The Washington herald., 1910-03-16

In my life, One is dead and the other
is on the Bowery The living man has
given millions to the poor. and he lives
the life of a day laborer. There Is
stamped on the face Of ]. Eads How.
sometimes called the millionaire hobo.
more worldly wisdom. more saintliness
than on any other face I ever saw
The pastor OF one Of the wealthiest
churches in New York the other day as
tonished his complacent and afiluent con-
gregation By denying the right Of any
man ito exploit the land while there arr
hungry stomachs 10 I'LL" and IN the
words quoted above ne called TO the
attention Of his congregation one OF
the most picturesque figures in Ameri-
ca and the most consistent enemy Of
the '.unearned increment and Of Inherit
ed wealth. who has both preached and
praeticed his doctrine on this side Of the
Atlantic. says the Philadelphia Press.
Spurns a Fortune.
James Eads How, of st. Louis. is
probably the only man in the world who
ever refused to accept a legacy OF more
than ST. 900 because he had not earned
IT, In strict accuracy he did not refuse
the legal ownership OF the fortune. for
the law saddled that upon him, but he did
refuse to touch penny OF IL for his own
needs. and has remained steadfast 20
this determination for years. So strong,
indeed. has his feelings on the subject
been that he has sought on several occa-
sions TO rid himself permanently of the
Objectionable wealth without. at the same
time. doing more harm than good. lie
has had the curious experience however,
Of finding that 1t is not tho simplest mat
ter in the world to disencumber oneself
Of great fortune in a manner that would
seem right 20 a socialist and single
texer.
Born TO wealth, education. and social
position, this graduate Of Harvard and
alumnus Of Oxford has elected to pass
the greater part OF his life In the COM
panionship OF the lowest dregs q hui
msnity. He knows the gIums of every
large city of America, and has lived the
life OF an hsbitue in each. The best
lodgings that he permits himself to oc-
cupy are such as can be obtained at a
Mills Hotel, IN New York. or a Tender
loin Salvation Army branch in St Louis.
He Is az present living on the Bowery.
In New York, in lodging house for out
casts which he has founded. In the
meantime. his mother. whom he seldom
sees, lives IN palace IN the most fash
ionabie part Of the Western city.
Logical Heir 10 Wealth.
It was a strange perversity OF fate
that fixed How.s position in life and
brought this latter-dsy exponent Of pow
erty into the world as a member OF a
family OF established fortune and high
social place. He is the logical heir OF
wealth from several sources. His grand
father was James B. Eads. the famous
civil engineer, who built the magnificent
steel bridge that spans the Mississippi
River at 81. Louis, and later achieved
still greater fame by constructing the
jetties In the river below New Orleans.
His father was James F. How, capt
talist, vice president and general man
ager of the Wabash Railroad Il is from
these two sources that the wealth that
has been thrust upon How thus far has
come. His mother is also possessed of
a large fortune, and upon her death
a more veting problem stlll viii doubt
less devOlve upon her socialist son.
How is great traveller and one OF
the most economical In the world. The
price of a Pullman seat would be a
trifie 10 him. and many men who are no
more wealthy look on a private car as
a customary travelling convenience. At
a pinch, indeed. he might buy I'D con-
troll OF a moderate-slzed railroad, yet he
chooses to make his way from city to
city almost entirely on foot On the few
occasions when he uses the railroad
more often than not ne shares the dan
gers of the trucks with some penniIess
wanderer who never so much as dreams
that he has touched hands with gen
uine millionaire.
Not a Mere Whfm.
It is no mere whim that prompts How
to travel in this manner, and that has
earned for him his mama of .tniIlinn-