The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-02
HERE is A MAN"

From the New York Times.
A MAN is measured by his will. A
~ man is not suddenly good or
h. is or has is revealed by the DISPOSE
ton he makes of his possessions. under
the solemnity Of his last words. Mr.
Morgans will reveals himself rather than
his business, and measures himself up
to the standard of the money changer
who valued character above collateral
His estates proportions, now that the
appraisal has been completed, will disap
point those who would have made it
larger with his opportunities. No man had
more inside information" that knowl-
edge which enables it's possessor to buy
cheap and sell dear, enriching himself
at the cost of loss or even ruin to Others
Theoretically, bad man in that possess
sion might be a Millionaire, although,
practically. it is probable that combina
ton against him would cost him tiss con-
fidence which is bankers stock in trade
even more than his money.
Mr.. Morgan leaves less than tenth of
a billion. less than the possessions of
cut smaller figures in the eyes of the
world than he. 1t is to his credit that
he leaves less than four-score million,
including a score and a half in his chief
possession, has interest in his firm. That
he was banker rather than specula-
tor, or mere amasser of money, appears
from the details of his possessions. He
conceived and executed the conception of
the worlds largest industrial concern.
which was imputed to him for folly, and
which has stultified his critics within
the past few days by revealing a solid
ty which makes it a national institution
rather than a mere corporation. Yet so
far as his will discloses he held but Sol
shares. less than $4,000. Diversification
of investment. the placing of many eggs
in many baskets, is the general charac-
teristic of his estate. 1t is not possible
that his judgment was so bad as is indi-
Gated by many of his deprecated or even
worthless possessions. If he had been the
sort of man who saved himself at the
cost of others he never would have left
s45O240 in New Haven railway shares,
which show a nearly total depreciation.
Altogether he left over 100000 in worth
less stocks. Some of them represented
his mistakes either of sentiment or judg-
ment.
All men of affairs take chances on
long Shots" Only the poor man, or the
very rich man, puts security first.
Banker promoters delight in the risks
which measure their services to- enter
prise. If they made no mistakes they
would miss many successes. Besides. a
man of character like Mr.. Morgans
helps many lame ducks. regardless of the
substance in their ventures Benevolence
rather than incompetence is the sure
revelation between the lines of such en-
tries. No better proof could be wanted
than the personal requests he made.
Seldom is there seen a longer list, and
even more rarely a more careful proper
ton between merit and reward than In
his list Of requests to his business staff
His charities are considerable, more than
might be expected, considering his gene
rosity while alive. His requests to friends
attest the genuineness of their comrade-
ship. His possession of art objects are
duly appraised at $2o.5s1.s 500, against Sc
curitiss 1881. It il an instructive