The Washington herald., 1907-07-15
WYNNE LIKED HERE
Consul General to London
Ex-NeWspaper Man.
WIFE WAS MISS MARY McCABE
Family Well Fixed Financially
Through Thrift Of Girl Bride, Who
Refused TO Pay Rent-OmeiaI Once
President of Gridir0n CInb-Fathe,,
OF Ten CD rem, Seven Living.

The stories from London, purportlng 10
indicate the existence OF a social feud
between the embassy and United States
consulate. recall 10 Washington people
that Consul General Wynne is a man
after the Presidents own heart. and the
father of ten children. seven of whom
are living
The dispatches quoting the consul gen.
eral as saying there is no reason for such
stories were received with pleasure by
his friends. who. in Washington. are le-
gion. It is believed here that London cor
respondents have overestimated the I'M
.portance Of certain episodes 10 which the
Wynnes themselves would attach no i'm
portance.
Mr.. Wynne is shining example of
what an American citizen can accomplish,
having risen from telegraph operator to
the Cabinet and to the position he now
holds
He is Irish. with an Irishmans ready
wit, and with an Irishman's liking for
music. 1t was this that brought about
the meeting between Mr.. Wynne and his
wife.
Where can I hear some good music?"
he asked friend in Washington more
than thirty years ago, when he was here
as a telegraph operator The friend pre-
sented him TO Miss Mary E. Mcc4be.
the daughter OF Owen McCabe. who was
wealthy
Il was through the thrift Of Mrs. Wynne
that the foundation Of the present snug
Wynne fortune was laid. and not to the
generosity Of her father. as is generally
believed.
Mrs. Wynne Married Young.
Mrs. Wynne was born in WATERFOWL,
Wis, and educated in convent at Kan
sas City, where her father had business
interests She was sixteen years old
when she was married. after five months
courtshlp, and her first long dress was
her wedding gown. Mr.. Wynne was
twenty-five.
They began housekeeping in a rented
house, when one day MIS- Wynne calmly
announced she would not pay rent any
longer. but would save $ a month and
build a house. Her husband laughed al
the idea of building house with $50
year, and all he had was 500 and his
salary as telegraph operator. His wife
doubled the monthly savings. and one
day gave him $500. He made a partial
payment on house. sold it. cleared $500.
buying another. This he sold for
1850. and the next he sold for $500.
With this he built two houses. and now
they own five houses. in addition 70 the
one in which they live. when in Wash
ington, at 9l5 Rhode Island avenue,
which is worth S25o0O.
Born in New York City.
Mr.. Wynne was born IN New York, No
vember IS. 1851. and was educated in
the schools in that city. He moved TO
Philadelphia. where he learned teIeg-
raphy, and after eight years came to
Washington. He soon got into news
paper work under Gen II. V. Boynton,
the correspondent for the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette. and later became
the correspondent for the Commercial
Gazette. In 1891 he was appointed pri-
vate secretary to the then Secretary of
the Treasury. Charles Foster, OF Ohio.
When Grover Cleveland was elected
President. Wynne returned TO newspaper
work. and was correspondent for the Gin.
ciunati Tribune and Philadelphia In
quirer. AS a writer on finance, tariff,
and politics, his ability was widely recog-
nized. He later became the Washington
correspondent Of the New York Press,
which place he resigned TO become First
Assistant Postmaster General.
At that time Mr.. Wynne was president
Of the Gr!diron Club. At a dinner of
the club, President Roosevelt. who was
a guest, mentioned 10 Senator Plat, Of
Connecticut. that he wanted a good man
for the place as First Assistant.
What's the matter with that young
man?" said Senator PIatt, and Wynnes
appointment came shortly afterward. It