4(7
THE SUSDA? OBEG0N1AN, . PORTLAM), JA2TUARY 8, 1905.
Russell Sage, Moneylender, at Eighty-Eight
HIS OFFICE AND ITS IRON BOXES i SOME
GOOD ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN
m i EW YORK. Jan. 3f (Special Corre-
fI fpondence of The Sunday Orego-
nian.) I have heard many new
things concerning Russell Sage during my
stay In New York, and the report Is that
he will not be in active business much
longer- He seldom cbmes to his office
more than once a week, and he some
times keep? away for months. His enor
snous money-lending matters are now in
the hands of his clerks, and many of the
transactions are consummated without
reference to him. I called at his office
this morning and was told It would be
almost Impossible to see the old gentleman
at his residence, and that when he came
down town he devoted, himself solely to
business. The truth I?, Russell Sage is
how 88 years of age, and time Is begin
ning to tell upon his cast-iron constitu
tion. Great Boxes of Bonds.
The office of Russell Sage is an Interest
ing place. Many a country lawyer has a
bigger one. It consists of several small
rooms facing upon a hall, and walled off
from it by doors and grated windows, like
those through which letters are delivered
at a postoffice.
As I presented my card at one of these
window today, a rosy-faced man with a
silver mustache took it and told me that
Mr, Sage was not well enough to see 'me.
A moment later a banker came in with a
great bunch of bonds, and the silver mus
tached man. In return for them, signed a
check representing a snug fortune in gold.
As the banker left, I saw the silver mus
tached clerk raise the door of an iron
chest ae big as one of the old-fashioned
wood boxes that stand beside a country
stove and dump the bonds Into It. There
were other bonds and stocks theie already,
and, in fact, the box was filled with them.
There are two such boxes under that
window in Russell Sage's office, and no
one but the clerks know what they con
tain. At the different times I have called
I have seep great bundles of Pennsylvania
Railroad bonds, Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul bonds. Rock Island Railroad stock,
and scores of other securities brought out
and passed upon. At one time. I remem
ber, a roan came in to extend a loan. As
the cleVk looked over his bundle, which
may have contained a half million dollars
worth of securities, the envelope which
held them began to tear at the corner.
As he noticed this the clerk said to the
debtor:
"I think you had better send me around
a new envelope, or Mr. Sage will have to
call that loan."
Think of that! Asking for a new 5-cent
envelope on a transaction that probably
brought in Interest at the rate of 525,000 a
year!
Nevertheless, if I were doing business
with Russell Sage. I would not hesitate to
send In the envelope in a case like that.
He has been noted as being an honest
man, but also as a very particular one.
In an Interview which I had with him a
few years ago he told me that the coat
he then had on had cct him ?6, and it
was part of a suit which was then selling
for $8.50. He was not ashamed to wear a
suit of that price, although he had bought
It. he told me. In order JLo illustrate his
position on the tariff, and to show his
friends that low duties made cheap cloth
ing Russell Sage's Four-Cent Check.
Not long ago Russell Sage cashed a
check for 4 cents, and as he did so it is
said that he remarked: "It was just like
rinding money. Just like picking It up from
the sidewalk." The check came in a let
ter. It was from a theatrical firm, calling
his attention to their new play then run
ning at the theater, and inclosing this
check, to pay for the time used in reading
the letter. This was the note:
"Assuming that your Income is $15,000 a
year, and that you appreciate the fact that
time is money, wo Inclose check for 4 cents
in payment of two minutes of your Jlme
at that rate, to be employed in carefully
reading a brief and honest statement of
the novel, applause-winning (features In
our new musical farce."
Such letters were sent Jo many wealthy
New Yorkers, but it is said that Mr. Sage
was about the only one who cashed the
check. The senders had, however, no Idea
of his actual -Income, or the check would
have had to be enormously larger. Mr.
