National Republican., 1883-03-03
UNsATIsFIED.
Why Rich Man Never Can Get Enough
Russell Sage, with Twenty millions,
Gives His Theory.

Russell Sage, with Twenty Millions,
Gives His Theory.
"CfoGut" IN Chicago Tribune
While was lunching at Delmonico's down
town. yesterday, Russell Sage came in and
happened TO take the vacant seat at my tablo.
"Can man ever have enough ~ 1 asked him.
rather bluntly. "Why, certainly he can u he
answered. "What put such an idea into your
head2 All want now is o good steak and
some onions and mashed potatoes and celery,
a cup of coffee, and some rice pudding, and
have enough. My tastes are simple but not
so simple as Mr.. GOuld's. Ho will dine on
frogs legs and be satisfied"
Enough money, mean," explained.
"Well," he rejoined, the same answer
holds good. 1t is possible for men to get
enough money just as it is for them to get
enough food. In fact, l believe that most
rich men know that they have enough and
don't really care for any more"
propounded the old jocular conundrum,
"When man has $75,OOO,OOO isn't he just as
well of as if he was rich2
"Pve seen that said ofme," he went on, "that
was worth S75,O00,0O0. But l have never
said was worth any such money. Seventy
FIVE millions Is o pile. But i have some
money. i have good deal. l have enough,
and that's the answer to your question. feel
that l have enough and know that have
enough, and the former desire to accumulate
for the mere sake of accommodating has passed
away"
why don't you go out of business, then ?"
well, there are several reasons. When n
man who began where did, NJ the bottom of
the ladder, and has managed to climb on
pretty well, he wants TO avoid tumble at
last. don't want to lose any of the money l
have made; and when a man has so many
interests in various directions IL is pretty diff
ticult 10 get entirely out and keep everything
whole. Your question reminds me Of Albert
Tracy, of Buffalo. lie began with nothing
was industrious, shrewd, and prudent-and he
made a fortune of 100000, which was u great
thing in those times. He invested 1t wisely,
and it doubled up again, aud finally he found
himself worth some 100000. He and were
friends. A dozen or so of the rich men Of tho
east started west TO build the Wabash road.
l didn't accompany them. Tracy put $150,00O
into the project and lost IL nearly all. l met
him shortly after the collapse. He was rather
blue over IL. 1T amt the money L care for,
said he; it amt the money; sha'nt need
that; but / hate to have My friends say
Tracy was pretty sharp and bright for awhile,
but he lived long enough 70 DO u d fool.
That's what frets me- Now, Tracy was a
representative man. don't want my friends
to make any such remarks about me either"
The waiter had brought his rations now, aud
he was paying judiCiOus attention to It,.
They are not very likely TO indulge in
that particular remark" suggested.
"Then there's another thing" he wont on.
"When man has been in active business as
long as l have l doubt if 1t is prudent 10 sell
out and give up work. They very often die
when they do. They are always uneasy. l
know it wouldn't rest me, 1t would worry
me. Moreover l have had business exper-
fence that ought still to bo of value in some
way"
wen make you secretary of the treasury, u
l remarked.
"hh, thank you; that fixes me-" he said
with u smile in his gray eyes as L passed out.