Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-09
BUSY RICH men.
Not All Lead Purpose
:: : ;. less Lives.
Many exert Themselves Both
Physically and Mentally.
Some Devoted 10 CHARITY. Others Do Rescue
Work and Farming.

The sons of rich men are rarely
IDLE here, whatever the extent of their
family fortunes may be. If there is
nothing here that interests them, they
make a business Of sport Foxhall
fkeene is an example of successful de-
votion to sport. In one form or anoth-
y er 1t has kept him employed all his
life. He has made himself a champion
in every field of sport from billiards
to cross country riding. He made it a
rule to place himself in the first rank
of players in every new sport that be-
came popular. He had been expert in
/ racquets and later took up golf. He
conquered that with ease. All the
time he conducted a racing stable on
the side. Mr.. Keene never was in
business, but nobody ever heard that
he found little in life.
| Eugene Higgins, who is large own
er In. great carpet industries, has not
for years taken any active share in the
management of the business, but he
would never be considered a man who
found 1t difficult to occupy his time.
He spends most Of his time on his
yacht in the society of congenial
friends.
He is never without the interest that
an enthusiastic yachtman finds in his
favorite sport. Mr.. Higgins is sup
posed to possess an income of more
than 100000. and has during recent
years spent most of it abroad,
as he rarely comes to this country.
Mr. Higgins is, like Mr.. Keene enough
of an all-round sportsman to have
other resources than his trips on the
Varuna OF his four-inhands. He is
a crack pigeon shot and one of the
best fencers that the old club, with
it's quarters in West Twenty eighth
street, ever knew. In the same way
Frederick Gerhard, who has never
been in business, has found in a racing
stable sufficient occupation to keep
alive his interest in existence.
At least two of the younger Wander
bits find in horses sufficient to occu-
by much of their time. Alfred drives
a four-in-hand frequently in the fall
and winter seasons in New York and
at Newport in the summer Reginald,
who has not. like Alfred. an office in
the Grand Central Station, has grown
so much interested in his stables that
he goes even as far west as Kansas
City to exhibit in the horse shows. He
has no other occupation.
Cornelius, who travels abroad on ac-
count Of his health, would like nothing
better than to remain here and devote
himself to his business and mechanical
interests. But he spends little time in
this country. His affairs, however.
are kept constantly under his control
and his occupation in life is his busi-
ness. George Vanderbilt has for
years devoted most of his time to con-
trolling his vast estate at Biltmore.
With his tenants and overseers, that
has been work enough for any man,
Tespecially as the estate has been the
scene of many important agricultural
and sociological experiments.
Other wealthy men who did not have
to work and sought other interests
have chosen different channels for the
consumption of their time and money
Two of the Stokeses decide3tlrat their
chief interests lay in church. and chart
table work.
i Everit Macy, one of the richest men
iii New York, has Tor the last twelve
years made a business of putting his
money into the good works that seemed
to him most worthy of it. Mr.. Macy
not only gives his money to the sup
port of worthy causes, but he devotes
his time to investigating their needs
and aims. He determined to make
philanthropy his business when a very
young man, and as soon as he came
into his great fortune he carried out
this ambition.
Everett ]. Wendell has never done any
business since he left college. but di-
vides his large income between his res
cue work for boys from the slums and
his theater collection, which is one Of
the finest in existence. But it is the
rescue work that occupies him chiefly.
He has a secretary to help him. Every
day from S until 10 in the morning he
receives at his Office the boys who
come there in search Of help.
This office is in the front basement
Of his residence, and his neighbors have
grown accustomed to the ragged band
that gathers there every day. Mr.
Wendell thrice year make a trip to
the far Western states, where many of
the youths that he has rescued find
homes and develop into useful citizens.
Mr.. Wendell does this all at his own
expense and has never solicited aid
|
| otherwise.
Thomas Pearsall Thorne lives in
Paris and devotes himself to musical
composition, although he has not pro-
duced any of his works since his
Leonardo" failed here several years
ago and cost the composer more than
such experiments usually do, because
Mr.. Thorne had engaged an expensive
company and produced his opera in
0e<y elaborate fashion. He still makes
music tire work of his life. although he
plays his compositions chiefly in his
den drawing room, to which he invites
his friends to hear them.
Thomas Hugh Kelly. who inherited a
large share of the Eugene Kelly for
tune. mas never been in business. but
has devoted much of his time in recent
years to Irish national purposes. It
was he who several years ago backed a
series Of performances of Yeats plays.
Lloyd Warren. a younger brother Of
Whitney Warren, is an architect, but