The Sensation of the Hour

Abstract

Toward the end of the 1880s decade, as the nitrate boom reached its zenith, Colonel North began to look elsewhere to expand on his portfolio of investments, and until the year of his death, 1896, he diversified away from Chile into goldmines in Australia and South Africa, trams in Egypt, rubber in Africa, cement works in Brussels,² a hotel and tourist complex in Ostend, and silver mining near Belgrade and in Bolivia at the Maravillas mine.³

When Colonel South, the millionaire, gave his last garden party I was amongst the guests who had a welcome true and hearty. The Prince of Wales was also there, and my heart jumped with glee, When I was told the Prince would like to have a word with me.

Chorus:

Where did you get that hat? Where did you get that tile?

Isn’t it a nobby one, and just the proper style?

I should like to have one just the same as that!

Where’er I go, they shout “Hello! Where did you get that hat?”

—From the music hall song Where did you get that hat?¹