Sage's Income Is probably somewhere be
tween $5,000,000 and $10,000,000 a year. and.
according to the same calculations, two
minutes of It would be worth between $25
and $30. I mean that Mr. Sage's income
probably amountB to at least $12 a min
ute, every hour of every day and every
night, year In and year oun At any rate.
Mr. Sage indorsed the check and It went
with others of many times Its value to the
deposit clerk of the bank.
How Sage Lends Money.
It may Interest the money-borrowers of
the United States to know how the great
est money-lender on earth gives credit.
The most of Mr. Sage's loans are on call,
and as a rule an ample amount of good
bonds or gilt-edged stocks must be feft as
collateral. The Interest rates are not over
high Millions are loaned at 4 per cent par
annum. Here is the form of note often
used:
Stock Note. NEW YOItK. 100..
$500,000.00.
On demand for value received we promise
to pay
RUSSELL. SAGE, or order,
Vive Hundred Thousand Dollars, at his of
fice, with interest at 4 per cent per annum,
having deposited with him collateral secur
ity for payment of this or any other liabil
ity or liabilities of . . .to said Sage,
due or to become due, or that may be here
after contracted, the following property, as
per memorandum envelope dated . . . .
The market value of which is now $ . .
with the right on the part of said Sage
from time to time to call additional col
lateral security should the market value
thereof decline and upon our failure to com
ply with such demand, this obligation shall
forthwith become due, with full power and
authority to him or Ms assigns in case of
such default or of the nonpayment of any
of the llbatlltles above mentioned at matur
ity, to sell, assign nnd deliver the whole
or any part of' such securities, or any sub
stitutes therefor or additions thereto, at any
broker's board, or at 'public or private sale,
at hie option, at any time or times thereaf
ter, without advertisement or notice to . . .
and with the right on his part to become
purchaser thereof at such sale or sales freed
and discharged of any equity and redemp
tion. And after deducting all legal or other
costs and expenses for collection, sale and
delivery, to apply the residue of the pro
ceeds or such sale or sales so made, to pay
any, either or all of said liabilities, as said
Fage shall deem' proper, returning the over
plus to uie undersigned; and . . . will
still remain liable fr any amount so un
paid. (Signed)
How a Young Texan Made a Fortune.
The most of Russell Sage's loans are to
bankers and brokers. He has been ready,
however, to lend to anyone upon secur
ity, and if the business history of New
York could be written. 1 venture many a
story would be told as to how falling
bouses have been propped up by Sage's
money. One of the queer deals was that
by which young White, a Texan, made
$100,000 out of a loan he got from Sage.
It was during the latter part of Cleve
land s second administration. The Gov
i ur7f' I m -4r TP I I
nuxf
eminent was hard up for money, and a
large block of bonds had been sold at
high prices .through Plerpont Morgan. A
second block was ready for sale; but
this was offered to the public and sub
scriptions might b made by anyone
Among the subscribers was a young
Texan named Abraham "White. He had
figured out that the bonds would In
crease in value just as soon as they were
Issued, and he made bids for several
million dollars' worth of them. His bids
ranged from 103 to 112. and the bids for
$1,500,000 worth were higher than the bids
made by Plerpont Morgan and his syndi
cate. As a result that much-f the bonds
wero awarded to him.
At the time White made the bid he had
not a dollar In his pocket, and his sole
capital was about 44 cents, which he used
in postage stamps, and in addition a lit
tle small change. As soon as the award
was made he called upon several bankers
and tried to get a loan to enable him to
pay for the bonds, but they all refused.
He then went to Russell Sage, and frank
ly told him Just how he was situated. Mr.
