The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-07
FINANCIER, AGED TWELVE.
Talks Politics and Finance with j.
II. keene and Russell Sage.
From the New York Times.

X. keene and Russell Sage.
From the New York Times.
A considerable number of rather extra
ordinary visitors arrive at the various ho-
tells Of this city during the course of a
twelvemopth, but the Waldorf-Astoria in
Richard e. Murphy u years old, from
Missouri, has a guest who in many re-
spects is one of the most remarkable
specimens that the great Populistic belt
has yet produced.
According to the statements of this
youth he is, among other things, the son
of the virtual owner of the great elevated
railway system of Jefferson City, Mo-,
and is himself the sole proprietor and cd
Ftor of the jefferson City Spectator,
weekly Democratic paper, with circu-
lation of over 10000 a year and employ
ing a staff of forty-six persons, most
of these being brainy youths under 16
years OF age, yielding an annual revenue
of some $4,000, and one of the most out
spoken and fearless Bryan organs in the
great Middle West.
Besides being the posseSsor of this hand
some property young Murphy admits that
he is the sole legatee Of his grandfather,
by whose will he recently became pos
sessed of $3.50 600, and he is now on his
way around the world on a sightseeing
tour, that will cost him in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000 Later he expects to snatch
sufficient time from his business labors
to take a course at Yale, after which
he will return to Jefferson City, Mo-, and
again take up the active personal direc-
ton Of his newspaper property.
These are only the most startling fea-
lures of this youths account of himself,
given with wealth of detail at the ho-
tel to attentive and wondering audiences,
inf man IaI
members of financial, political, and reii-
gious circles of this city. He was the
center of attraction in the hotel all day
Monday and yesterday.
Mr. Murphy, Notwithstanding the fact
that he is almost thirteen years old, has
been dealt gently with by time. He does
not look a day over nine years. He ar
rived at the hotel late Sunday evening,
and, strolling up to the desk, climbed UP
on it and registered his name in bold
hand "A room and BATH" he said in
a matter-of-fact way, While the CLERK
looked about to see where the rest of the
family was. The order was repeated in
tone that brooked no delay, and Mr..
Murphy was shown up to Room Sllls on
the third floor. The price of this room
is 81 a day.
"Any luggage, sir?'' inquired the clerk.
"Only my light luggage" replied the
new guest, pointing to the satchel. MY
trunks have been forwarded to the Adel-
phi Hotel, in Liverpool. sail in Few
days"
The guest is about 31a feet high, and
weighs in the neighborhood of So pounds.
He was dressed in knickerbockers with
lace Shoes and wore little standlnS
collar a blue tie, and looked like the or
binary nine-year-old school boy, but ne
didn't talk like any boy with which the
management of the hotel had ever Derore
come into contact. His every gesture
was peremptory; his commands lmpera-
tive. and he succeeded in getting the
hest service to be had in the hotel.
on Monday after partaking of a hand
some breakfast in the hotel dining room.
he stroled down town to see the sights
| and. as became a man of large analrs'
he spent most of the day in wall street.
Returning to the hotel in the evening
he casually engaged Assistant Manager
billiard in conversation and the re"
things he let fall about himself SO stAs-
pered that official that Father Ducey'
who was in the hotel was Immediately
| sought out and introduced to the new
| style of Western traveller.
THE youngster put the clergyman az
| ease in a very few minutes, ana the Two
| adjourned to the palm garden, Wnere the
| Westerner was introduced to James H.
Keene. the financier, and the two werS
| soon engaged in a politico-hnanclal as
cussion that the attentive audience at the
nearby tables will remember for long
| time.
Young Murphy slept late yesterday, ana
LATER in the day went for ride with
| Father Ducey and enjoyed some OF the
sights OF the city.
interviewed by Reporters.
Returning to the hotel yesterday after
non. he was waylaid by a horde or repor-
ters and consented to tell them something
| about himself.
II am always glad to meet members OF
the press" he said, affably, as he CLIMBED
| into a chair and was almost lost IN aus
| annie proportions, 'for journalism Is my
| chief business, you know but must hrst
| correct some errors that appeared IN IN
terviews with me published in the even
ing papers. o,.o,
on this trip. / am paying my own. am
worth a great deal more than he 49, ana
I am free TO do with 1t as l please. L
| have made my own arrangements, select
| ed my own route, and win probably spend
some eight months on the trip. came
here by way Of Chicago and Buffalo IN
speclal car. / will take the steamer ST.
| paul for the other side a week from sat-
| urday, meantime wiz sSN se =
your city. II appears TO me to nave many
points OF interest about II.
rAs 10 my newspaper business? Well,
have been Ia the business since / was
very young" and Mr.. Murphy's counten-
ar,ce took on a reminiscent wrinkle. "A
wear and a half ago / thought would
start a paper of my own, real paper.
SO / bought a four-story building, got
Hoe presses. and started the spectator.
II has grown by leaps and boundf from
the very start. II Is weekly paper,
strongly Democratic, opposed 70 trusts
Imperialism. ana everything that ~