Evening journal., 1912-05-25
NEW NkW1 Uf TkSIkkDAT
The PrOcraStinatiOn That
Lost the World an I'm
pOrtant History
n HoU.~g
By Holland

Three times have had vivid illus
tration of the fact that procrastina-
tion is not merely the thief of time,
but the destroyer of what, but for it,
would have been of historical benefit
One OF these illustrations was fur
nished by the late George S Coe, for
many years one Of the leading bank
ers Of the United States. Another was
furnished by General Thomas Eckert,
who for years was president of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
and the third illustration was furnish
ed by Donald G. Mitchell, whose fame
as one who achieved greatly as an
American writer is secure.
One afternoon in the summer OF
1892, when the presidential canvass
was beginning to show heat and when
II was made apparent that the infu-
sion Of silver into our currency
through the so-called Sherman act
would, II not checked seriously inn
peril our monetary condition, | sat
for an hour or two with George S. Coe
In his office at the American Ex-
change National Bank in New York
city. Something relating to the silver
question caused Mr. Goes mind to
turn back to the early days Of the
/ Civil War.
THE history of the manner in
which the Secretary Of the Treasury
Salmon p. Chase, negotiated three
loans Of fifty million dollars each in
gold with the bankers of New York,
Philadelphia and Boston in the early
months of the Civil War is a wonder
full story, and | think that | am the
only man now living who had person
al part in that history" said Mr.. Coe
"Of course, the country knows that
Governor Chase came to New York
and that he insisted that H. was the
duty. as we'll as the privilege of the
bankers to furnish the government
much-needed gold The country also
knows that he got the gold-a hun
dred and fifty millions in all But the
story of the manner in which that
gold was collected, the part each bank
bore. the marvellous swill with which
Chase. who had had no experience as
financier. counseled and directed
these affairs. and the vital part this
money had in serving the government
az Washington at the beginning of the
war. has never been told"
asked Mr.. Coe why he did not him
self tell il, saying that it ought to be
preserved for the benefit Of future
generations.
After some hesitation and with
queer, shy smile Mr. Coe said.
Nov that you speak Of It | will say
that ! am going to prepare ttnt his
tory; I think. myself. that the story
should be told. I cannot write IT very
dramatically. but can write IT simply
and PLAINLY The story would he Of
value, furthermore, because il would
show what the beginning was of the
financial administration of Mr. Chase,
and the brilliant manner In which he
overcame colossal financial difficult
ties"
But Mr.. Coo. "I said. you ought
not to delay the writing OF this work
| You are at time of life when you can
take leisure and you will find the
greatest pleasure In the writing OF
history"
"Yes. yes. know that" Mr. Coe re-
piled. "and 7 am going to begin imme-
dately the preparation of this work.
Some six weeks later met Mr.. Coo
again and asked him If he had begun
the history which he was the only
man then living who was able to
write.
Il am turning 1t over in my mind
I am going to begin very soon,' he an
swered
Perhaps two or three months later
7 met Mr.. Coo again and he said u
have not forgotten that history ] am
thinking about It, The more I think
Of 1t the stranger some of the circum-
stances associated with 1t appear &c
be-"
II trust you will not procrastinate
I have got my pen already dipped in
ink"
Yet he did procrastinate continually
putting off until tomorrow this work
so that at the time of his death some
four years later. there We're found
only a few brief memoranda of whai
he intended TO write And By that
procrastination the highly important
financial history Of the first part OF
the Civil War from one who. was q
direct witness and participant in Il
was lost.
| Copyright 1912. by y j. Edwards
All rights reserved }