The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-06

know how bad il was, but he reads them
altogether for the pleasure OF reading
them and not Is student. A. I.
Stewart, who was college graduate
and had been . school teacher, used
to read Greek g . relaxation after .
hard days work. Mr.. Wanamaker,
who did not have the advantages of col
lege course, does not pretend to find much
fun in heavy reading. He is up on all the
questions of the day, however, and is very
fond Of good novel. He finds abundant
pleasure, too, in reading the children's
books with which Sunday-schooI Libraries
are largely stocked, and he often uses some
passage in . favorite story to point moral
in his addresses down 1t Bethany Sunday
school. His Sunday school work and all
the rest Of his religious work form indeed
his most pleasurable occupation In life.
His religious and philanthropic work IS
extraordinary, and he conducts it with all
the methodical attention that he gives to
his secular affairs. His Sundays he gives
up entirely to such work. He has given
over $1,000 to the Bethany church, its
college and buildings. He has given $780,
900 to the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, which during his administration as
president erected its present magnificent
building at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets
in Philadelphia. The children's wing Of
the Presbyterian hospital-practically, in
deed, q complete hospital of rtself-was
completed two years ago and paid for by
Mrs. Wanamaker with check for $4,000.
Wanamalser has always taken . promi-
nent part in public movements for the re-
lief of suffering humanity. He is the
originator and q prominent member Of the
citizens committee for the relief of cities
and communities attacked by disease and
other sudden calamities. and has been
chairman Of many relief committees, and
his contributions have always been among
the first and the largest. He has fire.
qqently been asked to stand as candidate
for public office, but though he never ac-
coded to these requests he has taken an
active interest in public matters and kept
himself well acquainted with the details of
political affairs, national, state and munic-
lpal. He was a strong advocate of the
Centennial, q member of the Centennial
board of finance. and was very active in
raising the first 81 ,000, 900 for the great eel
ebration. His business standing and great
ability have. of course, brought him to the
front In many financial concerns. He was
one of the committee on the reorganiza-
ton of the Reading railroad, and is . di-
rector in many other leading corporations.
His fortune is estimated at SIC, 0O0, 600.
Yet it is now freely admitted that in the
great battle in the field of trade that he
made without great financial backing he
was once or twice very nearly beaten. But
he is one OF those men, full Of grit and
faith in themselves and their plans, that
never give up. And like Wellington's vet
Grams. his want of capacity to recognize
partial defeat brought him on to unques-
toned victory. He has that quality which
above all signifies the possession of genius
the quality of absolute concentration of
mind on the subject in hand, SO that on
every occasion he is able to be at his best.
His power Of organization Is, of course,
masterful, and like all busy men, he never
appears hurried and always seems to have
abundant time for everything.
In personal appearance Mr.. Wanamaker
is not particularly handsome man. He
has fnll, round head. broad forehead,
strong nose. heavy-lidded eyes that fash
with energy, heavy jaws that denote
strength of will, and tight-closed lips that
just droop at the corners, giving an ever
present touch of sedateness. His face is
as smooth as boys and as mobile as an
actors and when lighted up in the warmth
Of discussion it beams with expression.
He wears hat that is only 61S in size, but
is almost completely circular in form. He
is nearly six feet tall and finely built, and
all Of his motions have in them tho spring
mess of perfect health. Nobody ever saw
him dressed in any other color than black,
with black necktie under . rundown
collar. But he always looks as trim as
though he was just out of the hands of the
tailor and the barber.