Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-12-20

Many a poorer man than Russell Sage
has spent greater amounts for an
evenings advertisement. But the hard
eyed old financier didn't do business
on the charitable plan. ,.'sE
Transaction Typical Of Sage. i.
One may recall that he let his wife
yearn for years after velvet carpets
But he did finally tell his relative he
might have what money he needed
under certain conditions. In the end
Elizur Sage asked only $50, which
was sent him, and in return he gave
Russell Sage a mortgage on his place
to guarantee this enormous sum.
The newspapers got hold of the
story at the time, and as a result
New York museum proprietor offered
Elizur Sage $500 a week to appear
with his son in the museum as the
man who had succeeded in borrowing
$50 OF Russell Sage. The nephew
never appeared and the experience
has made him bit chary Of news
papers and museums. That they told
ONLY what was true of his rich rela.
tive has not softened the sting. -
But in the end Elizur Sage got his
s5O0OO-all his own. to do with as he
pleased-and there was no Russell
Sage alive to ask mortgage. There
is more tragedy in this than may
crop out OF white paper and. black
ink. There is here the ruin CT youth.
the wrecking Of hopes: and enjoy:
ments. In the end there is. prosperity
when the age for such things, is past.
when the ability to enjoy lis dead
E E Sage was IS years gig wen !!
the legacy came.
Il might have acted different ii l
had been younger" ne said, "gQt ]
wasn't no young man any more: sand
| guess havin' little money didn't DO
much like maxim me crazy"
Neither did it make him haggyS An
all the things Elizur Sage says .ot His
gift gold there is no trace OF Gays esas
nine enjoyment. He is more secure
than he was, but that is all. He isn't
sure that his money has made him eF.
joy life more.
Sage did not squander his money.
A bit Of native shrewdness is re-
sponsible for the fact that the sharp
ers haven't it all.
Sage invested at least large part
OF his legacy in land.
He still has the land. incumbered OF
{! otherwise, and it has appreciated.
Wealth Fails to Bring Happiness.
He is neither happy nor satisfied.
Il went into the war at 49, he said,
in beginning his story, land l was in
the service until was 16, in the first
Chicago Board of Trade regiment.
Captain Sexton, my commander. was
afterwards postmaster in Chicago. On
| leaving the service went back to my
| father, who was in Will county, Hi
nois, in a little town. He was car
penter and l learned this trade from
| him. He also owned a farm. At 90,
in 1869, l went to farming on his place
and stayed there till 1872 or 1879.
when my father died and the estate
las divided. Then l ran little
grocery and meat market for about
five years and then came to Indiana
and rented a farm. Then for a year
1 l was back on a farm in Illinois again,
and in 1890 l came back here to In
diana. I've been here ever since"
Sage was more than willing to say
that previous to the coming of the
$4,000 he had been absolutely poor.
mo. l had nothing in those days
but living. was happy and care
less then" he said. Nothing worried
me. When l got done with hard
days work slept. That was all there
was to it. 1t was good in Wayne
cares and nothing. l guess l was Just
about as well of. AS long as any
body has his health guess he's about
as happy as he can be made" :,
What happened when you got the
money!" was asked.
well, the first thing, 1t put me
into a peck O. trouble. Friends ]