Evening star., 1897-05-29

ask him as to his habits. He replies that
he has no habits to speak of, that he lives
simply, works hard and thrives upon
II. In reply to my questions he answers
that he does not drink much, although his
friends tell me that he is not averse to a
finger cf good old whisky now and then.
He tells me that one of the secrets of his
vitality lies in the fact that he never wor
ries, ard his assistants say that sheds
trouble as ducks back sheds water. He
says II at he always does what seems right
to him at the time, and then forgets about
the matter until it again comes up. He
puts his full force upon the thing before
him. Nothing seems to ruffle him. A man
may ocme into the Office and denounce the
city government. He may storm at the
mayor and say things which might be
considered unpleasant. The mayor passes
upon his case then and there After he
has decided it he dismisses it from his
mind, and the face which he turns TO the
next caller is as clear as May morning.
1 am told that Mayor Strong is very
which reminds you Of President Lin
coin. He can see joke as quickly as &C uld
Lincoln, and he enjoys 4 funny story amid
the most solemn circumstances. People
VINO come before him are surprised to hear
him burst into laugh and tell funny
story in the midst of a most serious con-
sultation. Some of them Cannot under
stand how 1t is in this love of humor that
he rests his mind. The laugh breaks the
strain which his position necessarily en-
tails The mayor is good story teller
and his best stories are the "reminiscences
of his own life. which has been a typically
American one.
Conquered New York.
Mayor Strong's life-story is that of a
country boy who came to New York and
succeeded. He was, you know, born in
Ohio. His early years were spent Upon a
farm, and one of his first business ven-
lures was in small store at Mansfield.
Ohio ManSfield is
thousand people. When Mayor Strong was
young doubt whether it had three ttous-
and, but among its young men it included
some of the brightest minds of the United
states. One OF Mr. StroHg's associates and
friends was John Sherman, who had come
to Mansfield from school at Mount Yer
non to study law with his brother Charley
1t must have been during Mr. Strong's mer-
camille experience there that Sherman be-
came candidate for Congress and can
vassed the district, going aboIt with an
old white horse, and stopping at the coun-
try crossroads to make spec ches Anotb-
er young man was Amos Townsend who
afterward went to Cleveland and made a
big fortune there. He was sent from Cleve-
land to Congress, and was for years one of
| the soundest advisers of the republican
party. l think that Townsend and strong
| were partners at Mansfield. Another man
| who has done much since he left that part
OF Ohio is Gen. Tom Eckert. who is now
the president of the Western Union TeIe-
graph Company. During my chat with the
mayor, l asked him how he happened to
| leave Mansfield. He told me that he was
ambitious, wanted to see something of the
| world, and concluded to try New York He
| began his work here as a clerk receiving
at first hundred dollars a month Then
| he was sent out west to collect bills for his
| firm, and succeeded so well that his salary
| was increased right along. In those days
tnere were no collecting agencies. The
| merchants came to New York to buy IL cir
gooos, and as they usually purchased on
| time, the wholesale dealers nad to send
| tteir collectors out west to get the money
| They sent them much as they now send
| dlummers out to sell goods. Young Strong
soon got large acquaintance in the west
he was a good mixer. and was SO popular
| that 1t is said that he would often take din
| ner with a man in the evening or 40 To
| church with him. the man knowing that he
| would the next day appear against him In
law suit. He did SO well. in fact that he
| was soon able to go into business for him
| self and he Is now one of the ricn men of
| New York He is. I am told, worth con-
| siderably more than a million dollars, ard
IN ADDITION to big commission business.
| he has other interests of many kinds
| When he was elected mayor he was one of
the directors of the New York Life Insur-
ance Company. president of the Homer Lee
| Eanknote Company and the confidential ad-
| wiser Of other institutions. Before he took
the office, however, he said TO his asso-
| ciates of the different boards: "Gentlemen.
for the next three years you will have to
1
the employ of the city of New York, and
will have to work for them" Mayor Strong
has carried out this resolution
his commission business is managed by
Ills son, Putnam Bradlee Strong, and the
mayors whole strength is devoted to the
city.
Will Lead the World
| 1 asked Mayor Strong a few questions
about the greater New York He said he
had no doubt that the city would pros.
per even more than 1t had done In the past
and that it would eventually be the great.
est city of the whole world. His ideas O,
this subject are those of an optimist. He
has faith In the United States and in New
York. He does not believe the country Is
going to the dogs. and evidently does no,
think the days of prosperity are past
One Of my questions was as to whethe,
he thought young men had still q
chance of success in the great metropolis
ana whether the business chances would
be good In the greater New York. The
mayor replied:
There are plenty of opportunities fol-
young men who come here in the right
way"
But what is the right way. Mr.. Mayor
asked.
ANY young man who expects to succeed
In New York." replied Mayor Strong must
come here determined to rely upon himself
He must push out for himself. and not de-
pend Upon his friends. The boy who does
l tuaL Is sure 10 SuCceeQ II ne mas BOOQ PrlQ-
| cipies and good habits He must, however
bend every energy toward accomplishing
| what he sets out to do. and he must bt
| economical In respect to money, time and
/ strength. II he docs this and has II In him
he win have q great success. for there 1,
no place where the possibilities Of greai
successes are more than right here"
I asked the mayor IL he had found thai
| the men OF New York were smarter thar
| those of the west. He replied: mo, dom
think There are now in village store,
| men who are just as bright as any Of tn,
merchants here In New York. and ther,
are lawyers at the county seats who havt
as much brains as those who advise thl
! big corporations In Wall street. This mat
ter of greatness Is to large extent on,
I Of circumstances and surroundings"
New York Not Dangerous.
'sMr. Mayor. want to ask you II 80,
think mans lie Il safe In any part o