The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-08-09
AN ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE
GIVES HIS MONEY TO OBJECTS HE
THINKS WILL DO MOST GOOD.
Simmer Is a Follower of No Religion.
Lives Upon the Humblest Fare and
Wears Unpretentious Clothes.

Lives Upon the Humblest Fare and
Wears Unpretentious Clothes.
Abraham Simmer of Waverly, Ia,
most eccentric of American millionaire
philanthropists, has just given $1,000
to the Sinai Association of Milwau-
kee for new building after attaching
the novel conditions he affixes to ev-
cry gift.
Simmer is a follower of no religion
and believer in no creed. He is a
philosopher living upon the humblest
fare, wearing unpretentious clothes.
sleeping in woodshed and trying to
unburden himself of his wealth in a
way to alleviate the suffering of this
world.
He gave his home, worth $50, 900, to
the Sisters of Charity for a hospital,
but required that it be dedicated as a
non-sectarian hospital. He retired
from his apartments to the woodshed,
on the rear of the lot, where he now
resides. He says the associations of
the property are too dear for him to
leave it entirely, so he has asked that
he may spend his remaining years in
keeping up the property for the Sis
tiers.
To him money appears little. He
says that for his happiness all he
wants is crust of bread, a place to-
lay his head and clothes to keep him
comfortable. He says the happiest
moment of his life will be when he is
to unburden himself of all of his
wealth and start on an equal footing
with his fellow beings in the struggle
for sustenance.
He went to Iowa poor boy. There
he amassed wealth through business
shrewdness and good fortune by buy
ing, feeding and selling cattle, then
clearing land and selling lumber, and
finally by investing his accumulations
in banks and real estate.
Helping old people is the hobby Of
Mr.. Simmer. He has given thousands
of dollars for hospitals, homes for the
friendless and old peoples homes.
But he drives his bargains we'll, de-
monstrating his shrewdness by which
he gained money. If he gives money
| for some home he draws the papers
himself He has laughed in the faces
of the lawyers who have been employ
ed by religious societies to break his
contracts that they might violate some
of the provisions therein. They have
always been found too strong.
Mr.. Simmer is bachelor, and in
making his contracts there is always
one clause. That is there shall be no
women on the board of directors. He
has no confidence in their executive
ability. He says they are quarrelsome
and arouse strife detrimental to the
welfare of the institution. He is
against marriage -that is a part of
his philosophy. "Those who say they
marry because they feel it part of
their duty, " remarked the philosopher,
'or because they feel it incumbent up
on them to perpetuate the race by re-
production, are hypocrites.
Another clause in his contract is
that no inmate in any institution to
which he gives money shall be asked
to go to religious services. He does
not object to services being held in
the institutions, but wants the inmates
left to their own discretion as to GO
ing, because" explains the philoso-
pher, "old persons might not like to
refuse to go to services, and they are
bigoted in their ideas. They might
hear something that would arouse
their anger and make them miserable.
| am trying to make their last years
those of perfect peace and happiness. /"
With no creed he believes he is
growing rich in the smiles bestowed
upon him for his kindness. Believing
that it will be harder for rich man
to enter the kingdom of heaven than
for a camel to pass through needles
eye" he is rapidly doing away with
his earthly gain. He exclaims:
"What is money? 1t is the capacity
to curb ones own wants, and has a
corresponding capacity to do good for
others and to make others happy. Ny
possessions are a trust fund, which
will have to be disposed of some time,
and there is no better time to dispose
of them than while l am here to plan
and figure out what is best to do with
them.
MAC ACE FED IN RED