The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-29

New York, Dec. 2S.-Mrs. Russell Sage,
through her counsel, Robert ". De For
est issued to-day the first statement she
has made touching the disposition of mil
lions left her by her husband upon his
death last July. While she does not in
dicate definitely the lines along which
she intends to proceed, she does outline
clearly her attitude toward the Hood of
applications for help which she receives
every day.
Mrs. Sage, in fact, feels that the public
has been misled regarding her present
intentions and abilities. She thinks her
words will clear the misapprehension
which seems to exist She does not in
tend to take any measures for the i'm
mediate distribution of the Sage millions.
The Inference is that she would not do
50 even if the estate were settled.
While she does not indicate what her
ideas are as to the final disposition Of the
property, she does make it clear that she
feels that her chief duty in the matter
is TO the city of New York. rather than
TO any other community.
Begging Letters from All Cities.
i have been receiving ever since my
husbands DEATH" she says. several
hundred letters a day containing applica-
tiOns OF every conceivable kind from so
many different persons. They come from
every point of the United States and from
foreign countries. from the greater cities.
such as Chicago. Boston. Baltimore.
Washington, and from the smallest ham
lets in the far West
~ great many of these letters contain
absurd and unreasonable requests based
apparently upon the idea that I was i'm
mediately going to distribute without ex-
animation OF consideration a very large
sum of money.
I do not waste any sympathy on the
begging letter writer's or those who pre-
sent absurd or impossible demands. but 1
cannot but sympathize with the persons.
and there are some of them, whose needs
are real and should unquestionably be
met by some one and somehow. Many of
them are poor and ignorant people whose
expectations have been stimulated by the
newspaper articles which have appeared
from time to time with regard TO me and
my philanthropic intentions.
To Make No I'm Mediate distribution.
1T is cruel to excite hopes in them that
cannot be realized. To such 1 feel It pc
culiarly due to break my silence and
make a public statement, which / trust
be given the same currency by the press
that has been given to the many articles
regarding my intentions, which have alb
sOluteIy no warrant in fact
1T is not my purpose 20 make any i'm
mediate distribution of the money which
my husband has left to me. and which
expect to receive in the due course of ad-
ministraton. Much less am I intending
to make any such distribution everywhere
ana to everybody.
I am to receive this money without
any trust OF any kind imposed by my hus-
band, or even any expression Of desire on
his part. He has left me, and intended to
leave me. absolutely free TO do what
pleased with it.
Whatever be the personal or family
needs OF poor people in Chicago, Boston,
Baltimore, and Washington, ! cannot be
looked TO to supply them. have at my
own doors, in my own city OF 100000 in
habitants, plenty Of such cases which
have a nearer claim upon me, in so far as
may decide to recognize II.
Cities Should Help Their Own Poor.
I think the philanthrOpic people of
Chicago, Boston, and Washington. and
other cities, some of whom I know, can.
and should, be relied upon to meet such
cases in their respective cities. do not
think it would be for the permanent good
either Of those who are to receive such
help or those who by reason of their citi-
zenship are most called upon to supply it,
for any resort 10 be had to me in such
cities. I intend to act upon this opinion of
my duty.
The professional begging Ietter-writers
appear in large numbers. and also the
people who have failed in business and
wish to establish themselves afresh.
MANY of them unquestionably repre-
sent real need. and certainly represent
real need in the opinion of the applicants.
Some Of them are very pathetic
Moreover innumeTable people some
of them, perhaps, the writers of these
letters, are constantly trying to secure
personal interviews with me, and if 7
should see one-tenth of the people who
SO apply it would be one continuous in
terview-day and night
VIII Not Grant Interviews.
NO applicant either for individual or
institutional needs, need seek for any
personal interview cannot and must
not accord 1t. and I must, in justice to
myself and these applicants. apply the
same rule TO all. If I want to see any
such myself, or have any Of my friends
do so for me, I shall do it on my own
initiative
Importantly and reiteration are no
recommendations to my attention The
persons for whom I shall probably do
the most. and the causes to which am
most likely to contribute generously. are
those which respect my early widowhood.
and do not press their claims upon me at
this time.
L do not wish to seem harsh. I am
only going through now what, on a small
scale, my husband and I went through
with during his lifetime.
Mrs. Sage receives as many as 900 let
ters some days, said Mr. De Forest, to-
day. "Of course II is humanity impossi-
bic for one person TO read all of them
but they are all read by somebody"
The Sage estate is variously estimated
in financial circles at from $4,000 600 to
S70,CO0000 No estimates place it below
the former amount
Floral Decorations of Unusual Beauty
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