Evening journal., 1912-03-06
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Ths Dollar That Became
Twelve Hundred
By Holland.

Among the new Senators who on
March 4, 1881 received the oath of Of
nee from the vice-president Of the
United States Chester A. Arthur was
Philetus Sawyer of Wisconsin
Senator Sawyer had already served
some. ten years in the lower House Of
Congress, retiring therefrom Of his
own accord about four years before
he was elected Senator. He was es-
pecially conspicuous as he walked
down the center aisle of the Senate
chamber to receive the oath-hrst,
because he brought to the Senate the
reputation Of being the wealthiest
member Of that body and the richest
man in the State of Wisconsin, and,
next, because Of an almost quaint per-
sonal appearance. 1t seemed almost
incredible that this short, very thick
set and brOad-shOuldered man who
was so Indifferent to the fit of his gar
ments and so utterly unconventional
in all Of his ways, should be capable
of writing his check for hundreds Of
thousands of dollars or one whose
kindly nature always impelled him to
listen TO any reasonable appeal for
aid.
When he was young man, Philetus
Sawyer learned the trade of a saw
mill operator in Central New York
state. About the time when Wiscon-
sin was made State--in 1S4S-he
decided to become a lumberman in
that part of the country he had heard
of the great forests that covered much
of the State and he saw great wealth
in their utilization. So he started west
by way of the Eric canal. Arrived at
Buffalo, he went TO Fredona, near
Buffalo, to spend a day or two with a
brother who was farmer near there
Just as the visit was drawing to a
close his brother said to him.
"Philetc. how much money are you
taking west with your"
We'll, ! have got two thousand dol
lars sewed up in belt which J carry
around my waist. I don't know how
much | have got in my pocket I'll
count ib"
Thereupon young Sawyer emptied
his pOcket-bOok ON the table and
found that he had a hundred and
ninety-nine dollars.
Here, Philcte." said the brother,
here is one dollar. That will make
to start out with even money
Some thirty years later when Phile-
tus Sawyer was a member Of the lower
House of Congress and one of the rich
est men Of Wisconsin having gained
his wealth in lumber and railroads
he paid another visit to his farmer
brother in New York state. After he
had been with tho brother a little
while he detected as he thought evil
dences that the farm had not been
very prosperous. He asked his brother
how he was getting along and was told
that it was rather hard shedding for
him; that he had run behind about
twelve hundred dollars.
BY dint of careful inquiry Philetus
Sawyer learned who his brothers
creditors we're He paid every claim
and then at a convenient moment, he
placed the receipted bills before his
brother But when the brother began
TO thank Philetus for his generosity
and was for a moment so affected that
he could hardly speak, Philetus said:
This is not generosity: il is only
paying back what / owe. You lent me
a dollar thirty years ago and that was
the beginning Of good investments.
The twelve hundred dollars, which !
have paid only represents a fair re-
turn upon the dollar which you lent
me when / started west"
All his life long Philetus Sawyer dia
little acts OF kindness of that kind
Copyright 1912 by % j. Edwards.
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell OF
"A Gifted Senator's Feat in Speech
making"