Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29

should choose to so regard it, and am
frequently amazed at the character and
standlng OF people who thus seek to press
themselves upon me instead of respecting
my desire for seclusion. To read all the
begging letters would involve the tota,
loss OF eyesight, which a woman Of seven.
ty-seven needs to reserve"
Home Charity for Mrs. Sage.
Inc earliest period within which the
estate can be closed up is one wear from
the death of Russell Sage Until then the
oene1actions cannot be made. The an
piaisai 10 not yet completed, but it was
learned yesterday that the amount of
money represented by the various nron.
e Hu rs IN the neighborhood of SOS O00. 900.
ner personal counsel, Robert W. De EoreSt
ne SAID that the legacies left in the will
Dy Mr.. Sage had all been paid and al
E enoush they had all been doubled by Mrs.
$1,000, 900. ~ iioie 'Aah
Convinced of the worth of the proverb
Charity begins at home" 1t is Mrs Saee's
New York. AZ
II have at my own doors, In nv own
cry OF 4,ooo,ooo inhabitants, plenty of cases
Wnlch nave nearer claim upon me in so
G Ga, as may decide to recognize it," Mrs.
Mrs. Sage is staying at her country home
Excellent heat sbs where wrts she e is enjoying
Of the statement as follows:
Il have been lreceiving ever since nv hus-
bands death several hundred letters a day
CONTAINING applications of every conceiv-
able KIND from so many persons. A great
many OF these contain absurd and unrea-
sonable requests, based apparently upon
the idea that l was Immediately going to
distribute without examination or consid-
Grafton very large sum of money The
professional begging letter writer appears
IN large numbers. and also the people who
have failed in business and wish to estah
llsh themselves afresh; those who would
like to have the mortgages paid Off their
homes; those who would like to have me
go into business with them, and those who
have discovered perpetual motion or the
elixir OF life and only need aid for them to
take out patents and secure their and nv
everlasting fortunes.
This constitutes a real persecution If 7
should choose to so regard it, and I am
frequently amazed at the character and
standing of people who thus seek to press
themselves upon me, instead of respecting
my desire for seclusion during the first few
months of my widOwhood.
Il do not wish to seem harsh. I am
only going through now what on a small
scale my husband and l went through with
during his lifetime. l suppose other people
have to endure the same flood of applica-
tons. / should not feel it necessary to
speak now except that my heart really
goes out to some people who have written
letters from distant cities and villages in
whom false expectations have been eX-
cited. / hope the newspapers will give
broad circulation to this statement, which
l make deliberately and which is the only
statement that l have ever given out for
publication since my husbands death.
Importunists Best Beware.
1T Is not my purpose to make any i'm
mediate distribution of the money which
my husband has left me- and which I
RI in ba 1r1a
Much less am intending
to make any shch distribution everywhere
and to everybody. I am to receive this
money without any trust of any kind i'm
posed by my husband. or even any ex-
preston of desire on his part. He has
left me and intended to leave me absolute
ly free to do what l please with it
Whatever be the personal or family
needs of poor people in Chicago. Baltimore,
Boston and Washington. l cannot be look ed. |
TO to supply them. / think the phlan-ti
thropiO people of those and other cities ]
some of whom | know. can and should
be relied upon to meet such need in their |
respective cities. | do not think 1t would |
be for the permanent good either of those !
who are to receive such help or those who |
by reason of their citizenship are most |
called upon to supply it. for any resort |
to be had to me in such cities. l intend to |
act upon this opinion of my duty.
importantly and reiteration are no |
recommendation to my attention The per- |
sons for whom 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. People should remember and am
that they do not to greater 1
extent. that it is only few months since |
my husband died. that the earliest period |
within which the estate can be closed I'D |
IS one year after his death. and it is pre-
mature for them to apply now