Sage said:
"Mr. White, you are asking for a good
deal of money, but I will let you have It
at 4 per cent per annum." He had White
make out the proper papers and loaned
him the money, whereupon White for
warded the cash to the treasury and got
the bonds. He sold them and returned
the money to Sage. Out of that deal
White is said to have made a clean $100,
000. It is said that Russell Sage never bor
Charitable Countess of Limerick
AVJH Give Concerts In America to
LONDON. Dec. 21. (Special correspond
ence of The Sunday Oregonlan.) De
cidedly characteristic is the Countess of
Limerick's plan to make a concert tour
of the United Stales. Her Idea is, of
course, to get money for the proposed
musical college in Dublin, In which she is
keenly interested, and to this end she
will give a series of pianoforte recitals in
American cities, beginning In February,
and covering three months. That her
ladyship will please her audiences there
seems no doubt, for she studied under
Padercwskl In Paris, plays the piano like
a professional and was complimented on
her performance by the late Queen Vic
toria. Lady Limerick, whose husband Is, of
course, the Earl, is a typical Irishwoman
of fhr best class, rather tall, with fine
rows money himself. He Is so situated
that he can produce several million dol
lars within an hour, and he has always
money "for big things. The only time
that he had been in d?bt was in 1SS4,
when he became ill and had nervous pros
tration. He then got tbe crazy Idea that
he could raise no money. A million dol
lars was then borrowed for him, but as
he got better and was ready to attend to
business again he found that his balance
the bank was several million dollars.
He also found the debt and. paid It with
ready money. Mr. Sage has never been
afraid to invest big sums nor to spend
freely to make more. His economics have
been In a small way. He has objected
to paying 50 cents for an article worth 23
cents, but not to paying a hundred thou
sand dollars for what he thought might
soon be worth one hundred and ten thou
sand dollars.
Is Russell Sage's money his god? I
doubt it. He has devoted his life to
money-making, because it is his business
and because he has enjoyed the game.
I asked him once why he kept on work
ing, remarking that he was one of the
richest men of tho world, and that he had
more money than he could ever spend.
He replied:
"I don't know why. I don't know that
I could If I would, and fear I would not
live long If I did so. I like work better
than play. My happiness Is In my work,
and I suppose I shall continue to work
as long as I live."
At another time he said that he had en
joyed himself quite as much while he
Ralss Fund for Dublin College.
eyes, dark hair, a bright complexion and
small, well-formed features. Charitable
work is a hobby of her's, and she has .a
real faculty of hitting on clever schemes
for making money and carrying them
throughJo succeses. It was she who orig
inally fnought of selling boxes of sham
rockthe real native-grown article for
the Irish "Soldiers' and Sailors Families
Association." On the eve of the first
St- Patrick's day after that a large sale
was secured, the practice has been main
tained, and the "shamrock industry" Is
now a regular institution.
The Countess of Limerick was formerly
Miss May Irwin, a clergyman's daughter.
She married the Earl in IS)., and they
nave one son. me mue viscount of Ulent
worth. The Bar! who Is the fourth of
his title, is descended directly from the
Plantagenets. He owns 3S00 acres and
resides at Dromore Castle. County Limerick.
was a member of Congress as when In
Wall street, and that wealth was over
estimated ss giving happiness. Said he:
"Wealth is always traveling under false
pretenses. It does not confer the advan
tages that the poor Imagine. We men
are snaking money because' we want to
have the credit of being smart enough to
make It. There Is nothing in money
itself worth struggling for after one has
enough for his needs.
Jay Gould said about that same time:
"Tbe notion of getting comfort from
great wealth Is nonsense. A decently
economical man cannot spend more than'
the income from a million dollars. Rich.
men try to get more, not for the sake of
the money, but because they want to ex
cel. They are like boys who climb trees
trying to see which ca"n climb the high
est without falling. They say no man
ever had enough. It is not true, r
have enough,' and I know, a dozen other
men who feel the same."
AdvZce tS Young Men.
