Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-12
ITO he Continued y
\ WEALTHY PHu.ANTHRoplST.
The Useful Life ct Enoch Pratt OF
BALTIMORE.

baltlnlOlC.
Ehoeh Pratt, the millionaire philau-
thropiS, OF Baltimore, who died last
week, waS the character OF the town.
He was a little Bit OF Y man, bent, and
deliberate in movement. He seemed
so Slow that the wonder Is he did 50
many things.
Every body knew him. He was APP
proachahle to all. People seemed 10
like his blunt WAYS. He was one VI
he could swear when he thought the
occasion called it. Several years ago
David |. Bartlett, a friend met him
on the street and said
THE republicans have nominated
ME for mayor, and have accepted,
What do You think of it,
Il think YOU have made a Il M Tool
Of Yourself" snapped the old man.
Mr., Pratt always boosted that he
was not fool enough TO 80 into politics,
He could have boon governor OF tho
state or mayor Of tho city il he had
chosen, but the only position he would
accept was finance commissioner of
the city, an unpaid post, to which he
was appointed by democratic mayors,
Although a republican, he practically
controlled the finances Of the city UNI
der the democratic administration. In
everything he was sCrupulously punct-
ual. He would mNNt an engagement
ON the minute. and if the other party
was Late, would wait exactly five
minutes. Then, as fal as he was con-
Congressman Coffin said to him not
long ago that there was nothing more
for him to desire.
There is one thing" he replied, and
money will not buy IT, want time,
He was by no means miser, because
he kept "A handsome town house and
a beautiful country place, and enter
tanned literally, but In his habits he
was plain to frugality. He ate lunches
that would match even Russell Sage's
for their chelpncss. He walked be-
tween his home and his bank, and
when some one suggested that he
ought to use the strest car, ~ the fare
was only 5 cents, he reioined:
Only S cents! Don't you know, sir,
that u hundred dollars will have to
work nearly whole week to earn that
5 cents?
He had grim sense of humor and
the state got a lot Of fun out Of him
when he was summoned by the county
authorities for an inCrt use on his tax
assessments. He appeared as a down
trodden farmer.
Don't" lie said put it on us poor
devils who only get 40 cents a bushel
for our corn. We can't live. 1t costs
me $1,000 year to run my place, and
| get no income from it. have two
COWS, and they are both dry" He
went on in this strain for some time,
ending in telling the commissioners
that the taxable basis was already too
high. But they IA! 5ed his taxes just
the same.
Mr.. Pratt began with capital Of
$3.50, and his fortuae IL about 1000
600. This, however, does not repre-
sent the money he made. When asked
for a sentiment by one Of the local
papers he wrote a sentence to the eff
feet that If you want to do good with
your money do it in your lifetime, and
do not leave your plans to be delayed
or destroyed by others, He gave a free
school In his native town in Massa-
chusetts, a home TO the Academy of
Sciences the farm for the House Of
Reformation for Colored Children.
and many gifts to various institutions
and churches. In addition to all that
he fixed very comfortably all his rel
atives and helped Others.
His greatest gift, Of course, was the
Enoch Pratt free library, which Is
considered the most practical and
freest institution OF its kind In the
world. He devoted the best Lart
Of his later years to perfecung the
working OF this library 30 that it might
become known TO and used by every
home in the city. No rigorous rules
or di3lgreeable regulations hamper
this freedom.
1t has become the peoples source Of
reading matter ds completely as IL
they owned every book personally.
Every resident over ID years OF age
can get books from 1t. In ten years
It has circulated IN Baltimore 5000. 900
books, besides giving enormous num-
n Thn=a
a large library and five branch Ii
braries ia the differenG sections Of the
city. In this way the library is within
a few minutes dist Luce Of every home.
The good it has done is simply meal
culable. New York Times.
A PRIMEVAL OCEAN.