Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

Russell Sage. Charncey Depew Leland STAN
ford. Elizabeth Thompson and others-and il
seems as if their views might be Of general in |
terest, especially in the light of the sad business
in Homestead, Pa.
IL was week or two ago that called on Mr. /
Chauncey Depew at the Arlington. At the end
OF the business which induced my call asked /
Does 1t pay to be very richY'
II don't know" said Mr.. Depew: 81 have
never been IN 1t but should imagine il did or
folks wouldn't want TO be in it, would thew"
Mr.. Depew is worth only paltry million or
Two ana ne Is not very rich" according TO
metropolitan standards.
However he continued. after a minute
they may think II is going TO paw. and after
ward find themselves mistaken. Man never is
but always to be blest; perhaps that's what you
mean"
lis fortune Of a hundred millions any
greater than fortune Of one million?' asked.
'les, he said, lit requires more care and
tires a man more to keep il. but il will not buy
any more of the things a man wants. Whether
IL brings any greater enjoyment-well, proba-
bly, not. Riches do not generally confer happi-
ness or necessarily even comfort Ii depends
on what a man does with his money! know a
man who has an income of Just about 600 900
FEAR and gets a heap of satisfaction out of il.
He spends it all. On Others OF course most of
ii. Enlightened selfshness He get his pleas
ure from making Others happy. But it must re-
quire a great deal of time and talent To know
how to give away money wisely man needs TO
be inspired. 1t il about the most di;ficult trade
there is-that of philanthropist great many
more people would work at it if they were GER
tain that their money would do good
CYRUS W. FIELDS VANISHED TREASURE
Poor Cyrus W. Fields immense fortune was
squandered by his son and the fortunes of sew
eral Of his relatives engulfed also. immedi-
diately after the death Of the two who were
dearest to him in life. Five wears ago he was
worth eight million dollars. 1 asked him about
that time several of the questions that stand at
the head of this paper.
The value of money can easily be exag-
gerated," said Mr.. Field. at il really worth
only what it will bring in the things we want
and for that purpose so day is worth Just
about as much as Ell 900 day. In addition to
this, there Is only the gratified pride which
arises from having made what men generally
call great success. No doubt Mr. Gould has
about the same sort Of satisfaction that his
neighbor Gen. Grant had-the satisfaction OF
having beaten-the satisfaction that the boy has
who swims the furthest or the girl who stands
at the head OF her class That's all there is to it."
Mr.. Field was cheerful then. and even joyial
He lounged upon the leathern sofa and chatted
and laughed, and perhaps he thought less OF
money than Of the plaudits of the world show
cred on him in 1858. when the first Atlantic
cable hiccuped its feeble but significant bene-
diction-
friend Of mine stood the other day at Mr.
Fields bedside, and he speaks Of his state as
then being pitiful indeed.
my life is a wreck said the sick man. bit
terly. MY fortune gone my home dishonoredi
Oh, 1 was 30 unkind to Edward when / thought
was being kind. If had only had frmness
enough to compel my BOYS to earn their own
living, then they would have known the mean
ing of money" And the broken1spirited man
repeated over and over again his desire to die
His visitor reminded him of the many things
remaining to live for, of the great honors paid
him by all countries for his work for civiiiza-
ton. which moored the continents together, of
the fame which he had won and would never
lose. All in vain. He was sure he had nothing
to live for, and the decorations given him BY
sovereigns and now hanging on the wall were
meaningless baubles to him.
RUSSELL sAGE's VIEW OF IT.
I called and asked Russell Sage about this
matter. 1t was no more difficult to get at him
today than it was before the dynamite crank
sought to effect loan without security. He is
worth good deal of money and they say he has
recovered the $40, 600 900 he lost in that scram-
BILE In the street one morning ten years ago.
Probably he could foot up fifty or sixty mil
hons> it isn't worth while to be too exact.
1t was very warm day when called, and he
had his coat of and wiped the high receding
front of his business occiput with a red silk
handkerchief as he handled the marked enve-
lopes of puts and calls q little table before
him. and replied '.Yes" NO." to the clerk who
came in every minute so and asked him
question in figures and symbols, which were all
Greek to me.
"You seem to work hard to keep ahead Of the
boys, Mr.. Sage" said; ''there = a prevalent
idea that millionaires don't have TO work at all"
He uttered a significant but inarticulate sound
OF disapproval from the upper part of his
throat-a kind of chuckle strangled in its birth
and added: "They have to work, I guess il
they keep anything. Everybody clutching to
'You have enough money, haven't you?"
asked; las much as you can use?''
"Yes, as much as can use" he answered.
turning toward me; ''yes-I have as much as
can use, suppose"
Then why don't You stop work. 1 boldly
continued; You haven't a child in the world;
you are seventy-fve years old; you are worth,
they say, s75, 000. 900, one million for every"
He interrupted me once more with the same
old sound OF dissent and repeated ironically,
''They sayr'
WHY HE DOESN'T STOP.
After q minute he added: "You ask me why
don't stop work. III do it If you will answer
me one question: What else can I 90 at that
will do as much good and give me as much sat
isfsctionr Well, you can't answer it. Nobody
can. have thought it over. This is my trade.
Another thing; every man likes to excel He
likes to prove to be worth az much as folks saw
ne Is worth. Hardly any man sold out suddenly
would measure up equal to his reputation.
Men take the same pleasure in accommodating
that boys do in running races and climbing
trees. shouldn't be happy if left the street
And there are a thousand men depending ON
me for work-what would they do?
As took my leave the old gentleman turned
and said ''No" to an offer TO purchase q ''privi-
lege." 1t then occurred to me that his face
had not taken on q wrinkle In ten years, and
that bis clothes had improved-the latter fact,
perhaps, indicating weakness Of his financial
ability. Nearly fifty years ago, when he was
not worth e5.000, Russell Sage. NJ c., sdvo-
Gated the passage through Congress Of the bill
to purchase Mt. Vernon. Now he II worth
scores Of millions, and he does not spend .
hundredth part Of the interest on IL; he never
saw his money and never had it and, excepting
bare pittance, IL In wholly in the hands and
Golfers Of others, used by them for their own
benefit! But he thinks that fortune 10 hisi
woxAN TRIES 10 Owe NoNEr AwAY.
1t il eight years, perhaps, since last NV
Elizabeth Thompson, though before that time
had had the privilege of her pleasant acquaint-
ance. She II millionaire and has an income of
$50 900 every year. She was the daughter of 4
poor farmer Of Vermont and ct nine ysars old
she hired out - . servant ct Is cents . week.
She grew mp in that humble place very hand