The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-09
R0ATH'S GEHEa05
Why Rich chicagoan Di7s
$1,000, 600 Among Relatives.
CURIOUS ABOUT USE OF his HONEY

without Any Rcaervation-saved
! Money on So Moath When re
First Went to yVoris-some OF Ills
Eecentricfties.
IN Stephen 3. Roath, who came cut
Of the west and startled bis poor rela-
tives IN Norwich, Conn, by distribute
ling something like million dollars
among them, Norwich has found q sec.
ond David Harnm says the New York
Herald It IS not only III tie Kindness
of his heart, masked by a somewhat
grufl nature andya decided proeliyity
to get the better end Of a bargain d.
ways. that Uncie Steve. as tile
4 toWnspeople cali him, resembles the
man OF hction.
4 His conversation, his actions, his
looks and even the principles followed
/ by him from d hoyhood Of poverty ara
II those Of David Harum to an eNaetness
that almost sartles one who is fortu.
nate enough to talk with this renlarka-
bic old gentleman. True to his prnei-
pies. Mr., Roath did not warn his rela-
tiyes Of Ills plan. They knew nothing
about it until the wealth, far beyond
their fondest dreams, was literally
dumped at their doors.
Il got it all fixed Sir. Roath
chuckled as BE said it, and his eyes
twinkled with delight and then /
sprung it on them Now I'll just wait
around and see what they do with it,
1 Yes, j gave it without single reserva-
ton. They can throw it away II they
want to. I'll just wait aud see"
1t was in Chicago, where be went in
1883. that Mr.. Roath nude his fortune.
| He was live stock agent for the Illinois
! Central railroad for years there ana en-
ioyed and benefited by the friendship
of such money getters as Marshall
Field, L. u Letter, Nelson Norris, the
late Potter Palmer and the late Philip
Armour Always a persistent money
getter, DIr. Roath made a rule never to
be broken, that the money he saved
must earn more money. And SO it was
that from the humblest beginning he
grew to be a man Of millions
The secret 81 his success, interspersed
with much sound advice and his rea-
sons for giving away a large slice Of
his fortune, was told in a most interest
/ ing manner by Mr., Boath as be sat In
an easy chair Oh the porch Of the com,
Portable cottage in Norwich which IS
the home Of Mrs. Matilda Randall a
widow, who is Mr. Roath's sister
Elbow did | invest my money? Let
I me give You one piece Of advice, young
man. Don't invest in anything you
can't eat. People must eat always. but
in hard times they don't put up big
4 buildings, they don't buy any luxuries.
Don't borrow money / know a man
who was worth S6,0Q0,0o0 He wasn't
satisfied and borrowed S6,000.0C0 more
to use ia speculation. This was all
placed, and things looked promising
until the panic Of 1873 came along.
/ Wen, that man was JUST wiped out. |
did not speculate. and l survived the
panic Of 1873
4 have saved money every year Of
my life since | began working here in
! general store for Sc d month. Mr.
noath said as be leaned back ana rest
ed his game" leg on stool. "A young
man TO succeed in life must at least dc
that Then put the little / saved out
/ at interest Savings banks in those
days paid per cent.
II was the first mail agent that ever
ran on the old Norwich and Worcester
railroad" Uncle Steve said, with some
pride THAT was In 1918. From 1872
to 1853 thirtyfye families left Nor
witch for Chicago. went there in 1855
/ with small worzing capital and with
a valuable experience I had gained
from my first employer, who was the
soul Of honesty and sharp as a steei
trap
"He showed me how to get ahead
and when became live stock agent Of
the Illinois Cenral-we ] got ahead
myself No, never gambled; that Is
one Of the secrets Of ruin. But / in
vested my money as fast as / got It,
When a man works hard and keeps his
eyes open 1t is remarkable how many
ways lie will find to make money.
AAANlA 7 ST AA4hAA ANMNatltAA w AGlA =
was young, so / decided to travel Old
Mexico, California and pretty much ev-
cry part Of the country has seen me,
but my permanent home, except when
come back to old Norwich fl the sum
rner, has been at a sanitarium in Battle
Creek, Mich"
In Chicago Mr. Roath lived for years
at the Old Bulls Head hotel, The sto-
ries Of his eccentricities are without
number. with all his pars. nony, he
used to buy two drinks a day, but to
get the advantage Of the two for 8
quarter rate he would not pay for the
morning cocktail until he had enjoyed
another in the evening When his laun-
dryman raised the price on shirts from
TO to 10 cents, increasing his meager
/ bill a few pennies a week. Uncle Steve
made a big howl. Aud vet this Is the
man who has given away a million.
It is said of him that he smoked only
when cigars were given to him, and
the purchase Of an overcoat was an
event In his life. When he came to Nor
witch he would dispute with cabmen
and refuse to pay more than a quarter
for a ride, and it is said be even told
/ the BARRIERS 10 cents was enough for a
I shave and a hair cut IN the summer