Connecticut western news., 1889-08-28
MAINE'S RICHEST MAN.
HE DOES MUCH GOOD WITH HIS
 MONEY.

HE DOES MUCH GOOD WITH HIS
 MONEY.
 He Puts On No Style But is Worth
 Millions.
 Passengers on the Maine line steamers frequently notice in the pilot house, a tall, slender man, with a long grey beard and the general as- pect of a retired steamboat Captain or something of that sort. He seems to take casual interest in the navigation of the vessel, and is evidently on fam iliar footing with the officers of the boat, Occasionally he may invite some curious passenger into the wheel house to see the compass or to peep through the glasses. With such he will chat entertainingly about ships, the ocean, the weather, or any other ordinary subject. Incidently it will probably come out that he is President of the line, and he may mention that he is also in the oil-cloth business in New York, though his home is in Maine He is full of thoughtful suggest ions about the best way to avoid seasick- ness, the best staterooms to try to get for the return trip, and as to other mat ters relating to the comfort of the trip. The passenger who has been fortunate enough to fall in with him concludes that the Maine line has most accom- moadating gentleman for it's President, and thinks it would be good thing for the line if it would hire its Presi- dent to sail on every trip and make things pleasant for the patrons.
 ssGoing to stop over in Portland and come back with us next trip, are you?" he said to couple of voyagers recently. "Well, now, don't you stay in Portland; go over to Cushing's Island, to the hotel there, the Ottawa; :; it's the only one there is, and you can't miss it. It'll only take half all hour or so to go there, and you can spend one night and two days there good deal more comfortably than you can in Portland. Just mention at the hotel that I told you to come-Mr. Bailey, president of the steamship line; it won't do any harm."
 These two passengers were more than ever impressed with the gcniality of the Maine lines President, and they took his advice. They had the best room at the hotel, and received other attention that made them curious as to where MT. Bailey got the ''pulp that he evidently had with the hotel pro- prietor. They asked some one who this Mir. Bailey was.
 "Bailey? Oh, President of the steamship line? Why, that's Charles s. Bailey. He's the richest man in Maine. Worth ten or fifteen millions, i and made it all himself. He was about | the first oil-cloth manufacturer in the country, and is the biggest one yet. He most owns the steamship line and a lot of other things. Close as chest nut burr, too, about business, but does an almighty lot of good with his money on the quiet. He don't go much on churches, but he has fancy for help ing young men studying for the minis try or young preachers.
 He'll put up all the money they need right along until they get to mixing in politics or temperance. Then he shuts down on lem right off. Says minis ter's business is to do good to humani- ty, not to talk politics or prohibition. He'll do most anything for man he takes 8 fancy to. knew young man who went to him once and asked him for $5000. He got it, and was going to give note for it. Never mind that,' he said, if you're honest you'll pay me without it, and if you're dis honest you won't pay me anyhow your word is all I want
 That's the kind of a man he is though you'd never suspect it if you had any business dealings with him You don't mean to sayyou were talk ing to him and didn't know who he was? Reckon you don't know much Maine; there ain't many pies dow1 Eastways that he ain't got finger in.
 The two travellers made up theil minds that they had reversed the usua form and had been entertained by al angel unawares.