The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27

he knows with wit, wisdom and bril-
liancey truly fascinating. Just watch
for his "Rscollections and Refiec-
tons" CT "Some Old Friends" next
Sunday.
TX ATS or. old Pioneers. Johnny
Mackay was a man-every inch
Of him. Long before he girdled
the world with his cable he wired
an electric cord around ten thou
him while he lived, and with grief FOR him
when he died.
When great wealth or great fame comes
suddenly to a man it sometimes enCen-
ders the disease Of 'mar,nus cabeza' -
That complaint never attacked Mackay.
He was ever the same brave chivalrlc
generous soul. who gave like a prince,
fought like crusader. and forgave like
priest. Those who knew him were wild
with delight when this multi-millionaire.
disregarding his fifty years. resented a
sneering remark concerning his wife. not
by libel suit nor by a retort in kind. but
by practicing an art OF which he was in
youth past master. and thrashing the
sand hearts that throbbed with love for
scaEdalizer upon a street corner in San
The other bonanza kings left scarcely a
perceptible mark upon their times
O'Brien died soon after he came into his
great fortune. but while he lived went
ever into his pocket at the sight Of dis
tress- Flood was originally a saloon
keeper and in his contest for financial
supremacy with William c. Ralston-the
cashier and controlling spirit OF the Rank
have said, 7 viii send Flood back to his
original business Of selling cocktails"
When this threat was communicated to
Flood, he replied. IF I do. ! will sell
them over the counter of the Bank of
California" When the great bank stopped
payment and Ralston committed suicide.
Flood negotiated for the purchase OF the
bank building. purposing TO fit it up as
saloon with carved counter for a bar. be-
hind which he designed, arrayed in
white apron. 10 officiate as barkeeper for
a day. II was with great difficulty that
Mackay and Fair dissuaded him from ex-
ecuting this scheme Of vengeance upon
the dead Ralston.
Fair was the inventor Of a plan to dis
courage widows and orphans who first Of
fered proof Of an alleged marriage with a
millionaire after his death. He provided
IN his will that every lady who should
prove herself TO be his widow, and every
child who should establish a title to call
him father, shOud be entitled TO receive
from his estate legacy Of one hundred
dollars
Mackay's generosity was transformations
and took the form OF private rather than
OF public benefactiOns. A few months be-
fore his death he locked himself in his
Office with his private secretary and de-
stroyed notes. receipts and other evidence
Of loans and gifts TO the amount Of sew
eral millions OF dollars.
II was not only the poor who lacked
food and shelter who were relieved by
him, but his benefactions extended to
those who, impoverished by ill fortune,
yet struggled desperately with fate, and,
like the Spartan boy. smiled in the face
Of the world while the wolf Of disaster
was eating at the vitals.
OF q lawyer once prosperous but who
had lost his practice, a gentleman said
20 Mackay: The Judge dresses well and
he lives in a handsome house, but I hap
pen TO know that his wife's diamonds
and furs are in pawn. that his furniture
and law library are covered with chattel
and grocery bills are unpaid, that his
landlord is very impatient and that his
family may at any time be thrust into
the street"
Poor fellow" said Mackay. land he
has such a nice family. Such distress is
greater than the suffering Of one who has
no position 70 maintain. Dick, draw a
check for thousand dollars and send
It 10 him" He won't take It, Mr.
Mackay," replied the secretary. He is
as proud as Lucifer, and I believe that
rather than accept charity he would com
NIT suicide" rs II as bad as that?'
said Mackay. well, wen ind a way
% make him take II. What has become
OF that litigation between the Durgon and
HOmeschich Company "Au settled"
replied the secretary. ''Weu, you hunt
up some other lawsuit, any old lawsuit
Sure there's enough Of them bothering US
when we don't want them You employ
the Judge IN IL TO assist our other law
yers and pay him thousand dollars, and
don't you let on TO him that have any
thing to DO with It. Tell him It is the
order Of the board Of directors"
Aachay's gifts sometimes took an co
centric form He would send hundred
dollars or more 20 a widow with the
regards Of William Sharon" until that
capitalist was not only driven wild with
protestations OF gratitude. but his outer
ONCE was crammed with petitioners for
similar aid. TO whom Mackay's beneficiary
had communicated the RIad tidings that
Sharon was taken with enlargement OF
the heart
An old mining partner Of Mackay. who
had not seen him for years came to San