Evening journal., 1914-06-15
New News Of Yesterday
---
Why the Late Jay Gould
Did Not Keep Open House
By Holland.

Jay Gould had no warmer friend
during the last ten years of his ac-
tive life than Russell Sage proved
himself to be. Mr.. Sage entertained
not only the profoundest respect and
admiration for the intellectual capa-
city Of Jay Gould, but he also was
greatly impressed by a side Of Mr.
Gould's character of which the pub.
lie had little knowledge. That was
the more human and personal char
acter OF The man. Mr., Sage had abun
dant opportunities for knowing what
the home life Of Jay Gould was.
Childless as he was. he was all the
more charmed by the aspects OF the
home circle Of Mr. Gould which his
familiarity with the latter had made
possible.
He often spoke OF Mr.. Gould's home
life as ideal. To his friends he oc-
casionally referred to the intimate
relations which We're established be-
tween Jay Gould and his son George
Jay Could saying that they were
more like brothers in the perfect con
fidence established between them
than father and son.
SO i was with the entire family.
Mr.. Sage knew that Helen Could
now Mrs. Finley J. Shepard the
recipi ent OF many Of the condolences
Of her father respecting the charit-
able Destowal of financial assistance.
She was in sense an almoner for
her father She had knowledge of
many private benefactions of which
the public never knew, and which
came from her fathers hands.
Mr.. Sage once said that Jay Gould
had taught his daughter that :ndis-
criminate charity was harmful, and
that IN giving it should always be the
purpose TO persuade the beneficiary
that he or she should do something
in return for the aid which was given.
Some OF the benefactions with
which Helen Gould's name was asso-
ciated really represented what she
knew to be the wishes of her father.
In conversation with his friends.
three or four years before his death,
MIR. Sage alluded TO this little-known
personal side of Mr.. Gould's charae-
ter, and said
The oid-fashioned custom OF keep
ing open house on New Years nay
in New York was abandoned some
wears ago. II had been carried to
excess. The hospitality which was
shown by the heads of families to
their friends included bounteous
table and tempting drinks. This
sometimes led to unpleasant expert |
ences.
1T used to be observed that JAY |
Goulds house was particularly ex-
ceptional with respect to these New |
Years celebrations II was never |
open on New Years Day. That usel |
to occasion great deal OF talk. MIR. |
Gould was sometimes criticised be- /
cause lie stood apart from all others |
in New York in closing his doors |
upon New Years Day. permitting |
only the most intimate family friends |
to enter.
Il know the reason why he did
that. In Mr.. Gould's business career
ii was inevitable that he should have
association with some men for whom I
he had very little respect on account |
Of their manner of life. He could not I
avoid business transactions, but he
could avoid social relations.
Nov the open house on New
Years Day in New York meant that
any one could call, extend greeting,
accept the bounties OF the table, and
then depart Therefore the business
associates Of Mr.. Gould for whom he
had little or no personal esteem
would pe privileged upon that day to
enter his house He did not want
them there. He did not want HIS
family to be brought into the slightest
social communication with thep,.
Therefore he decided 10 close his
door against every one. making ne
That is the real rsa-
son why Jay Goulds house was M;
oDen on New Years Day IN New Yorl.
at the time when the making of calls
was universal custom IN this city"
1914. by f. Edwards.
All rights reserved.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell os