Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-07-26


and an ardent promoter of the sport Of
kings" greatly improved the hackney
line in this country, helped to organize
the Philadelphia Horse Show, and be-
came frequent prize winner at horse
shows throughout the country; as road
supervisor of his own township, gave to
the country its model roads; gloried in
the life of gentleman farmer; con-
ceived and built the New York, Phila-
delphia & Norfolk; and, barring few
months Immediately following his retire
ment, was one of the leading spirits in
the Pennsylvania board of directors.
He had retired that he might have time
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,
he 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's army, he asked for
4 few hours in which to make up his
mind for good and all, the general feel
ing was that he would surrender to the
wishes of his wife
Mr.. Cassatt is millionaire, of course,
but it is doubtful whether he has a stiff
cient 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 multi spends
his dollars lavishly because it's consid
cred to be the proper thing
Mr.. Cassatt's liberal education-he is
no mean linguist-was obtained abroad,
his father moving there while he was
still youth. After going through the
University of Darmstadt 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 rodnan. 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 at the boards of the two
dining clubs to which he belongs.
One of these clubs is made up of ma
tionally known financiers and captains OF
industry-such men as Clement A. Girls
com, Henry c. Prick, P A. B. Widener
and ]. 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 a splendid opportunity to enjoy that
relaxation so necessary to all of us, and
Oectrliarlxy m tlnca Of Iuhn
carry the heavy burdens.
The second club likewise taboos bust
ness as a topic of conversation. Its men,
bers are recruited largely from the pro-
fessions; DR.. S. Weir Mitchell is shin
ing light. and besides lawyers, there are
artists and writers. The meetings are
winter time. Each member must invite
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 a
golfer of no mean ability.
Summing up, Mr.. Cassatt's career, in
active life and in retirement, has been
characterized 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