The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-07-27


men in the world, has been a prOmin-
ent figure in national finance ever
since the early sixties when he ORR
g1nated the system Of puts" and
calls He was a banking institution
in himself, having a greater command
Of ready cash at all times than any
other wealthy man in the history of
the United States. Yet with all his
ability, he never appeared on the
floor of the stock exchange, but man
aged all his affairs through repre-
SentativeS- His career was one of
continual success with the single ex-
cepuOn Of the Grant & Ward failure.
His success he attributed to three
things; Lots Of work, plenty Of food
and sleep enough. He claimed to have
body and thus to have prolonged his
life. Yet he was known for years as
the hardest working man among the
great hnanciers- His day was gener-
ally not less than nine hours long and
NJ never took vacation. Periodically
for the last ten years or more il has
been reported that he was going to re-
tire from active life, but the very next
day he would be seen on the street
with his linen buster Tapping in the
breeze. The busters were purchased
at the same place, at the same price
and at the same time, year after year.
He was easily recognized by its yellow
folds.
Two OLneT ndDlLS OF the dean OF
Wall street which made him famous
the world over were his careful scru-
tinizing Of every expenditure and his
habit Of dining on mush and milk.
But with all his wealth and his good
health he had his troubles. He often
jOked about the numerous we'll wish
ers among his relatives who on every
possible occasion sent him gifts. These
thirty nieces and nephews are his
direct heirs and among them his Is
tate will be divided in case there is no
other provision in the will. Their So
licitude in regard to his health was
always very amusing to the financier
The income of the great financier at
the time Of his death was about
$4,000, 900 a year. This was the result
Of 775 years Of hard work. 1t was the
result Of depriving himself Of many Of
the pleasures OF life which other men
enjoy But these deprivatiODs
coupled with a simple and orderly
ness man, successful politician aud
later a successful stock broker and
railroad magnate.
Russell Sage was the product OF
farm in the beautiful Shenandoah VAL
ley. He started his career of finance
with his brother. From that he went
into the wholesale grocery business
and by his characteristic caution he
prOspered until he finally bought a
seat on the New York stock exchange
and became the renowned broker who
kept several million dollars in safety
deposit vaults always ready for use.
Even in his Office were strong boxes
OGt Of which he could drag a Jew hum
cred thousands when the occasion de-
handed
Sage was never a man to speculate
to any great extent He dealt only in
sure things" where he could see a
large margin of profit 1t was this
habit Of his which prevented his Civ
ing much to charity, although his wife
contributed thousands At one time
h lent Talmage 1925. 600 to rebuild
the Brooklyn tabernacle. but he chaTz-
ed per cent However, he was al
ways a man Of deep religious coRvic-
ton and q pillar in the Presbyterian
church His strong moral and plIv.-i-
Cal courage helped as much as any
thing else in carrying out his SUCCESS.