Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-11-25

Many 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.
Transaction Typical of Sage.
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 a
New York museum proprietor offered
Elizur Sage 5000 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 a 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
$5O,0O0-all his own, to do with as he
pleased-and there was no Russell
sage awe 10 ASK d HlOTlSdS0- IH0T0
his more tragedy in this than may
crop out of white paper and black
ink There is here the ruin of youth.
thesawrecking of hopes and enjoy
ments, In the end there is prosperity
whenthe age for such things is past,
when the ability to enjoy is dead.
Elizur Sage was So years old when
the legacy came.
Il might have acted different If I
had been younger" he said, but 1
wasn't no young man any more, and
1 guess havin' a little money didn't do
much like maxim me crazy
Neither did it make him happy In
all the things Elizur Sage says of his
gift gold there is no trace of any gen.
uine enjoyment. He is more secure
than he was, but that is all He isn't
sure that his money has made him en-
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 1t all.
Sage invested at least a 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
Ct went into the war at 49," he said
| in beginning his story, land 1 was In
| the service until was 16, in the first
| Chicago Board of Trade regiment
Captain Sexton, my commander, was
| afterwards postmaster in Chicago. Or
| leaving the service / went back to nv
father, who was in Will county, I'LL
| nois. in a little town. He was a car
| penter and I learned this trade from
| him. He also owned a farm At 20
| in 1869, went to farming on his place
and stayed there till 1872 or 1873
| when my father died and the estate
| las divided. Then I ran a little
| grocery and meat market for about
| five years and then came to Indians
/ and rented farm Then for a veal
| I was back on farm In Illinois again
and in 1890 I came back here to In
diana I've been here ever since"
Sage was more than willing to sa,
that previous to the coming of tho
$50, 900 he had been absolutely poor.
mo. 1 had nothing in those day.
| but q living. was happy and care
less them he said. Nothing worried
/ me. When 1 got done with a hare
days work I slept That was all there
was to it 1t was good in a way-ns
cares and nothing l guess I was fus
| about as well off. AS long as any
! body has his health guess he's abou
as happy as he can be made
What happened when you got th<
money!" was asked
Wei, the first thing. it put ms
into peck o. trouble Friends