Russell Sage has always been ready to
advise young, men, and his advice ls al
ways good. like Hetty Green, he be
lieves In Providence, and he thinks that
Providence has, favored him In giving him
a fortune. He believes also that Provi
dence helps those who help themselves,
and that he is always looking out fpr
the young man who thinks, plans, works
and economizes. Mr. Sage has np sym
pathy with the Idea that a rich man Is
necessarily a dishonest man. and says,
that the great financiers of the world
have become so by honest work and hard
work. He told me once that his first
thousand dollars "was made by small sav
ings, and that he thought It better for
a boy to be born poor than rich. He
believes that penny savings banks should
be connected, with the schools, and that
thrift should form a"part of every boy's
education. He preaches the value of
money, and advises every young man to
live within his Income, to spend less than
he makes, and to Invest what he saves.
He thinks one should have 25 cents out of
every dollar, and more If possible.
Another bit of his advice to young
men Is to join the church and take part
In the Christian movement. He believes
In charity. ' and says every young man
shoujd give as much as he consistently
can. I doubt not thai Mr. Sage gives
a great deal himself and through his
wife. Her charities, at least, are known
everywhere.
I have already spoken of Mr. Sage's
habits. It was after he was four score
that he told me that his good health had
been due to. his careful eating, drinking
and sleeping. He does not believe In
club life. Whan he first came to New
York he Joined the Union League Club,
but he never attended more than three
dinners there: and wheat his membership
ran out he did not renew It.
He has all his llfo had a splendid
physique. He attributes this largely to
his work while a boy. and to the fact
that he has led to some extent an out-of-door
life, having been fond of fast
horses and driving. Ho has owned fast
horses himself. Indeed, an autograph
letter of his In Which he speaks of one
of his horse deals was sold at an auction
sale not long ago In New York for 40
cents. A copy of this letter lies before
me. It reads:
Office of Russell Sape. No. 71 Broadway,
New York. Oct. 15. 1883.
D. N. Stanton. Esq.:
Dear Sirs I have lound and purchased a
very tine young horse, six years old. to
match "Louis" and believe I have a very
pood and promising horse. They were driven
together a half-mile. In 1:13 at Fleetwood.
Puzzler Is in good, condition and Is a fast
horec, and but for my purchase I should
have arranged with, you for him. As it Is,
I have to thank you most sincerely for
sending him to me as you did, and I shall
hope to reciprocate your kindness whenever
opportunity offers. Tou can send ior mm
at your convenience.. Yours truly,
RUSSELL SAGE.
Indeed. Mr. Sage in many ways re
minds me of David Harum, and between
the lines of his money-making life run
the texts of numerous sermons. (Copy
right, 1905.) FRANK. G. CAKFJSTiSK.
Drudgery" gf
Literature
BUCKLE devoted nearly 20 years to
the collecting of materials for his
"History of Civilization." He wrote
only a portion of the introduction,
which remains- great monument to
his literary and philosophical teacn
Ings. If the work had been finished on
tho same scale as begun a hundred
volumes would not have sufficed.
Crudcn labored 19 years on his "Con
cordance to the Bible." and immediate
ly after Its publication was sent to .a
lunatic asylum. He never fully recov
ered from the mental disease brought
on by thlc gigantic undertaking-
Bancroft devoted nearly 30 years to
his "History of the United States,'
which is not a history of the country
at all, since it ends where the history
of the country properly begins. Had
the work been continued on the same
scale down to the present he must
have written 75 or SO volumes.
Scott is said to have written "Wav
erly" In less thnn six weeks. He wrote
very rapidly, seldom revised, and as a
consequence his novels were full of
blunders, errora and anachronisms.
Burns committed his poems to mem
ory before he wrote them, and when
he sat down to write he had before
him no labor of composition, but only
the task of writing down what he had
already finished.
Gibbon devoted over 20 years of his
life to the labor of reading for and
writing the "Decline and Fall." It is
one of the most stupendous literary
feats accomplished by one man.
Thomas Moore often wrote a short
poem almost Impromptu. He consumed
over two years In reading and prepar
ing material for "Lalla Rooka" and
two years more in writing that inim
itable poem.
