Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-22
THE RICHMOND D1spAToH-sUNDAY SEPTEMBER a. 1895

tropolis have put Q 6iack marx against
the ofiices Of Russell Sage. This pleases
Uncle Russell immensely. He regards ~
a. q peculiar mark OF genius. ana wiz
brag about Il, II any one gives nim an
opening. The only time any one fooled
the old gentleman was some years ago,
when q strolling psdler walked into his
once ana induced him to buy what ep-
peared TO be a very nns waistcoat, for "
cents. II was thick and heavy. and tns
pedler said that the man who wore ~
would not need any overcoat. supsequent
examination showed that the garment was
made mostly out of heavy brown paper.
This was the origin Of the rumor that
Mr.. Sage wore Newspaper vests.
LITTLE CHANCE HERE.
John d. Rockefeller. the richest man IN
the country, famous a. philanthropist:
has disposed of the begging problem most
effectually He has two private fecre-
taries. ono Of whom devotes all OF his
tim. to the charities Of his employer The
latter never sees any Of the applicants
for aid. He has also made 1t RUS NOT
to give anything to individuals. All OF
that is done through DR.. Macarthur. pas
tor of the Baptist church TO which he
belongs. The secretary investigates every
appeal before anything Is given. but wnen
he is satisfied as TO the business OF the
case. the aid extended Is OF most SUD-
stantial calibre.
The letters addressed to Mr.. Rockefeller.
which, by the way, he never sees, Do
cause OF the intervening secretary, are
extraordinary. Some of the writers calm
ly ask for $1,000 or $4,000. and they write
as II they expected TO get IT. They READ
~ a sift OF 500 COO or Of 100000 made by
Mr. Rockefeller to some educational IN
stitution, and evidently think that II they
strike high and heavily more attention
will be given them. Dozens OF men ana
women call at the Offices during the day.
and some Of them. particularly women.
are most persistent IN their efforts TO see
the money king. but long experience mas
taught the secretary how TO get rio OK
them. II they become obstreperous they
are not permitted TO enter the building
again.
SOFT SPOT FOR PEDLERS.
John II. Starin at one time had kind
ly feeling for pedlers. AS boy he
traversed the Mohawk Valley district In
the upper part OF New York. selling horse
medicines 10 the farmers, and he
remembers that the life was not an
easy one. One OF the sharp beggars
learned Of this. and managed to see the
rich man. He told him how he had
tramped from one end Of the State to
the other, and judiciousiy brought In
the names OF sev.ral small places,
with which Mr.. Starin was very familiar.
He at last had to come TO New York for
treatment In one OF ths hospitals. and
was sadly in need OF so TO buy p new
stock OF goods before he started out on
the road again. He concluded by say
ing: "Of course. Mr., Starln. rich
man like you don't know the troubles
we have, and how hard we must work fol-
few cents"
This had the desired effect. and the
bogus psdler got SO, instead OF |o
Some time after that hardly day passed
without bringing to tina ONCE OF th'
millionaire a pedier who had tramped al
over the state. For tim. Mr.. Starir
wondered ct the great number OF pedlers
| In hard luck, and then II began 20 dawr
| upon him that there was reason for II
| The next time one OF them came In
| he threatened to have the fellow arrested
as a swindler. and the chap broke
down. and told how the first one hac
| Dragged about the easy mark he had
struck, and what soft thing 1t was te
work him.
John W. Mackay. the silver king, IL
afflicted with peculiar species OF the
pest. His record as a Forty miner" In
the California gold-fever days Is sc
we'll known that all the beggars who cal
ON him are either "Forty-niners" or tbs
sons of Forty miners" For long time
he was in ignorance OF the hoax, but as
| II threatened % become chronic he has
called a stop, but the 'Forty-nlners" etii
assail him whenever he is in town.