The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-31
A Merchants Progress.

A correspondent of the Baltimore
Bulletin writes:
The mention of Emma Abbott's name
inevitably suggests some anecdotes ]
heard recently concerning Mr.. George g.
Lake, whose elegant mansion on Fifth
avenue she makes her home here, and to
whom she is glad to be indebted for
much of the material encouragement
that enabled her to pursue her career.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lake keep an apartment
in their house which they call the CAB
bolt room," and which they have deco
rated with number of objects of art,
including a portrait of its occupant,
painted by Frank r. Carpenter. Mr..
Lake is one of the remarkable men of
New York. He is we'll known as the
senior member of the Broadway dry
goods house of Lake & McCreary, but
he retired from active business some
wears ago. He is to-day millionaire.
Mr.. Lake came to New York a poor
boy from New England. He obtained
a situation in the old house of Ubsdell
& Piersop, and, in the course of time,
made a contract for three years at five
hundred dollars per year, or an aggre-
gate of fifteen hundred dollars for three
years. Just after making this contract
he was called on one day by Mr.. Crist,
of Spies, Crist & Co., who said to him:
"Mr. Lake, we have had our eyes on you
for some time; your fidelity and appli-
cation to business please us. We have
been looking for just such man to take
charge of an important department of
our business. We offer you three thou
sand dollars for the first year, five thou
sand the second, and seven thousand the
third" Mr.. Lake replied: II am
obliged to you, Mr.. Crist, for your good
opinion, but l cannot accept your Offer"
Mr.. Crist was surprised. "Why not, Mr..
Lake," Because l just made a con-
tract with Ubsdell & Person" "But
not on such terms as we offer you, Mr..
Lake," "No, certainly not" replied the
young man. as your contract with
Ubsdell & Pierson in writing, Mr.. Lake9"
mo, SIR" "Well, then it is not bind
ing" said Mr.. Crist. at makes no diff
ference" was Mr.. Lakes reply; 81 have
given Ubsdell & Pierson my word"
The years went on, Mr.. Lake supporting
his wife and child on $500 year. They
boarded on Canal street at So week.
Near the end of the three years Mr..
Pierson one day said: "Mr. Lake, we
wish to say to you that we are much
pleased with you. Among all our young
men you have been the most faithful.
We know where you go. When your
daily duties are over you go home. We
are so much pleased with you that we
have decided to offer you an interest with
u.s." Mr.. Lake replied, ~ cannot ac-
cept it, Mr.. Person" "Why notG" 81
have no capital and will not borrow"
1t was Mr.. Persons turn now to be sur
prised. "But, Mr.. Lake, you will stay
with u.s." 81 will stay, Mr.. Pierson, but
you must make it an object" Mr.. Lake
then for the first time told of the offer of
Spies, Crist & Co., three years before.
This he had kept to himself, as faithful
to his duty at $500 year as he would
have been at $4,000 or 1000, though he
could not always keep out of his mind
the tempting offer hehad put aside.
Mr.. Pierson said, "Mr Lake, on what
terms will you remain with usl" II can
not both buy and sell the same thing,
Mr.. Pierson. If my services are desired
by you, make me an Offer" They parted
The next day Mr.. Pierson said: "Mr.
Lake, my partner and myself have deter
mined to make you this offer-$10,0O
per year for ten years." "All right, Mr..
Pierson, accept" And so by fidelity
and patience on $500 per year, George G.
Lake laid the foundation of his fortune.
He is one of Gods noblemen. His heart
is warm with sympathy for the struggling
and the suffering. He is an enthusiastic
lover of music, and was the largest sub
scriber in DR.. Chapn's church to the
fund for the musical education in Europe
of Miss Abbott, in whose success he has
the most unbounded faith. He has
many fine pictures, including, perhaps,
the finest example of Thomas Cole in
New York. He has several Bougeraus, a
superb Van Epps, of Antwerp, etc.
A number of his pictures came from
Jay Cookies "Ogontz Palace" the ia.
nous country-seat of the great Pacific
railroad financier, near Philadelphia.
There is curious history of one of these
paintings hanging in one of the upper
chambers. 1t represents the island home
of Jay Cooke, in Lake Erie, "Gibraltar,"
and was painted by a lady of Ohio, who
spent year upon it. The price not be-
ing stipulated when the commission was
given, the lady thought her services and
the picture worth $4,000. Cooke stood
out about it. Chief Justice Chase, to
whom Cooke largely owed his fortune,
befriended the lady and advised him to
pay her her price. Cooke said it YVES
swindle, and be would not pay any such
price. Finally he sent Cogswell, the
artist, on to New York with the nainf