George Eliot Is said to have written
."Middlemarch" in four months. Some
doubt is thrown upon this statement
by the fact that she commonly worked
slowly, writing with great care and de
liberation, and making few erasures
after the work was done.
Dickens says In the Introduction of
"David Copperfield" that he spent two
years In the composition of that novel.
He did not usually require so long a
time, many of his novels being fin
ished In a year and most of the shorter
stories In a few days.
Though it is said that Congrcvc
could prepare a drama for the stage In
a few days, four or five times this pe
riod was given to the work of revision
and reconstruction after the play had
been given to the actors.
Nearly five years of Irvlng's time was
consumed In writing "The Life of
George Washington. though it re
quired no more than ten days to write
the first 120 pages of "Bracebrldge
Hall." "The Alhambra" was written
during the three months he spent in
that palace.
Froude passed seven years in col
lecting materials and writing his "His
tory of England." He was very accu
rate and often spent days in an effort
to verify a single date or fact.
Charity.
The right Christian mind will find Its
own image wherever it exists. It will seek
for what it loves, and draw It out of all
dens and caves, and It will believe In Its
being often when it cannot see It and al
ways turn away Its- eyes from beholding
-vanity, and so It will He lovingly over all
the faults and rough places of the hu
man heart, as thesnow from heaven
does over the hard and black and broken
mountain rocks, following their forms
truly, and yef catching light for them
to make them fair, and that must be a
steep and unkindly crag Indeed which It
cannot cover. John Ruskln.
Bright Americans Behind Old-World Thrones
SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE MONARCHS HAVE
UTILIZED YANKEE BRAINS AND AGGRESSIVENESS
ness. having accomplished every
thing possible at home, are now
being utilized in' the government of a
dozen or more of the kingdoms and mon
archies of the Old World. This Is no mere
figure of speech, but an actual existing
fact. Abroad we are popularly known as
"Yankees," and the occupants of some of
the most ancient thrones of Europe and
Asia have not disdained to accept the
services of Yankee advisers. In recent
years the Dowager Empress of China, the
Mikado of Japan, the King of Slam, the
Emperor of Corea and the Sultan of Tur
key have openly availed themselves of
the brains, the Industry and the aggress
iveness of shrewd Americans, whose ac
knowledged usefulness have earned for
themselves medals of merit, royal titles
and. In some Instances, handsome private
fortunes.
Shrouded In Mystery.
The work of these remarkable men is
not always performed In the full glare
of the footlights of the world. Indeed, in
many cases their Identity has been
shrouded behind a mist of mystery, elu
sive as It is Impenetrable. For , years
strangers traveling In the land of the
Sphinx have been puzzled over the per
sonality of an American who has been the
power behind the throne, a man whose
word . has been law and whose Influence
has apparently been able to accomplish
anything from the arranging of an audi
ence with the Khedive to permission for
the carrying away of one of the pyra
mids of Egypt. In other instances mon
archs desirous of securing the best talent
obtainable for strengthening and uphold
ing their thrones have openly and direct
ly appealed to the Government of the
United States to assist them in finding
Americans versed In International law.
and the strategy of statecraft. Some
times these applications assume the form
of official communications. Again, they
are entirely informal, and take the shape
of friendly negotiations between Ameri
can representatives abroad and the Am
bassadors of foreign potentates located In
Washington. The Individuals selected for
these responsible posts almost Invariably
Justify the confidence reposed In them.
The most successful immediately assume
the manners and the garb of the men and
women they are to serve, and the remain
der of their lives are spent In a foreign
clime, amid strange scenes and among
strange peoples.
Adviser of Slam's Ruler.
Edward H Strobcl, who Is now the
right-hand man of the Emperor of Slam,
is a typical Illustration of the kind of
men who have won fame In other lands.
