Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-11-28
CARNEGIE's FEAR OF DEATH.
Does Not Allow it to be Mentioned in His
Presence.

Few men would accept Andrew
Carnegie's horror of death with all his
millions.
In these words James Fl. Bridge,
formerly secretary to Mr.. Carnegie.
describes what he asserts is one OF the
famous miIiOnaire'S most striking
characteristics in his declining years.
"Mr. Carnegie's horror of death, !"
says Mr.. Bridge, lis literally unspeak
able, for he never allows it mentioned
by any of his own circle. If others
speak of 1t be quickly moves out OF
earshot. Just before his mother died
be called friend to his own sick bed and
said When mother goes don't want
to told about it. You attend to every
thing And to this day he does not
know how or when she died, although
he was within dozen feet of her at
the time.
"It was the same few days before,
when his brother Tom died. To break
the news gently l told him that Tom
was ill with pneumonia. Then he'll
never get over it. he replied, and turn
ed his face to the wall. There was no
need to tell him anything more, and
he never asked"
Many other idiosyncrasies of the
steel king are revealed by Mr.. Bridge.
who was with him for many years. But,
perhaps, the most striking of these is
his vanity.
"Mr. Carnegie's vanity" says Mr..
Bridge, lis his great weakness. 1t has
been carefully nurtured and cultivated
until it has grown into the most impress
sive thing about him. The love OF him.
self, the fondness for his own name
the desire to see it in 5000 cities on
{, 900 imposing facades, and to think
of it thus conspicuous throughout all
succeeding ages this is the underlying
motive of Carnegie's generosity.
"And it is barely possible that Car
negie himself would so admit it. At
any rate he never made a gift without
provision for such public and perpetual
recognition of his benev0lence.
Mr.. Bridge expresses the belief that
many of Mr.. Carnegie's views are di
rectly traceable to his small stature.
In height he is only five feet four inches.
This slight physique, by debarrlng
him from the rough sports of youth.
has given a peculiar twist to many of
his ideas
He breads pain. and turns pale at
the sight of drop of blood. The many
attributes, especially glorified by the
Scotch race, he holds in contempt.
With him muscular strength is brutal.
physical courage relic of barbarism,
and masculine beauty sign of intel
lectuaI debility"
According to Mr.. Bridge. the aged
Pittsburg millionaire is truly ha, assed
by the responsibility attending the pro
per disposition of fortune which is
increasing at the rate of over SO cents
second, $50 minute, 81 800 an hour,
$43. 900 day, -3O4, 400 week and 81
296, 900 a month.
His sole motive in life, according to
Mr. Bridge, now appears to be the ex
altation of his name and a postpon-
ment of the hour when death shall
separate him from the millions which
accumulate faster than be can distribute
them among the charities that be
affects.
"But be may live good many years
yet," Mr.. Bridge adds. ALTHOUGH he
is now nearly seventy years old-hls
mother used to give his birth year as
1885, not 1887, as he himself does-his
regular life and careful habits have
kept him young, and he is still full OF
vigor.
1.-The common belief in the hygienic
Ieffect of association with young people.
Especially with a young wife, has been
| verified in his case''