The evening times., 1899-05-13
ANDREW cARNEa1E,s WEALTH
The Millionaire's Views on Happi-
ness In Old Age.

ness In Old Age.
London, May 13.-Mr. Andrew Carnegie
has nothing to say about his business af-
fairs except to express his qualification
that the time has come when he can refuse
to make any more money and devote his
leisure to a wise administration Of his
great fortune. While he has been misquot-
ed in saying that he considers it disgrace
full for a man to die rich, he intends to
spend the remainder OF his life in carry
ing out his own gospel of wealth.
He was asked yesterday for a brief state
ment OF his views Of the retirement OF
rich men from business, and gave the
following characteristic response:
Well. there are only two courses for
muiti-millionaires to follow Some may
feel that. although they have plenty to re-
tire upon. they have very little to retire to-.
Many men who retire from business be-
come very unhappy. They have not culti-
waited other sources of pleasure or Occupa-
ton. In this case men do not own the
millions, the millions own them, and the
ltimillionaire Is only a slave. Such
men will, no doubt, be less miserable if
they continue to the end and die like Mac
beth. with the harness on their back.
I'VE Americans do not retire so general
ly as do the Britons. because the
Briton. as a rule. has a hobby apart from
his business. He is not half so strenuous
a business man as the American. but he
has usually intense pleasure In his coun-
try place, In which he spends several days
a week. He may be an authority upon
gardening: if he goes in for roses his
roses take the first prize In the flower
show. One friend had went in for pigs.
He was great manufacturer: he had a
species OF pig called after him. II does
not matter what it is. so that it is some
thing. He may breed horses at a loss. The
principal wine merchant of the world does
So
When such men make a competence
and arrive at years of discretion-I mean
sixty and overland retire. they have suffi-
cient interest in other things 10 give them
happiness. Besides this. there is wide
field OF usefulness in district or local pub
lie life. which l have been privileged to
see during my visits paid to several we'll
known manufacturers in this country. In
this way the Briton makes success Of
life. No one can call human life a sue
cess who does not so train himself as to
enjoy happy. useful, dignified, graceful
old age.
Although this course is less generally
pursued by the American than the Briton.
still America Is not without iilustrious ex-
amples. Take Mr.. Marquand: what a noble
example! He retires from business, and
the Metropolitan Museum is his darling
care. Few people in New York know the
debt that the city. yes. even the country,
owes TO that retiring. gracious old gentle
man. Take Mr.. Kennedy. my fellow Scot.
who retired from business: but. as Mrs.
Kennedy told me not long ago. he is buster
than ever. But busy in whaty About the
Presbyterian Hospital. about the coming
public library. the United Charities Build
ing. and many other such institutions
Take Mr.. Jesup; look at the Museum Of
Natural History. Of which he is president.
and over which he watches with fatherly
care. Take Seth Low, who had a large
business. which he left TO assume the pres
idency OF Columbia University. Take
Charles Stewart Smith: see how he leads
a happy and useful life.
Now, all these men have not as their
life work miserable aims which end with
self. They are laboring for the good of
others. / could mention other names. but
these suffice for illustrations. The ques-
tion is whether such a graceful ending of
life is not higher life than that pursued
by men who have far greater fortunes than
any of these. but. nevertheless, are found
still immersed in the struggle for more
personal gain. the final summons finding
them amid their useless boards from which
they are torn, and which. as rule. are
used after their death in way that r'ould
rouse their Indignation if they could lcok
down. Is il not the part of wisdom. then,
for millonaires to devote their declining
years to putting their otherwise useless
millions to some good use? Brilliant as
many OF their investments may have been,
surely such investment of their wealth
would eclipse them all.
Mr.. Carnegie will go tc SEQ land on Tu s.
day and will return 10 America in the au
tumn. where he expects to spend the re-
mainder of his life distributing his wealth
wisely and carrying out various plans of
beneficence and taking an active interest
in politics. Re grimly says that his worst
enemy is the man who will tell him how to
make any more money.