He was formerly Assistant Secietary of
Suite, and after that became professor of
Law at Harvard University. A few years
ago he was tendered the position of legal
adviser to the Emperor of Slam, and ac
cepted the offer. He has been away for
several years, and his friends. In tho
United States only hear from him at rare
Intervals: but It Is known that he is offl
clally (jailed "The Political Counsellor" to
the Siamese government. It Is quite evi
dent that he has impressed his Individ
uality very deeply upon the ruler of the
land of the white elephants, and that he
nas aaaptea nimseii naiurauy to me pic
turesque nation which he Is serving. In
the international complications that have
been arising from time to time In the Old
World during the last few years it will
be noticed that Slam, of all the other
countries, has been singularly peaceful
and tranquil. How much of this Is due
to the quiet, plodding, steady-going ad
viser of the Emperor Is not difficult to
guess.
While Mr. Strobel was In the depart
ment at Washington he won the good wlll
of all his associates and those that had
business with the office. He dally gave
evidence of having a well-balanced, ana
lytical mind. He was extraordinarily well
versed In International law, and when he
left this country for Slam he probably
knew more about that nation. Its people.
their habits and history than any other
man In the United States. If he had the
desire, he could write a marvclously In
teresting book concerning the country
which he has voluntarily adopted as his
home.
Sultan's Right-Hand Man.
Another interesting character, quite the
opposite of Mr. Strobel, Is Captain Rans
ford D. Bucknam, the American adviser
of the Sultan of Turkey. . The manner In
which he came to occupy this unique posl
tlon is more fascinating than a dime
THE FUTURE HOME OF DAISY LEITER
An the Countess of Suffolk, She Will Repair the Fortunes of a Vnst Estate.
LONDON. Dec. 31. (Special correspond
ence of The Sunday Oregonlan.)
"When Miss Daisy Loiter becomes the
Countess of Suffolk, her country resi
dence will be the stately Jacobean man
sion shown In the accompanying photo
graph. Chariton Park Is the name of this
family seat of the earldom, and It Is
beautifully situated near Malmesburyi In
the County of Wiltshire. It Is noted
chiefly for Its picture gallery, one of the
finest In England, and containing some
superb specimens of the old masters. An
east front was added to It by the Earl of
Suffolk, who was a not specially efficient
Secretary of State at the time of the
American War of the Revolution.
The estate nflw consists of only about
10,000 acres, the peerage having been de
nuded of much of Its former wealth.
novel. Captain Bucknam fr many years
occupied a responsible position with the
famous Cramp Shipbuilding Company, in
Philadelphia. That concern constructed
the cruiser MMJMa for the Sultan's gov
ernment, and Captain Bucknam was se
lected as the proper person to deliver It
formally Into the custody of the much-talked-about
potentate who resides with
in the musical' sound of the Bosphorus.
The vessel was Inspected and accepted
and, so was Captain Bucknam. The Sul
tan was so Impressed with his personality
and with his ability as a navigator that
he Immediately made him part of the Im
perial household. His position probably
corresponded to that of a Vice-Admlral In
the Turkish navy. Just what the actual
title was and Is will probably never bo
known. A halo of mystery has always
surrounded Captain Bucknam's work In
Turkey as It does all of hose who hold
responsible positions around the throne of
the dagger-dreading, much-bedeviled Sul
tan. Captain Bucknam was formerly the
chief officer of the- City of Pekln, the
Pacific mall Bteamer which was
wrecked ori one of its journeys be
tween San Francisco and Hong Kong.
After accepting a post at Cramp's
shipyard, he had charge of many Im
portant missions. One of these was
the task of taking the new Maine on
Its trial trip a historic occasion
when the new vessel made a run in
from Boston Light to Five Fathom
Bank at the rate of 17i knots per
hour, regarded everywhere by experts
as the fastest time ever made by any
ship in the world. Within the past
few months Captain Bucknam has
made a tour of British. German and
American shipyards and ordnance works
for his Imperial employer. Those
who are well posted on the situation
say that the real purpose of Captain
Bucknam in Turkey Is to improve and
build up the Turkish navy, which has
been allowed to fall far behind those
of other . small European powers.
