The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-27
MAN WHO EARNS
A DOLLAR A WORD
General Benjamin F. Tracy's Big Fee
and the Long Hard Years That
Led Up to This Reward.

A thousand dollars a day. Think oil
it, ye men who are glad to earn as much
a monitor maybe "a yearl
Yet that f. the sum when ''ehei" a.
BENJAMIN f. Tracy IS said 20 nave re-
ceivod for arguing the MollneuN ul"l'
and tho amount which he is 10 get every
day that the trial continues.
u IS added. by the legal gossips In
CITY Han Park. and on the Criminal
Court steps. that General Tracy would
not have taken the case for this small
sum were it not that he wanted TO ohlige
his old friend. General Molineux, whose
son stands In the current OK the electro
cliuon chair.
Benjamin Franklin Tracy, the man
who can squeak 90 the tune Of dollar
a word and more. began life in very
simple way in country p.ace-as New
Workers would call it-namely Owego
New York. which town. though 30 has
produced many great men, SIN makes
few pretcntions 10 greatness. Neali n.y.
salubrious. fun Of possibility, Owego hes
quietly away I'm the northern part Of
New York state. yielding its fortune 20
those who stick 70 her and sending her
sons forth with brains and gold.
Young Tracy went 20 the O"ego
Grammar school and then TO the Owego
Academy.
At the age Of twenty-one he married
Miss belinda Catlin. Of OwegO, and then
he continued his studies graduating IN
law soon after.
Mr. Tracy began his political life AZ
the age Of twenty-three when he was
elected District Attorney OF Owego.
Young Mr.. Tracy gained many honors
for himself at the beginning Of the
war he was appointed recruiting officer
for tho i09th and l5i Regiments, with
the colonelcy Of the former.
lie went to the war and served bravely
here gaining honors again. And at the
close OF the war be went 70 Brooklyn
70 practice law.
II Is doubtful II MT. Tracy was known
generally before the famous Beecher-
Tnton trial but being given chance 10
show his legal ability. he conducted him
self I'm tho case With such eloquence and
ease that his fame was, from that time,
made. u
II was rs a cabinet officer that Mr.
Tracy changed from a lawyer and a poll
tician 10 a statesman. I'm 1889 Benjamin
Harrison who had known Mr.. Tracy In
the war. and had formed strong friend
ship for him afterward. appointed him
Secretary Of the Navy; and in the four
following years the name az Tracy was
Familiarity before the public.
The saddest casualty Of the year oc-
CURED I'm the late winter OF l'90 when
Secretary Tracy suffered the loss Of HIS
wife and daughter. Awaking one morn
ing at Z he found the house in flames
Hurrying he aroused the family and
rescued the younger members. only TO
md when too late that his wife and IA
varite daughter bad persisted in the
flames when he supposed them safe IN
the street.
40 was a long time before the SecretarN
recovered from the shock Of that morn
ing. and many DAYS before washing
ton resumed its gaieties. The sad event
put an end 20 the season Of % and is
said 10 have been the beginning Of the
illness from which Mrs. Benjamin Har-
rison died. never having been able TO
shake off the sinking OF the heart which
she experienced that morning on View
Ing the sad sight
Secretary Tracy never remarried but
with the remainder Of his family went
10 live in Brooklyn az the close Of the
administration.
There are few men who have lived
lives devoted so singularly 20 politics
VINO have so escaped the unpleasantness
Of the calling: bat General Tracy seTns
to have been free from the criticism that
has overtaken so many IN very un-
pleasant way. Just as prominent as
Conkling for his party he has been more
polite. more diplomatic and more pa
cifc. Just as aggressive as Blaine he
has managed TO gain his point In more
soothing way. Tracy may not be as
great in history as these two men. but
if he IS not as renowned, fl Will be be
cause of his easy diplomacy not because
he has served his party less faithfully or
in less important posts
In Brooklyn General Tracy IS unique
fgure. Thin looking longer than DE d.,
handsome with the beauty Of late years.
genuemanly with manners born of n
long line Of wealthy and distinguished
ancestors. he lives the life of "a private
citizen now. the life Of a man of business
who goes daily forth TO his work IN
Brooklyn and comes home at night 90
be gathered 10 his family.
1t is likely that the political arena is
closed TO General Tracy, for he cele-
brated his sixty-ninth birthday on the
26th Of April and is now on the seventy
stretch. with more than seventy's love Of
quiet and retirement. But that does not
prevent the public from looking at liv-
ing statesman and studying his ways.