The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-03

IL l y
WAUl out short time ago that the
VNVI big granite palace he had
wv built for himself was for sale
he did not accompany the statement
with any reason. Now, everybody knew
that there must bs some very good rea-
son to make him give up this palace,
which had cost him nearly $2 0OO,000
not to speak of the thought and time
he had put into its elaborate plans. Mr..
Huntidgton, is as every body knows, a
speculator-acute, far sighted, above
all, daring. lie began life as farm
boy in Connecticut. and he rose to be
worth 800, 900, 600 at one time by dar-
ing, pure and simple. The first sup
position was that Mr.. Huntington had
again staked his fortune on a single
throw and had lost such q part of t
that his big house, with its accompany
ing establishment, was for the time too
much for him. There were rumors of
several large unsuccessful enterprises in
which he was said to be the moving
spirit
But when Mr. Huntington was seen
he laughed and said he is all right and
that his financial condition has moth
ing TO do with the sale of his palace.
When the plans for the house were
made, the Huntingtons were just buy
ing the German Prince Hatzfeldt for
their daughter, and it was said that
the house was for the purpose of max
ing grand entry into New York So
ciety, which had hitherto refused the
Huntingtons, despite their millions.
So the new explanations revived this
story and supplemented it with the
statement that the Huntingtons had
failed to get recognition, and, seeing
that the new house would only bring
humiliation, they mad decided to give
up their attempts upon society, as
ruled by the Astors and planned BY
McAllister.
This was very satisfactory, and even
society people told it about and laugh.
ed over the way the Huntingtons had
been rsbuked. The new house, wit.
its massive granite walls so much like
a penal institution, seemed monu-
ment to social failure, and nobody
wondered that Huntington was anx-
| AOuc w SOb ~ NlL LIio
HE WANTS NO FUNERAL PYRE.
But this social failure explanation
was as far from the truth as was the
story OF financial mbarrassment. The
real reason why Huntington never
moved into his house is SO small that
to most people it will seem ridiculous.
1t is likely that Huntington himself
would publicly deny it just as we
all deny those little weaknesses which
are nevertheless, so powerful in all
our lives. The great millionaire, the
strong man. the fearless speculator,
refused to move into his new house be.
cause he feared that if he moved he
would die. 1t was the old superstition
that old men who grow rich puild fine
houses for their own funerals.
When M. Huntington started hi:
plans back in 1889, he no doubt
thought of this superstition, but al
lowed it to have little weight with him
He planned slowly and elaborately, and
when the contractors at last got tc
work they built slowly and were agair
and again delayed. He expected tC
move in three years ago. but it wa.
only last year that the house began tc
get near completion. In the meantime
his health had become less an(
less vigorous. His age and his
years of hard work and worry
began to tell upon him. Tn,
superstition came back with renewed
force and he began to think great
deal about it. At last he became alb
solutely convinced that, should he move
in. the first function to which his
friends would be wanted would be his
funeral. Then he decided thas ht
would not even keep the house in tht
family; that he would sell it and re-
move every possible danger of his hav.
ing to occupy it. Aud he will stick to
his idea. He will never live in that
house; he will never furnish 1t, and il
he lives twenty years and the house re
mains uusold, he will still be of the
same mind.