Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-08-24

poSeu TO nave much regard. Mr.. Sage
invited this man to go to a concert with
him one afternoon in the following week
The man accepted the invitation, albeit
much surprised at Uncle" Russels I'M
Wonted generosity, and wondering if he
had any Interior motive therefor.
The day before the concert the man
was sent for by Mr.. Sage and told by
MN that he was sorry he could not keep
the engagement, because the committee
III charge of the concert cit was for some
charitable object had only sent him two
tickets and he had to take Mrs. Sage"
Another story is as follows: Just
after Mr.. Sage's first illness recently a
man who knew him dropped into a seat
beside him as he went uptown on the
elevated road.
While talking to Mr.. Sage another
person sitting on the other side of the
tinancier called the latter's attention to
an article in a penny paper regarding
his illness and which was copiously illus
trated Mr.. Sage read it, and then,
turning to the owner, asked:
May l have this to take home? Mrs.
Sage would be delighted to read it,
The owner of the paper with an in
voluntary grimace-he had not yet con-
cluded reading the sheet-of course,
acquiesced and "Uncle'' Russell saved
another penny.
Two of Mrs. Sage's nephews, both in
the army, were favorites of Mr.. Sage.
They are Capt. Stephen LII. Slocum of
the Eighth cavalry, just ordered from
Manila to join the general staff at Wash
ington, and Maj. Herbert J. Slocum of
the Second cavalry, lately at Fort Riley,
Kan. Capt Stephen Slocum was some
years ago a United States military at
I or hn TATo4 tn
st. Petersburg in a similar capacity. A
few days after he had been appointed
military attache at St. Petersburg Mr..
and Mrs. Sage were talking with an ac-
Qaintance about the appointment and
Mrs. Sage asked:
Tell me, do you think that is any
billet for poor young man!
Not much,' said the acquaintance.
EST. Petersburg is the most expensive
court in Europe
How much do you think young man
in his position ought to have to be prop
erly provided for.'
"At least $4,000 year." was the re-
MY, my!" exclaimed Mrs. Sage in the
gentle way she has. what do you
think of that, father?'
Il think he better stay at hum," re-
piled Uncle Russell sententiously.
But Capt. Slocum took the billet and
kept his end up.
A newspaper man who for several
years had free access to Mr.. Sages pri-
vate office was enabled to observe his
thriftiness on a number Of occasions.
Once he met Mr.. Sage on Broadway.
The aged millionaire was Juggling big
bundle wrapped in brown paper. The
reporter expressed his establishment.
''Oh," replied Mr.. Sage, that has a
old
friend of mine He is very poor. l
thought 1 would make him present,
and I bought it for him. l paid So for
it. 1t will keep him warm. But he
said it was too small. l am going to
get it changed for a bigger one
At this Mr.. Sage, who had been on
the move all the time ne was talking,
dived into one of the sporadic hand-me-
down clothing stores that at intervals
way. The impression left on the report
er's mind was that the bigger overcoat
was going to be worn by Mr.. Sage him.
self.
This incident. at any rate, disproves
the strong Wall street impression that
Mr.. Sage was never known to make a
gift.
Daily for years Mr.. Sage used to go
ern Union building to partake of the tree
lunch that was served to the company
by it's directors. The same newspaper
man followed him to try to obtain an
interview on an important hnanclal
matter. Mr.. Sage showed that he did
not want to talk about it.
He boarded a Broadway car down
town and the persistent reporter, sun
hopeful of a talk, accompanied him.
The conductor came around and asked
for his fare. Mr.. Sage never budged.
The conductor was getting impatient,
and it was evident that someone would
have to pay. The reporter had tshed
up a nickel for himself, but he dived into
his pocket again, so no one was put OH
the car.
Mr.. Sage frightened up perceptibly,
said, THANK YOU but did not offer to
reimburse for the fare. The reporter
got his reward, however, in the sought
for interview.
Once again this newspaper man en-
countered Mr.. Sage at the corner OF
Broadway and Cortlandt street, on his
way to the railroad station, hOmeward
bound. A newsboy had protfered his
evening papers and Mr. Sage had taken
one. He offered a dime. The boy
could not change it, and was trying to
secure cents for it from nearby banana
and peanut peddlers. Mr.. Sage was
keeping a watchful eye upon him all the
time.
Said the reporter to the aged financial
magnate:
I'm treat YOU
''Thank you, thank YOU" said Mr..
Sage, and calling loudly. boy. Boy"
he summoned back his dime. and as
smiles overspread his face the reporter
handed over a cent for the paper.
1t used to be standing joke of this
newspaperman that he had invested
cents in Russell Sage.
Wall street teens with anecdotes OF
Russell Sage. His thriftiness became
Upward all over the country. That Mr..
Sage was thrifty there can be no gain
saying Wall street has an old joke
about Mr.. Sage to the effect that hang
ing framed in his office was the first
dollar bill he ever made, which he cher
ished so much that he would not part
with it except on the best collateral