to retain his interest in business, or to give finances any portion of his time. But such was not the case. We find him not only an active member of various philosophical and scientific associations, but also treasurer of the Royal Society, Vice-Chancellor of the London University, and a member of several legislative commissions-notably that on the standards of weights and measures. At the age of thirty-seven, he succeeded to the baronetcy, and became the sole working partner of Lubbock & Company. He guided the bank successfully through the panics of 1847 and 1857. In 1860 his house consolidated with another, tak ing the name Robarts, Lubbock & Co. His partial retirement from business then became total and permanent. At the age of sixty-two his all too busy life came to a close. He left behind him a fame as a contributor to the literature of science second to none of his time, and as a banker a name which stands for sterling honesty, jealous regard for the honor of his house and enthusiastic belief in the banker's mission. Baron Avebury, perhaps better known in the literary and scientific world as Sir John Lubbock, son of Sir John W., born in 1834, head of the banking house of Robarts, Lubbock & Co., actively associated with many civic and scientific organizations, is without question the most influential man of science in the world. His attainments are encyclopædic. His seat is at the head of the table not alone with men of affairs, but also with astronomers, naturalists, archæologists and anthropologists. On quitting Eton College, he entered at once into his father's banking house. While head of the house in fact, his principal activities have been as a publicist and a scientist. His contributions to scientific and general literature have been many and varied, including "Prehistoric Times," "Origin of Civilization," various works on entomological themes, addresses covering a wide range of subjects, scientific, political, educational and philosophical. Early in the nineties this many-sided man surprised the world by publishing "Pleasures of Life" and "Use of Life," books written from the standpoint of a thoughtful sexagenarian, but with all the charm and healthful stimulus of youth. Lord Avebury is fortunate in having a son— and heir to his title in the Hon. John B. Lubbock, a partner in the banking house founded by his great-grandfather. Born in 1858, he has already evinced rare aptitude for business and fine literary tastes and abilities. T ΧΙ FITZ-GREENE HALLECK 1790-1867 HE pioneer "banker-poet" of America was Fitz-Greene Halleck, born in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1790. When nearly twenty-one he went to New York to seek his fortune. About to embark for Virginia after vainly searching for work, he met Jacob Barker, a prominent New York banker, and was employed by him. In a letter to his sister in 1811 he gives us a picture of a typical banker's life at that early period. He writes that Mr. Barker "seldom comes to the office before ten in the morning; stays an hour; goes to the coffee house; returns at two; stays five minutes; goes to dinner; returns at five, and stays an hour and a half, and then goes home." The sudden departure of a fellow clerk promoted young "Fitz" from the journal to the ledger, entitling him to the name bookkeeper, and giving him an authority over the other clerks; but he writes his sister he finds it a "painful pre-eminence, as it requires more care and attention than any other station in the counting-house." Even then he was publishing verses anony |