The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-09
$5O,OOO,OOO
TO The PUBLIC.
Russell Sage is Said to Have
Made a Will
DeVOting This Sum to Philan-
thrOpic Objects.
A PEOPLES PALACE
Is to Be Made of Madison
Square Garden.
Public Golf Links to Be Estab-
lished at QuOgue, L. 1.
Greek and Italian Art School
to Be Founded.

New York, Dec. 9.-It is reported that
Russell Sage has made a Will in which
he has left $4,000 900 to charity and public
benefactions. The capitalist made will,
but his attorney, who drew the will, dis
claims all knowledge of such a bequest.
After provididing for the wife and reIa-
tives of the testator, the $50, ,OOO. 900 resolves
istelf into a grand transformation scene at
Madison Square Garden. With a portion
of the public fund left by Mr.. Sage this
huge structure is to be converted into a
peoples palace. Then there are scholars
ships established in various colleges, a
public library manual training schools
and fresh air funds for children, all Of
which institutions will be supported by
the income from the sums set aside for
them.
In the matter of the pleasure palace, it
has not yet been decided whether the en-
tertainment will be run as a continuous
show consist of nightly performances
with two matinees weekly. But on what
ever line the palace is conducted it Will
prove a genuine charity to those who
have heretofore paid to see break-neck
song and dance artists. What blessings
will be showered upon the memory of the
noble man who thus relieves the public
of at least half its agony!
The vaudeville department, however, is
intended to occupy but a small corner.
According to the dream one portion of the
palace is to be fitted up as a free citizens
club, with hammOcks, steamer chairs,
free drinks and cigars and Turkish rugs.
Bowery citizens evince an interest border
ing on deHrium in this department. In
the next compartment Mr.. Sage is said to
favor the establishment of a free forum.
where street preachers, curbstone pOliti>
clans and aspiring elocutiOnists can prac>
tice on the public. Religious discussions,
"Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight and
''Cassabianca" alone are barred.
A museum will be opened in which
stuffed sea serpents. glass-eaters and wild
men from Borneo will be exhibited every
day except Sunday. The Second, Third
and Sixth avenue elevated railway lines
may be converted into bicycle tracks,
which will enable the public to reach the
free peoples palace without incurring ex-
pense.
Nor is this all. Mr.. Sage's country place
at Quogue, L. I, and an unimproved es~
tate of 1,610 acres at Lakewood, n. J.,
are to be transformed into public golf
links with free caddies. The only tools
the players furnish are their pipes. Nearly
S4OO. 900 is set aside for this charity, so the
rumor says.
Here and there about the city will be
erected statues of the philanthropist, at
tired in one of those ''take-me-home-for-
s6.75" suits he always wears. Another
sum os money, a mere trifie of $750,OO0, will
be employed in opening Greek and Ital>
ian school of art for the struggling gen
tlemen who now peddIe peanuts ana
candy on the streets. That the public
may never find occasion to complain of
dry reading, the Sage free library is to
be built in the reservoir.
When asked about this $50 100000 dream.
Mr.. Sage INDUCED in a smile that didn't
even cost him an effort, and said not
word. One of the clerks said the tenor
Of the report was enough to brand it as
an absurdity.