The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-01

straightway made for the golf course.
As they nered it, they saw Mr..
Cassatt vigorously swinging a club,
and. as they .eached his side, beheld
him eXpertly dive the ball.
Good Afternoon, Mr.. Cassatt," said
the committee
Glad to see you. gentlemen, hearth
ly responded he golfer. You're just
in time to jon me in a game"
"Ahem," bsgan the spokesman,
thank you, hut we didn't come out to
play to-day. Fact is, we're here to
tell you that the board of directors of
the Pennsylvania Railroad has elected
you president We've been appointed
to notify vol and to take back your
acceptance"
1t is said that for fully a minute
Mr.. Cassatt stood dumbfounded and
speeches. before his visitors. Be that
as it may, hi; reply was;
Gentlemen l think YOU for the
honor, but l don't want it, l want to
be left alone with my horses and my
golf stick"
But thinx of the" began the
committee.
Il care nothing for the position"
was the repy. And then, half plead
ingly, why can't you people leave me
alone to enjoy my good times unin-
terrupted? 10, L don't want the presi-
dency-I won't accept it."
There was further urging. but in the
end the committee had to return to
Philadelphia with Mr.. Cassatt's de-
clination and to report that he meant
it, for he had said it with that deter
mined air which they all we'll knew.
Mrs. Cassntt Wins a VistOry.
On the strength of the report it was
to bear uron Mr. Cassatt This was
duly done and with scarcely any effect,
until Mrs. Cassatt was enlisted on the
side of the directors. She went to
her husband and asked him to take
the position.
And give up my horses and my
pleasures q he asked. mo; it isn't
worth the sacrifice"
But Mrs. Cassatt kept at him. she
pointed out the monetary advantage,
as the directors had done.
Haven't we money enough al
ready?' he asked, Ito satisfy every
whim %
Then she asked him to consider the
commanding social position that would
be possible to the family if he ac-
cepted. To this consideration he was
quite Indifferent, holding truthfully
that nothing better than the family's
position as 1t then was could be de-
sired.
And so it went, Mrs. Cassatt urging
Mr.. Cassatt refusing, until at last she
outlined the splendid opportunity the
head of so great a corporation would
enjoy to become great in the world of
finance and affairs, particularly as
the Pennsylvania, unlike the New
York Central, the Lake Shore, and
other trunk lines, was not the proper
ty, virtually, of one family.
To this statement Mr.. Cassatt could
do no other thing than assent, and
Mrs. Cassatt, quickly realizing her
strategic advantage, unfaggingly
pressed the argument day after day,
Mr. Cassatt holding out, even though
he perceived the truth of all his wife
said. But one day he surrendered-and
now Mrs. Cassatt's prophecy is coming
to pass.
When Cassatt Was Road Supervisor.
In sharp contrast to Mr.. Cassatt' s
extreme unwillingness to assume the
duties of president of the Pennsylvania
Railroad was his alacrity, year after
year, to accept the nomination and
office of road supervisor of Lower Mer-
ion township, in which his country
residence is situated, from the hands
of the Republican party.
Mr. Cassatt, as a breeder of horses,
an owner of race horses, and lover
of horse flesh in general, is a firm be-
lever in good roads, and he looked
upon the Office of road supervisor as
a highly important one. Indeed, SO
we'll did he fulfill his duties that he
gave not only fine roads to his town
ship, but indirectly to the adjoining
townships, for once the value of Low
er Merion's macadam highways were
recognized, other supervisors were
forced by their constituents into max
ing similar Improvements. To-day
there are no finer country roads in
America than those that have resulted
from Mr.. Cassatt's initiative.
But, despite his good work, Mr.. Cas-
satt never obtained the road supervi-
sorship without a battle royal with
the opposition nominee, and frequent
ly, when contests waged hottest, Mr..
Cassatt had to go on the stump to the
assistance of his ardent spellbinding
supporters and his record.
AS long as Mr. Cassatt ran for SUI
pervisor just so long every election
night Republicans and Democrats
alike-townsmen and farmers-would
gather in different halls in Ardmore,
near Haverford, to receive the re-
turns. Lower Merton township is by
no means small, and the polling places
are scattered and late in getting in
their returns. But this mattered not
to the voters. They waited until the
result was known, often delayed until
the eve sma' hours" and then the
Republicans would jubilantly disperse,
while the opponents went their way,
vowing that "we'll put up a man next
time who will lick Cassatt."
Cassatt and n Policeman.
Among the farmers of Lower Mer-
ion Mr. Cassatt has many strong
friends, but the man who lays partic-
ular claim to being an intimate friend
of the Pennsylvania head is Police
man Edward O'Loughlin, of Philadel-
phia.
OLoughlin is a member Of the noted