The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-01
An Australian Millionaire

The London Times speaks as follows
| of the Australian millionaire. James Ty-
son. whose death was announced recently:
Having practically no use for money and
/ spending none upon his personal require
ments his wealth accumulated 70 e1or-
nous proportions. and few years be-
/ fore his death ne was accredited VITA the
possession of E5.0oo.ooo.
/ His simple habits gave rise 10 endless
anecdotes. many of which we're founded
on an erroneous conception that he was
of misery disposition. OF these the fol-
lowing may be quoted as one fairly iLus-
/ trative both OF his simplicity IN regard
10 money matters and OF the peculiarly
I secular attitude OF a mind which placed
I churches. thea.ers. and public houses n
/ the same category OF places 70 be avoid
/ ed Near one of his stations il was con-
/ sidered desirable in the interest Of The
/ local population 10 erect h-tle iron
| church. He was asked TO pay for IL.
He replied that he had no objection, but
/ on one condition only-that the whole bill
I of costs was 10 be made ont and pre-
/ scented for payment n one sum. ana that
/ he should not be bothered by requests tor
+ future contributions. The condition was
4 accepted. and he gave check without
+ criticism for the full amount Of ghe esti-
mate presented. The following year. On
/ his return TO the station. the responsible
authorities approached him again. remen-
/ bering his condition and apoiogizing for
I breaking H. but saying that mos IS
/ sential item had been forgotten. They
/ begged that he would therefore. recon
slider his determination. and give them
/ 900 more for a lightning conductor. HIS
reply was an emphatic negative ''That
will not" he said. 4 have given a
/ church 10 Almighty God, and if He cannot
! take care of IT for Himself, He does not
/ deserve 10 have it
As a matter Of fact il was fairly clear
/ that he had little or no appreciation Of
/ the power Of wealth. i was suggested
/ 10 him once that he should give two war
/ ships TO the nation. and call one the Fire
/ brand and the other the Mower as me
mortal 10 his name and calling. The idea
i pleased him for moment. but Only as
/ a foolish sort of toy with which he had
/ no practical concern. and there Is no rec
| ord that he ever thought seriously of put
! ting it into execution. His money did not
/ interest him. He used TO say OF IT, Il
shall just leave il behind me when /
/ go. I shall have done with il then. and
/ il viii not concern me afterwards
/ But" he would add, with a character
/ istic semi-exultant snap of the fingers.
/ "the money is nothing. II was the little
game that was the fun"' Being asked
once. What was the little gamer" he re-
Piled. with an energy Of concentration
peculiar TO him. Fighting the desert,
/ That has been my work, 1 have been
/ fighting the desert all my life, and have
/ wont / have pat water where was 10
/ water. and beef where was no beef. ]
/ have put fences where there were no
! fences. and roads where there were no
( roads, Nothing can undo what / have
/ done. and millions will be happier for
/ it after l am long dead and forgotten
! Asked towards the end Of his life wheth-
ct he had ever been happy, he replied
with a certain brave simplicity: 'Suf-
/ fciently so; ! am persuaded that attain
/ ment is nothing the pleasure IS i'm the
/ pursuit and I have been pursuing all my
| life Yes. / consider that / have been
/ happier than most men He was kind.
/ though strict employer. just and exact
/ paymaster. and punctua in the perform
ance of all duties that he recognized. TIav-
/ ing read little. and. IN consequence of mis-
/ shy habits discussed few but practical
problems with his fellows. he had arrived
4 by mere process Of silent cogitation at
many of the conclusions accepted in the
/ more advanced circles of English thought
On questions Of religion his creed was
as simple and effective as the rest Of his
life. With theology he would not concern
himself 1T amt my business. ] do what
think seriously right: ] stand TO take
my chances and I have no fear"