Heretofore everything has been sacri
ficed for the army, but now this is to
be changed and the navy placed in its
proper position. The Sultan's naval
programme Is to cost In the neighbor
hood of $20,000,000.
Behind Corea's Throne.
Burham White Stevens, another bril
liant American diplomat, only a few
months ago was made the legal adviser
to the Emperor of Corea. He has hosts
of friends in Washington and other
American cities, and they rate him as
a man of remarkable ability. His se
lection is credited to the sagacity of
the Mikado of Japan, who, seeing and
understanding tho embarrassing posi
tion of the Emperor of Corea during
the nresent reat war. sinrErestpd thnt
an educated and experienced American4
be appointed as the International law
adviser of the monarch of thai much
troubled island. There is no question
but what Mr. Stevens will have great
power at the Corean court. For many
years he occupied the position of coun
sellor to the Japanese Legation in
Washington, and It was his work there
which was of a very high order
which led the Japanese government to
Interest itself in the movement to send
him to Corea, where his services might
be utilized at a crisis when the quick
Judgment of a man versed In inter
national law Is of the greatest impor
tance. Whether Mr. Stevens employ
ment is to be temporary or permanent
no one can say at the persent time, but
in any event it Is likely to raise him to
a point of importance that might well
be envied by the diplomats of Europe.
JThe Mikado's Selection.
It Is not in diplomacy alone, however,
that quickwitted Americans are in
demand on the other side of the ocean.
Wise kings and emperors recognize
their abilities in other paths of human
endeavor. As an instance of this the
case of General Horace Capron may be
cited. General Capron, many years
ago. at the earnest solicitation of the
Mikado, accepted the position of com
missioner and adviser of the Kaita
kushi (or Agricultural Department) of
Japan. The iwork of opening up and
developing the Island of Yesso was
entrusted to his care, and so well and
wisely was it done that it Is pointed
out to this day as a model of advanced
agricultural work. When General Ca
pron began his mission, he carefully
examined the influence of the climate
and the capabilities of the soIL Inci
dental to this, he Instituted a system
of transportation by means of im
proved roads. The natives were taught
; how to make farming profitable. Ex
Early In the ISth century the then Lord
Andover. heir to tbe Earldom, made a
marriage which bade fair to repair the
shattered fortunes of the family. His
wife owned in her own right extensive
property, which included no fewer than
four country seats, two of them with
deer parks. She died leaving an only
daughter, to whom she bequeathed her
entire estale. The daughter in due time
married Colonel Upton, but had no chil
dren. She long survived her husband. In
her will she Ignored the late Earl of
Suffolk, leaving most of her property, In
cluding Castle Rising, to his brother, the
Honorable Greville Howard. Had she left
her estate to the head of the house, the
present young nobleman would have been
under no necessity offseeking a marriage
with an American heiress to replenish the
family exchequer. And then, cynical
British matrons are now saying, Daisy
amples in the rearing; and breeding of
foreign stock were .presented to them.
Besides this. General Capron made a
splendid collection of foreign, fruit
seeds, grains and vegetables, and.
capped it all off by introducing: labor
saving machinery on the island. Gen
eral Klyetakl. the Governor of the
island, praised the work of the Ameri
can very highly, and said that through
It a prosperous future for the Island
had been Insured. "When General Ca
pron left Japan, a few years ago, ha
was received by "the Mikado in a spe
cial farewell audience. In the course
of his remarks the Mikado said: "In
deed, your services were extremely val
uable, and they deserve our high ap
preciation; and it is hardly a matter
of doubt but that the future progress
of this Island, the fruit of your labor,
will much advance the happiness of
my while empire."
Organized Japanese Customs.
