The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-11-23
Interview with t. u. Collins.

The New York World of the llth inst,
publishes the following interview with
one of Forest County's we'll known
citizens:
"Give until II hurts" Is the motto of Il.
ID. Collins, millionaire lumberman from
Pennsylvania, and he has been living up
to IL for sixty. five years. He talked
yesterday with reporter for The World,
in the minister's study at Grace Metho-
dist Episcopal church where he is attend
ing the conference of the General Com
mittee of Home Missions and Church Ex-
tension. This committee is the chief
beneficiary of his charity. Collins looks
to be sixty years old, but he is eighty.
He has grizzly gray whiskers and pierre
ing gray eyes that look from above sal
low, sunken cheeks. He speaks with the
twang of the down Easter and wears a
blue flannel shirt ana ready made suit
that perhaps cost $50. He stints himself
that others may have. But he has in
dulged in one luxury, A big diamond
CLEANS from the flannel shirt.
"What did Christ say?" Collins de-
msnded, shaking bony finger at the re-
porter. "Christ said, deny thyself"
That means give more than you can af-
ford, so that you will have to go without.
That's the kind of giving 7. d. Collins
does.
MUST MAKE BIGGER GIFTS
mo, sonny, don't know what pro-
portion of my income l give away.
don't want to know. Last year l gave
away $4,000. This year I'll give only
SIS 900 because I'm buying some land.
But I've got TO mskeit up. Dearie me,
yes, l must"
And it is true Collins donates between
$50 900 and 5O,OOO year to his church.
de lives in the town of Nebraska, Pa,
and his house is no better outwsrdly than
the house of the workers in his lumber
mills.
"You say John d. Rockefe ler gives a
lot of money" he said. "What does he
give? He gives $4,000 to some church
and then he takes a hundred thousand
dollars in rebates. What do l think he
ought to give2 think he ought to give
it all. That's what I'd do II l made my
money the way he made his.
HIS LIFE ONE OF HARD KNOCKS.
"No, no." impatiently shaking his
head, IL couldn't tell you my story if l
sat here for the next twenty-four hours.
Tt's q story, of hard LnooLs uorLal for
what I've got to give away. 1 worked
hard on my fathers farm near Cortland,
n. Y. went to school. l couldn't read
or write. l saw where was short of the
other fellows. went home and began to
do outside work. I'd finish my work on
the farm and after was all through there,
I'd go out and work for the neighbors.
"About that time the Methodist min
lister came to our town. He was Just
plain man. He wouldn't beg for contr.
buttons, but you gave what you wanted.
gave him that winter $40 month and
earned enough to pay my way at school
besides. That's when l got the giving
habit.
BECAME A LEADER QUICKLY
"Then went to work on the railroad.
l was the lowest paid man in the survey
ing gang when started out, but in few
months they made Inc bead of another
gang. l always kept up my donations to
the church. l believe that a man who
gets 5000 year should give away half of
it. Couldn't do itf T. D. Collins and his
wife did it.
"How? By hard work. Do you know
that for forty five years I've averaged
four hours sleep at night, Now I'm try
ing to get five hours, but l haven't the
time.
mo, "he said in conclusion, 81 never
went into Wall street. I never had
money enough"