The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-17
AMusEMENrs OF GREAT MEN.
How Mark Twain. j. Pierpont Nor
gan, Russell Sage and other No
tables Enjoy Themselves.

Sd<c anu ONANA ~
tables Enjoy Themselves.
From the New York World.
Great men are not made of cast-iron
or even buckram. They unbend, they
yawn or stretch themselves. Napoleon
enjoyed a game of cards, Gen. Grant a
horse trade. Lincoln a joke.
But 1t is a fact that eminent men of
action have taken their recred ton in
small doses or in secret. as though
afraid or ashamed to enjoy themselves.
OF course there is the conspicuous in
stance of President Roosevelt TO the
contrary; also there is Mr.. Cleveland
with his rod and gun.
From various sources. including an
swers to personal letters of inquiry, a
writer for the Sunday World Maya
zine has gathered the following infor-
nation concerning the relaxations of
persons prominent in the public eye:
No matter where he is, Mark Twain's
sublimest conception of "a high old
time" is to be arrayed in old easy-fit-
ting clothes. sprawled in a chair that
hugs the spine" with an old friend
silent or voluble before him, and a
couple of boxes of strong cigars within
comfortable reach.
ANA punt 1dOI dil IDS GdAQ llicA
business is his favorite recreation. As
a matter of fact he does make a bust
ness of his several forms of amusing
himself as an art collector. The work
is arduous and improbable, but it
spreads the name and expands the
prestige and power of j. PierponI Nor
san. There has been a business meth
cd even in Mr.. Morgan's yachting in
terests, and in such banquets as that
to the Captains of Industry" mot
chevaliers d'industrie, as French wit
called it,. For Mr.. Morgan is not at
all bon vivant or typical club man.
1t is doubtful whether he knows the
true meaning of the word vacation, of
'1dlesse," or dolce far niente, even
when trying 20 loaf and learn the art
of repose on board of his yacht Cor
Sair.
Sir Henry Irving OF all actors, with
the possible exception of Richard
Mansfield, pessimist seems able to
squeeze least juice out of the. orange
of life. If a business talk with Bran
Stoker is not to be looked upon in the
light of a diversion, then the reading
of the personal newspaper clippings
and morning walk in Hyde Park at
tended by puny terrier, are the near
est approaches Sir Henry appears to
jolly side of life.
Mr.. Russell Sage takes an occasional
inexpensive trip to Central Fa1k. He
proposes as a pastime to make study
of the peculiar midsummer madress of
Mr.. DeVery at his pump on Eighth
avenue
Mr.. Devery himself is having the va
cation of his life, his only regret be-
ing that though he spends money like
water the pump cannot De made 10 run
beer
Former Speaker Thomas B. Reed
seldom rides his bicycle now. He hasn't
the room here to swing himself that he
had in Washington. A stout hammock
swung low to the ground, with a de-
tectiVe story in hand that can be used
to fan away flies or hide the appear
ance of sleep, is good enough elysium
for Mr.. Reed.
Mr.. John D. Rockefeller, as all the
world knows, plays golf. That and a
mild game of ping-pong indoors keep
away the blues.
OF all the Goulds George and his
family get the most out of life He and
his boys play polo for keeps, and from
yachting to swimming their recrea-
uons are really hardening forms CT
healthful exercise. OF all the Wander
bilts it is George again, who, with his
scholarly tastes. reaps most joy in the
quiet of his splendid North Carolina
palace, Biltmore.
Rudyard Kipling isn't physically as
large a man as Theodore Roosevelt.
but his life is quite as strenuous. He
makes himself hard as nails" by long
walks, punching the bag, dumb-bell
exercise and trips to sea.
DR.. (now SIR Conan Doyle boats or
takes long sprints on the country
roads, and now and then a plunge in
the nearest creek or pond.