The Washington times., 1902-08-17
Rose Above Humble Cir
cuTnstanceS by Hard
Work.
FOLD BY AN Old ACQUAINTANCE
Worth Ten Million, and Spent
Much Money Starting
Boys in Life.
HIS LIFE A WORTHY MODEL
Gave His Brother the Opportunity to
Rise From Poor Stove Dealer to the
Most Respected Man in St. Louis
Always Willing to Help Others.

There is no man of my acquaintance,
said prominent newspaper correspon-
dent. yesterday in discussing the death
of the late Senator Mcmillan, "by whose
death ! would have suffered a greater
personal loss than by that of Senator
Mcmillan. In twenty years acquaint-
anse with public men, l can recall no
one whose life l consider more of pat
tern than his.
Starting in life in humble circum-
stances. he accumulated great wealth,
amounting probably 10 10000 600, and
although I knew him from boyhood,
never knew of him injuring any man.
He was large-hearted and judiciously
generous. II was his habit when persons
approached him for aid in various enter
lprises to take a day or two to consider
the matter. and on their return it was
yes or no. more frequently yes than
no. He showed me one time a list of at
least $50 young men in Detroit whom he
had started in life by advancing from
8, 900 to SO. ZOO. Few of them ever paid
him back, perhaps, but he used TO say
/ What do care? / have $4,000, 600. and
II only one out of ten young men whom
/ started in life proves worthy, consid-
| er myself paid
Helped Young Men to Succeed.
ANY young man who entered Senator
, McMillan's Offices and displayed ability
was bound to succeed. l know a young
! man who entered there twenty-five years
ago as an ordinary clerk and who is now
worth s250, 200. Senator Mcmillan appre-
ciated his ability and every once in
while when he had a mortgage or debt
which 1t was some trouble to collect, and
which he thought might not be paid. he
turned It over TO this young man on a
so per cent commission.
Senator Mcmillan had the finest set
of Offices ! was ever in. Everything
there is comfortable almost to the
point of luxury. Frequently the <Sena-
tor would cone into his Office in the
morning. and tapping a little bell on
his desk, would summon half a dozen
or so OF his young men to his Office.
Made Investments for His Clerks.
'''I am about to inform you gentlemen
that l have engaged TO take large
block of stock in such and such a
company he would say. The stock is
now selling at about par, and think it
will go 10 ITO or lis. l don't want
10 specially recommend this stock to any
of you young men, but If you should
happen to have a few hundred dollars in
bank / consider ii a fairly good in
vestment. 1t is now selling about par.
but If ynu gentlemen would like any OF
it could let you have some shares
at 60 or 65.'
Upon this, of course, every young
man who was present would hustle
around to collect all the money he could
lay his hands on, and invest il in the
stock which the Senator recommended.
Nothing would be heard further from
him about the stock. say, for period
of six months or year, when he would
again tap the little bell, and summon
ing the boys, would say, Some time ago
/ advised you voung men If you had
any money TO invest in stock in the so
and SO company. that l thought il was
a safe investment. You got the stock
at SIS. 1t is now selling at 1877. and If
any of you young men have any stock
TO sell l would be glad to take it at
that figure. But l think very likely
II will go TO 25e.
Brought His Brother to the Front.
twenty-five years ago Senator Nc
MILAN went to his brother, William Nc
MILAN. who was then keeping small
hardware store, selling principally
stoves. William, said the Senator,
selling stoves is no business for you.
You can't make anything in this trade.
Now, ! have decided to establish a
branch of my car company at St. Louis, |
and want you to 90 there as my super
intendent'
william Mcmillan died the early |
Continued on Eighth Page)