The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-07-29

and an ardent promoter of the sport {
kings greatly improved the hackne
line in this country, helped to organic
the Philadelphia Horse Show, and be
came frequent prize winner at hors
shows throughout the country; as roa
supervisor OF his own township, gave t
the country its model roads; gloried il
the life of gentleman farmer; con
ceived and built the New York, Phila
delphia & Norfolk; and, barring a few
months Immediately following his retire
ment, was one of the leading spirits in
the Pennsylvania board of directors
lie had retired that he might have time
Z to rest and play. This somewhat incom-
plete list Of the things he did will doubt
less lead the reader to draw the con-
clusion that his play period must indeed,
have been of the very strenuous sort,
Mr.. Cassatt was averse to becoming
President of the Pennsylvania In fact
when the honor was first offered to him.
ne unhesitatingly declined it. But later
when Mrs. Cassatt begged him to accept
he weakened, and when, for the second
time, the directors called on him to head
the Pennsylvania army, he asked for
few hours in which to make up his
mind for gooI and all, the general feel
ing was that be would surrender to the
wishes Of his wife.
MIR. Cassatt is a millionaire. of course,
but it is doubtful whether he has suffi
Gent number of millions TO give him
standing among the "multi's." Never
theless. he possesses what many a
"multi' does not--a splendid education
and a real knowledge of the higher
things, such as fine paintings and statu-
airy. for which many a mutt" spends |
his dollars lavishly because its consid- |
cred to be the proper thing.
Mr.. Cassatt's liberal education--he Is
no mean iinguist-was obtained abroad,
his father moving there while he was
still a youth. After going through the
University of Darnstadt he returned to
America and received his technical train
ing at the Van Rensselaer, Polytechnic,
where he graduated in 1859 Immedi-
ately thereafter he went TO Georgia to
help locate and construct railroad line.
When war looked certain he came north,
and just before it broke out he went with
the Pennsylvania as rodman. Little did
he dream then that thirty-eight years
later he would be called, Cincinnatus
fashion, from his stock farm to the presi-
dency of the corporation.
Since he has been President of the
Pennsylvania, Mr. Cassatt has had very
little time in which to breed horses or
build township roads, His chief method |
Of escaping railroad cares for the time
being is to sit al the boards Of the two
dining clubs to which he belongs.
One Of these clubs is made up of ma
tionally known fnanciers and captains OF
industry-such men as Clement A. Girls
com, Henry c. Frick, p A. B. Widener
and J. P. Morgan. The club meets from
time to time at the country homes OF
its members. The one thing never talked
about is business in any shape, manner
or form, and so the club gives one and
all splendid opportunity to enjoy that
relaxation so necessary to all of US, and
most peculiarly so TO those of us who
carry the heavy burdens.
The second club likewise taboos bust
ness as a topic of conversation. Its mem
bers are recruited largely from the pro-
fessions; DIR. S. Weir Mitchell is a shin !
ing light, and besides lawyers, there are
artists and writers. The meetings are
held at the homes Of members in the
winter time. Each member must invite I
a guest, and members and guests alter
nate at table. The club of millionaires
meets in the summer time, and is not
so generous with invitations as the
other.
Golf is Mr.. Cassatts' present-day IA
vorite outdoor recreation, and he is
golfer of no mean ability.
Summing up, Mr.. Cassatt's career, in
active life and in retirement, has been
by boldness, originality
and thoroughness. He entered upon the
task of building public roads for his
township with as much zest as he dis
played when aiding in the development
of the Pennsylvania. He has been an
enthusiastic doer Of deeds as well as
planner Of them, and as such has won
out in work and in play.
Mr.. Cassatt has still little more than
three years left in which to serve as
President Of the Pennsylvania Then he
will have reached the age Of three-score
years and ten, when, by rule of his 6
own making, he will perforce retire on
half pay. What original, bold ideas he i
Il II As,aor4-l