Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-09-01

was close man, who hated waste, II
historic fact.
The office of Ru. sell Sage, wrote {
well-known Journalist not long ago
is an interesting place. Many coun
try lawyer has bigger one. It con
sists of several small rooms facing
upon hall, and walled off from il
by doors and grated windows, like
those through which letters are de
livered at a postohice.
AS / presented my card at one oil
these windows to-day, a rosy-facet
man with a silver mustache took II
and told me that Mr.. Sage was moi
we'll enough to see me. A moment
later banker came in with a Ereat
bunch of bonds, and the silver-mus.
tached man, in return for them
signed check representing a snug
fortune in gold AS the banker left
| saw the silver-rlustached clerk raise
the door of an iron chest as big as
one Of the old-fashioned woodboxes
that stand beside a country stove and
dump the bonds into it. There were
"
and, in fact, the box was filled with
them.
There are two such boxes under
that window in Russell Sage's Office;
and no one but the clerks know what
they contain. At the different times
| have called l have seen great bum
dies of Pennsylvania Railroad bonds,
NJ
bonds, Rock Island Railroad stock
and scores of other securities brought
out and passed upon. At one time,
l remember, a man came in to extend
loan. AS the clerk looked over his
bundle, which may have contained
half million dollars worth of secur-
tiles, the envelope which held them
began to tear at the corner. AS he
noticed this, the clerk said to the
debtor:
81 think you had better send me
around a new envelope, or Mr.. Sage
will have to call that loan"
Think of that! Asking for a new
five-cent envelope on a transaction
that probably brought in interest at
the rate of S25, 900 year!
Nevertheless, If / were doing bust
ness with Russell Sage l should not
hesitate to send in the envelope in a
case like that. He has been noted as
being an honest man, but also as
very particular one. In one inter-
view which I had with him a Few
years ago he told me that the coat
h then had on had cost him Sc, and
it was part of suit which was then
selling for $3.50. He was not
ashamed to wear a suit of that price,
although he had bought it, he told
me, in order to illustrate his position
on the tariff, and to show his friends
that low duties made cheap clothing.
Cashed a 4-Cent Check.
Not long ago Russell Sage cashed
a check for four cents, anG as he did
so it is said that he remarked: ut
was just like finding money, just like
picking 1t up from the sidewalk"
| The check came in letter. 1t was
| from theatrical firm, calling his at
| tention to their new play then run
ming at the theatre, and inclosing this
check to pay for the time used in
reading the letter. This was the
note:
Assuming that your income is
great in year, and that you appre-
ciate the fact that time Is money, we
inclose check for four cents in pay
ment of two minutes of your time at
that rate, to be employed in carefully
reading brief and honest statement
of the novel, applause-winning fea-
lures in our new musical farce"
Such letters were sent to many
wealthy New Workers, but 1t is said
that Mr.. Sage was about the only one
who cashed the check.
Russell Sages eagerness to lend
money at top rates has been the
basis of many an aneGdote. AS late
as last winter, on day of squeeze
in the money market, a New York
paper exerted its comic powers thus:
When Russell Sage read this morning
that there was pinch In the money
market he got nervous.
Uncle Russell lends money.
All through breakfast he was rest
less. He hadn't been in Wall Street
for months. His doctor had forbid
den his going there. He hated to dis
obey the doctor, but the awful yearn-
ing for money in the Street was too
fascinating. He sat in painful silence
as long as he could stand it and then,
summoning his valet, ordered his hat
and coat. Five minutes later Uncle
Russell was ON his way to Wall
Street.
The aged financier forgot his nine
ty years. He walked with springy
step into his office. Mr.. Sage's en-
ployes rubbed their eyes. They
hadn't seen him for so long they had
most forgotten him. Mr.. Sage found
his secretary, Charles w. Osborne,
and his brother-in-law, Colonel ]. J.
Slocum, dishing out money as fast as
it could be counted.
Good, glorious, glorious!" ex-
claimed Uncle Russell, rubbing his
hands gleefully.
Mr.. Sages joy was boundless when
tho rate TOT call money scared ABOVE
100 to 10 and 1876. He sat with
glistening eyes and watched the mil
lions roll out. From IL until 2, while
Mr. Sage remained at the Office, his
men lent out 100000. Mr.. Sage
expressed great satisfaction over his
days work.
An Insight Into His Stinginess.
An insight into Russell Sage's per-
sonality is given by friend who
| said at the time he retired from the
Street"
While many of the stories that are
told Of MI. Sage's miserly habits and
eCcentricities are fictitious, none of
them are exaggerations. 1t would be
almost impossible for anyone to inn
| agine a man more economical and