The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-15
EASTMAN GIFTS
ARE ESTIMATED
AT S75,OOO,OOO
Kodak Magnate Ends Own
Life, Feeling That my
Work Is Done
Continued From Page u

plate process, which eventually led
to the dry film method of picture
making, and the millions in profit it
meant to Mr.. Eastman.
He made his first kodak film in
1889, and one month later, received
a $3.50 order for a sample. That
order came from Thomas A. Edison.
Friend of Edison
To this day Mr.. Eastman has kept
a copy of that order in his per-
sonal files, a memento of the wiz
ard Of light, counted with Harvey
Firestone and Henry Ford among
Eastmans fast friends. He did not
meet Edison until about ten years
ago.
There is speculation today, even,
that Mr.. Edison's death not so
many months ago, after a life of
service in many ways paralleling
that Of Eastman, depressed East
mans spirits, and led him to more
frequent thoughts Of death.
Charles Edison, president of the
Edison industries, and son of
Thomas, paid tribute to Eastman as
follows:
Two Of the greatest souls the
world has known have passed on
within brief period-Thomas A.
Edison and George P. Eastman.
Their friendship was of the most
fundamental character. They I'M
derstood each other. No finer Amer
lean has lived than George East
man. The sorrow that we feel at
his passing is genuine and deep.
His friendship was a vital force in
our lives. We loved him."
And the recent death Of Mr..
Eastman's longtime associate and
friend, Walter S. Hubbell, added to
whatever fears Of death Eastman
may have held.
Mr.. Hubbell was 80, and depend
ent on others for everything done
for him. MIR. Eastman feared his
own physique might crumble under
the weight of the years, and placed
him in just such a dependent posi-
ton.
Suffered Mild Stroke
The mild stroke a few years ago,
which brought on occasional mem
DRY lapses, added to his fears.
There is ample evidence that Mr..
Eastman years ago began preparing
for death. He was quoted as say
ing:
Two courses are open to the man
of wealth. He can hoard his money
for his heirs to administer, or he
can get it into action and have mis-
fun with it while he is alive"
He got it into action. He has
given away between $75,OOOO0O and
$100000,000. And Thomas j. Har-
greave, vice-president and counsel
of the Eastman Kodak Company,
estimated his fortune today was be-
tween $15,000,000 and $20,000000,
trifle as compared to the fortune he
had amassed.
In 1925, when he retired as presi-
dent Of the Eastman Kodak Com
pany, he announced:
THE remaining years are very
precious to me, and 1 am doing
what the movies call fade-out. "
He used the term known to the
movies, which made him wealthy,
for his business was in motion pic
ture film. Yet he was unknown in
Hollywood, and on Broadway where
his film exposed in Hollywood, met
tho tactc Nf rOVtIIa 1-itU
Wanted to Die Poor
Samuel Crowther, one of East
mans biographers, said of him in
this connection:
Mr.. Eastman wanted to die a
poor man." He considered his
wealth a trust for the benefit, first
of the people who made it, second
for Rochester, and third for other
uses as far as it would 60"
He was not modest, but he dis
liked any show growing out of
money. He didn't want to appear
to be a rich man.
Mr.. Eastman made his first mil
lion clear in 1898 when he reor-
ganized the British Kodak Com
pany. He described the incident:
Il came home with a million in
cash, all mine, so I fastened to see
my mother. I said: Mother, we
have a whole million dollars now
She looked up and smiled: That's
nice, George And she never men
toned it again"
The mans hobbies, aside from his
photography and philanthropy in
Guided big game hunting, music
(although he could not carry a
tune) and the thirteen-month CAL
endar. He thought the present CAL
endar of uneven months cumber-
some and illogical.
Shot Five Lions
He covered more than 1000 miles
il East Africa with Mr.. and Mrs.
Martin johnson during seven
months in the jungle, and returned
looking the picture of health"
On that trip Mr.. Eastman shot
five lions, three rhinoceros and
three buffaloS. The rhinos, he
said. were unreliable, for twice they
rushed him"
And he delighted in showing
films of one rush" the rhino fall
ing dead almost under the camera.
An exposed film," Mr.. East
man explained.
He told one friend.
THAT table top over there, I shot
myself"
1t was made of a rhino hide.
AS for music, he installed pipe
organ in his home. and for years
it accompanied a quartet which
sang in ria home Sunday nights.
He called hiC1sslt a musical moron"
because he coG..+ not carry a tune,
but he wanted guou music for every
one, because good music could not
be abused"
Visitors were likely at any time
to be drawn into an argument on
tie thirteen month calendar East
man kept a pack of cards in his
pocket with which he demonstrated