The San Francisco call., 1906-08-12

inserted the words Mr.. and in front
of Mrs. Sages signature for her origi-
nal s25, thus participating in her sub
scription and having got rid OF the
importunate ladies.
Such an idea as that almost tickled
him to the point of distraction. 1t was
not that he was particularly afraid that
people were after his money. 1t was
his sense Of outwitting some one
That was in line with his supreme
satisfaction in making money in the
street by judging and guessing better
than the other fellows. Making or
saving a few dollars would give him
just as keen delight as the favorable
turning of a large amount. In fact,
believe that he took a more intense
pleasure In the successful outcome of
small dicker or piece of smooth cum
ming than he did in the successful COM
pletion of some gigantic transaction.
His parsimony and thrifty habits
were inbred and part of his bone and
flesh. No man knew him better than
Mr.. Whiting, the financial editor of the
Evening Post, and Mr.. Whiting liked
him in certain ways and for certain
traits He amused Whiting. Whiting
liked to study him. And 1t was Mr.
Writings positive and unshakable be-
lief that If there were barefoot race
from Harlem to the Battery In mid
winter for $40 and Mr.. Sage thought he
could win it he would surely enter.
have heard Mr.. Whiting say this
himself, and also that he would be
afraid to go out of the room and leave
his valuable diamond ring on the table
alone with Mr. Sage OF course Uncle
Russell would not theoretically ap-
prove OF taking the ring. but the boys
OF the street" knew that the tempta-
tion would be too cruelty strong for Mr.
sage. Mr.. Whiting thought that under
those circumstances Uncle Russell
would surely fall. He would see value
right there in front OF him and no one
protecting it. He could not help an
nexing the stun. The liking for prop
erty was too strong In the blood
The funny part of all this is that Mr..
Sage was perfectly aware OF the esti-
nation in which the boys OF the street
held him. He would laugh over It, And
he would pinch them just as hard and
as often as the market rates for money
would allow him to do
| was an occasional emissary from
some of the boys to obtain puts" and
calls and spreads" from Uncle Rus
sell Very few times during these oper-
ations do l remember OF our getting
much out of him. Nearly always he got
our money.
He sold these securities on the mar
ket FOR years and years. The boys tried
oil the time to get the better of him
But he netted himself a great deal in
stead Of their getting his money. They
were tempting bats But he manipu-
lated the sale of them and the figures
were fixed by him, SO that with his
Judgment on the probable turn of the
market he was not often caught
heavily.
The one great time that he showed
his essentially cowardly nature was
when Grant and Ward made their spec
tacular failure. He had lot OF securi-
ties and loans out and lost millions that
day. He was SO ratified at the thought
OF losing this great sum OF money that
he tried 10 WEIGH. He closed his ONCE
to stop payment OF his losses, and fed
up to the Western Union offfce.
whence the Goulds sent him back down
to Rector street again to stick II out
and show manhood.
He went up to the Western Union
building at noon every day during the
time of his greatest activity in Wall
street He was interested in western
Union and a lot of other properties.
elevated railroad stock, etc, with the
Goulds, and II was necessary, In his
opinion, for him to talk to the Goulds
each day. Another thing. Jay Gould
and his son George had a fne lunch
served each day in their offices In tho
Western Union building. Uncle Russell
dropped in just at lunch time and
bummed his lunch.
This was iaIlehah1n bitt n apprncfr ed