The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-19
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WHAT Is A MAN WOHTHs
An Estimate of II rs Gathered From
HIS Obituary.

Has Obituary.
From the New York Press.
Mr.. Huntington's hard times in Saca-
mento, where he was his own maker, his
own Providence, his own god, educated
him in a self-dependence that lifted him
above the gospel according to the modern
church He cared nothing for preacher.
For friend he preferred a hard case
like Dorsheimer. But to have lived near
ly eighty years, TO have started without
a dollar, to have died worth $27,00o,OOO, 10
have died suddenly and without pain,
leaving his house in order, and to have
received at the hands of our leading edit
tors from three columns TO page of de
mortuis nil nisl bonum'-to have accom-
plIshed so much is not to have lived in
vain.
Perhaps the best estimate of the aver
age men is to be found in his obituary
not what Is sad of him, but how much.
Blessed few men of to-day are worth q
column. Those worth a page may he
counted on the fingers of one hand. The
most conspicuous man in the world to-day
is the Prince of Wales, personally popu-
lar and about to step on the throne OF
England and Inda-with possibilities In
China. Mckinley, ex-officio, Is worth
a page. Cleveland and Harrison, two
living ex-Presidents. are worth a couple
of columns apiece having had their say
and day. We have lost interest In them.
Lord Salisbury will cut up well, burt no;
to the extent of a page. Nobody IN
France is worth more than column.
The murdered King of Italy got big
show because of his tragic taking off.
Had he died a natural death In bed
column would have finished him.
My old friend Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan,
the leading fnancier of the world would
be worth three or four columns. He has
done things. Mr.. Richard Croker VIII
get a splendid send-off. Any obituary
tlend could write pages about the Tam
many boss. Plat will not be the most
neglected dead man when he shufies off.
Things to the extent of two columns or
more will be said of the easy boss. We
haven't general or admiral worth more
than a column. The leader of the bar
may not get more than half column.
The most prominent physician or sur
geon is worth little more. Mark Hanna.
were he to step off suddenly. would cut
up well for the space writer. He has
made an impression. John Hay has ex-
hibited a quantity and quality OF brains
that Americans like. He is worth half
a page, being the ablest statesman of
this generation.
Mr.. Huntington had everything on earth
that he wanted except a son and daugh-
ter. What a strange perversity of fate
il was that built him of heroic proper
lions with the air of an ambassador
and the head of q god, filled his Golfers
with millions, gave him a disposition of
love and gentleness. yet allowed him no
offspring! In his home he was the most
pacific crea ture you ever saw. The crows
feet around the corners of his eyes were
the result not of care but philosophy.
He had the capacity of Ben Butler for
blowing worry off his finger tips and
forgetting the burdens of life. There was
always a dignified greeting for the strang-
er and a cordial welcome for the friend.
But the old man was lonely. He had no
second childhood. He had no children or
grandchildren 40 gladden. his declining
years
What will become of HuntinRton's mill
ions? What WILL become of the millions
OF Russell Sage. also without hope of pos
terity, going down to the cold grave
with not son or daughter to soften the
sting OF approaching dissolution? Sage
Is man of negative character, caring
nothing of mankind, but loving himself
and his dollars. His loan tickets are his
children, so he may not miss posteritY
of flesh and blood. Huntington was posi-
tive and magnetic. You could not remain
in his presence ten minutes without feel
ing the glow OF his nature. Huntington
was 49, Sage was 81 two weeks ago. One
loved power. the other loves money.
Mr.. Huntington's hobby was negro edu-
cation, and the colored race will live long
before it finds another 30 useful friend.
Still, he did not do SO much for the blacks
vas did the Provincial Council of Mary
land, which before the Revolution passed
an act requiring that all who hired slavcs
should sign an agreement with che owner
that they should be fed on terrapin not
less than twice a week. Terrapln al this
day are worth SIS a dozen. Shades of
Ward Bayard and Gibson. srisel
Mr.. Huntington believed in himself
first, then in the institutions he directed.
Any means to an end was his rule Of
life He didn't see the slightest harm in
buying whole Legislatures and courts. He
was the most daring lobbyist that ever
haunted the hollis of Congress. AZ Con-
gress investigating committees he laugh
ed. He wound them around his fingers
Just as John A. Morris used 20 do. The
question remains, Who will lobby the old
man through the pearly gates?
Senator Vest Is spending his vacation