Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-11-14

in the educational or charitable 1nstf-
buttons with which they are connected
depends on the size of the contribu-
lions they can secure. Innumerable
persons of this class besieged Mrs.
Sage's house, and she frequently was
amazed at the character and standing
of such persons and at the means they
used to secure interviews with her.
Human strength could not endure the
strain, and she intrenched herself be-
hind solid wall of humanity.
The experience of one woman who
tried to pierce this rampant will illus
trate the process. This woman was
Philadelphia of good family and high
social standing, interested in a worthy
object She was not the type of wom-
an who is denied admission anywhere,
and she came to New York armed with
a letter of introduction from an old
and highly esteemed friend of Mrs.
Sage. She drove straight to the
house, at No. 632 Fifth avenue suppos-
ing that her visiting card and letter of
introduction would be enough to at
least gain her admission. The front
door was opened about three inches
and there appeared in the aperture a
face quite wooden in its immobility.
r HIS, the woman afterwards found,
/ was old Nelson, who belongs to
the nearly extinct species of old family
servitor. He is known among those
familiar with the subject as Mrs.
Sage's dragon" and his business is to
keep people on the wrong side of that
front door. He would not touch either
card or letter, and shut the door in the
Philadelphia lady'S face
Then she set in motion the various
means of communication known to civ
ilization. She telegraphed, telephoned,
sent letters by special messenger.
Nothing received the slightest reply
She went to the pastor of the Dutch
Reformed church where Mrs. Sage
worshiped. He was courteous but OBJ
durate. Hundreds of such requests
came to him; it was impossible to
grant them. She went to Mrs. Sage's
country home on Long Island, thinking
that in the more easy atmosphere of
country life the guard would be re-
Taxed. A maid rejected her card and
turned her from the door with no more
ceremony than if shse were a peddler
She set to work to find personal
friends of Mrs. Sage who would intro
duce her. In every direction she en-
counteTed the human wall, made up
of lawyers, physicians, detectives,
nurses, secretaries, servants, all in
fexibly barring the way to Mrs. Sage
The lady from Philadelphia returned
to the city of Philadelphia a sadde1
and wiser woman.
G ONE ONE wrote book once on
- Prisoners of Poverty" Mrs Sage
is prisoner of wealth Behind this
human rampant she sits, afraid that
some one may reach to torment her
In the old days, when Mrs. Sage had
only a little money to give to any
thing, her personal interests were all
in charities and educational work for
women-the Woman's hospital, the
Womans Exchange, the Pascal Insti
tute, the Emma Willard School for
Girls, the Home for Aged Women al
Amsterdam avenue and One Hundred
and Fourth street. She used to like tC
go around to meetings of these socie
| ties, and of other womens organiza
lions. She would slip in quietly and
unobtrusively and often rise to say q
! few words in the discussion of bust
ness or program. All that is stopped
| She almost fears to appear in public
so much is she haunted by the dread
of appeals for money.
| CURIOUS stories can be encountered
- among the old acquaintances Of
| Mrs. Sage to show her limited com
mand of money in the old days. She
was deeply interested in the Woman's
I hospital, but when one of the board OF
managers asked her for a contribution
! IL M hot ~
could not give money. Il can give
you clothing and hospital supplies
said she, for Mr.. Sage will pay bills
8[