The age-herald., 1899-05-14
NED BRACES
 SUNDAY CHAT

Roswell P. Flower Is dead Everybody who knew him will regret his sudden de- parture to the great beyond. Flower WAS one of the few men in this country who was successful in everything he under took. first knew him when he was in congress. He was probably the most popu- lar man in the house. He greeted every 'one with a smile and was always good | natured. and had a pleasant word for everybody. He was afterwards elected governor of New York and was perhaps the most popular governor the Empire State has ever had; simply on account of his good nature and his storytelling pro- pensities. He looked upon the bright side of life always.
 It was only about eighteen months ago that he entered Wall street in a specula- tive capacity. He then said 1t was no trouble to make money if one was always bright and cheerful and looked on tho bright side of the investment. It is said that he has netted ten million dollars in the last five months. He was on the road to become probably the richest man in the world.
 Flower did not believe that men become rich by saving money. He always spent it liberally and gave as his reason for doing so that no man could make money unless he was willing to spend 1t.
 Flower was one of the few rich men in this country who enjoyed riches. He was in the best of health almost to the moment he died Friday. His digestion was good, his pocket book was filled, and, therefore he enjoyed life.
 1 remember conversation back in go or 'S1 between Flower and Bill Scott, of Pennsylvania. Scott was millionaire twenty or thirty times over, representing 2 northwestern Pennsylvania district in congress. Flower was then worth probably two or three million dollars.
 'I would give nine-tenths of my wealth. said the Pennsylvanian to the New Yorker one day, If had your health"
 What is the trouble?' asked Flower. ''I have never been troubled with sickness moment in my life and l don't see why any man should"
 That is just what am complaining of,'' said Scott. "I haven't been able to eat with comfort in ten years. I am forced to confine myself to milk and toast and even when give dinner party I can eat nothing except the simplest liquid food and toast. With all my wealth I am the most uncomfortable person earth"
 Scott died of catarrh of the stomach a year afterwards.
 Speaking of millions, I see P. D. Armour. the great pork packer, who is worth proba- ply two score millions, is in state of com- plete physical collapse and his physicians say he cannot live much longer.
 Armour made his first money in 1865. He sold pork short on the market at s45 a. barrel and bought 1t back at $15 barrel making clean profit of s2,O0O,OOO on the deal. With this money, Armour started his great business and is today one of the richest men in America.
 
 The richest man in the world, however, is my old friend Ii Hung Chang of Tien- Tsin, China. Ii Hung Chang made his money and is still making it conducting pawn shops. Many years ago the Emperor of China accorded him a monopoly in the pawn shop business of the empire Lii Hung Chang now owns every pawn shop in that great country of 4OO,OOO,OOo people. and is said to net S10O0 900 or $15 OOO 00O a year on his investment. He pays the gov- ernment royalty, but it is small in pro- portion to his net earnings. Ii Hung Chang is said to be worth more than $25o,OO0,eOo, and owns probably $2O 100000 worth of business property in the English settlement of Shanghai. He is also large stockholder in the Hong Kong and Shang- hai bank, which not only has banking houses in all important oriental cities, but in London, Liverpool, New York and San Francisco as well.
 All Birmingham and all the visitors who came to Birmingham were delighted with last weeks May festival. The Music Fes- tival was not only great success as an entertainment, but proved a financial suc- cess. The floral parade was perhaps the prettiest ever seen in the south. Every one was delighted with it. And the carnival was the most successful we have ever had
 l don't think mach of the masking busi- ness on the streets. Some of the coBtumes were overdone and some should not have been permitted. However, all this will be toned down next year and I predict that both the music festival and the hqral pa- rade be on a much greater scale, ahd there will be five thousand visitors to every thousand who came this year.
 
 Speaking of peopleiI was talking yester- day with an old resident of Atlanta. who IS now a citizen of Birmingham He pre- diets that the census of next year will show population for Jefferson county of l2ooOO. The census ten years ago showed sS,oOl, while the census of Fulton county. Georgia in which Atlanta is located showed ten years ago only S4655 He ex- pressed the opinion that in five years from now Birmingham would have more inbabi- tants than any city in the south except. perhaps, New Orleans. And 1t does look that way.
 There is more building going on in 1eir. mlngham today than at any time in its history. A prominent builder told me yes terday that nearly 1000 residences. larpe ana small are now in course of construc- ton in Birmingham and its suburbs. The seven miles between the centre of Birminp-