Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-02-18
A STORY OF BANKER GAGE.
Tells What He Would Do if Plunged
Into Poverty, but Takes it Back.

-
Chicago banker, who is to become
President McKinley's secretary of the
treasury, are now much in evidence,
and scores of them, good and bad,
many Of them without the slightest
foundation in fact, are going the
rounds. But here is one that is abso-
lutely true. 1t is related by Frank FL.
Brooks, a well known Chicago jour-
nalist, as one of his own experiences
with the great banker.
Every Chicago newspaper man of
character is the friend OF Mr.. Gage.
Probably no man of prominence in
Chicago is so accessible at all hours as
he. His little room at the back is al
ways open-there is nobody at the
door to take cards or announce visit
ors-you just walk in, and no matter
what focl errand you may have been
sent on, the reputable newspaper man
is always sure of a welcoming smile
and cordial handshake. Mr.. Brooks
told his story to a brother writer, now
on the Globe Democrat, in this way:
HIf you remember about year ago,
the Chicago paper I was attached to
conceived the idea of having every
prominent man in the city interviewed
upon some silly problem-such for in
stance, as Where and how you spent
your first Christmas?' or (which do
you remember in your boyhood days
as being your most enjoyable Fourth
of JuIy?' No matter how trifiing the
question or how absurd, Lyman ].
Gage, because of his ready accessible
ity and excessive good nature, was
always singled out to De first visited.
some day it fell to my lot to hunt up
lot of nabobs, such as G. T. Yerkes,
Mashall Field, Sam AlIerton, L. z.
Letter and half dozen others and
put to them this question: sIf you
should suddenly lose every dollar OF
your property, find yourself deprived
of credit, health and friends, and could
not get work anywhere, what would
yo do?'
81 made for Mr.. Gage the first thing,
of course, as we always did. After the
usual kindly greeting fired my ques-
tion at him. He gave me a quizzical
look and said, Did - (mention-
ing the venerable editor upon whose
paper I was working) send you or
any such fool errand as that? What
is journalism coming to?"
"Being assured that my assignment
was genuine, Mr.. Gage said, well put
your question again.
81 repeated it. IF should lose
every dollar 1 had and my credit, tooi
Is that it?'
yes, SIR
why, I would hunt job, o.
course
"'But suppose nobody would give
you Job?'
"'WelI, that is hardly possible-bu
granted that it is-why, in that cast
I'd get a shovel and clean sidewalks
or set up peanut stand, or do some
thing like that and Mr.. Gage smiled
confidently.
'But, Mr.. Gage, suppose yo,
hadn't even capital enough to buy ,
shovel or lot of peanuts, what then?
"sWelI, then, 1 suppose said Mr.
Gage thopghtfulIy, sd have to beg OIL
the Streets
"'Ands suppose again, nobod,
would give you cent, same as thous
ands are refused on the streets ever,
night?'
"Here Mr.. Gage showed just trac,
of impatience, and, waving his hand
said, ooh, well, d-n it, in that case
would steal and you can tell -
(the name of my editor) thatI beiiev
he would, too, under the same cireum
stances
"I said, THANK you Mr.. Cage and
grabbing my hat, made for the door
"'Here, here, young man, com
back!' yelled Mr.. Gage, but by tba
time I was half way out of the BAN
and a scare headline, Lyman Gag
Says He Would Steal,' had forme,
itself in my mind. He ran after m
and sent messenger to chase me, ,bu
III lodged into saloon and made TO
the office. had hardly got seated 3
write the story when the editor sen
for me. went to his room, and ther
was Mr.. Gage, very much excited an,
flushed.
SIT is needless to cay that my inter
view did not 60"