The American customs system has
alsobeen emulated in other lands.
Scores of Americans have been em
ployed in introducing our regulations
into foreign ports. This began about
1870, when Henry Denlaon, at one time
an officer in the department of the
Commissioner of Customs in "Washing
ton, accepted a. proposition to reorgan
ize the customs service In Japan." Ha
was so successful that he was decorat
ed by the Mikado, and is now one of
the titled men of the Flowery King
dom. Very little has been heard ol
Mr. Denlson In recent years indeed,
his old associates in Washington can
not say whether he Is in the. land of
the living but long ago he was reck
oned among, the successful and wealthy
men of Japan.
Many years later H. F. Merrill, an
American who had served acceptably in
the Chinese service, became Inspector
General of Customs at Corea, The
position of Inspector-General of Customs
in that country was regarded as one of
tbe most responsible outside of the post
occupied by the Emperor himself. It was
one of the first positions that foreigners
were permitted to fill. At the time of
Mr. Merrill's appointment tjie work oC
the office was attended by very great
difficulties, the affairs of the customs be
ing in a wretchedly corrupt and confused
state. There was never any reason why
the customs service should be not only
self-sustaining, but highly profitable; but
up to that period tho general government
had not received a single dollar, the whole
of the receipts having been disbursed in
impracticable schemes. It Is significant
that when the government began an in
vestigation of the work of one of the
officials in the custom-house at Chemolpfc
the edifice was suddenly burned down and
all the records destroyed.
E. C. Talnter and F. E, "Woodruff are
two other Americans employed in the"
customs service of China. When tfiey
were selected for this work the then
American Charge d'Affalres In Pekin re
ported that "the Chinese authorities here
and in tre provinces are learning to look
upon the present system with more and
more interest, and to appreciate the ad
vantages of utilizing Western learning.
Integrity and skill In a service found too
tempting for natives to carry on hon
estly." Before Messrs. Talnter and
Woodruff had been at work' half a year
15 new and flourishing ports had been
opened.
If the dumb pages of the archives of
the State Department at Washington
could speak, they mlgh unfold many a
true tale of romance and adventure which,
by contrast, would make modern fiction
appear dull and uninteresting. But the
guardians of our National diplomacy have
ever been cautious and conservative, and
frequently the brief, stiff, formal com
.municatlons which appear in the written
records convey but a faint hint of the
throbbing and fascinating life stories that
lie hidden beneath the cold, inanimate
words. (Copyright, 1905.)
GEORGE BARTON.
Congress of French Scientists.
According to the British Medical Journal,
the next congress of French Scientific Societies
twill be held at Algiers in 1005. The following
are Ura questions proposed ior discussion la
the section of medicine: Tuberculosis and tha
means of diminishing contagion; sanitariums at
high altitudes and by the seaside; hygiene of
hot countries; methods of disinfection against
contagious diseases and the results obtained
in towns. In rural districts and In the Insti
tutions where the disinfection of dwell.
Ings and living rooms Is practiced: the convey
ance of water to towns; the different forms of
plague and Its propagation: the part played
by insects In the dissemination of disease; the
prophylaxis of malaria In North Africa; try
panosomiasis In Algeria.
Letter would have stood small chance ofi
ever becoming the Countess of Suffolk.
It may be remembered that at tho
Delhi Durbar, Daisy Lelter, it was re
ported, refused to curtsey to her sister.
Lady Curzon. who, as wife of the Vice
roy, took precedence of all womenkind
there, laughingly protesting that she was
a "free-born American." The Earl of
Suffolk is now aid-de-camp to Lord Cur
zon, but when the Iatter's term of office
In India expires, the Countess of Suffolk
will take precedence of Lady 'Curzon. as
the Suffolk Earldom dates back to 1603,
and Lord Curzon'3 title was createde only
In 1S98. Although he will eventually In
herit the Scarsdale honors, created in
1761. the Suffolk Earldom will still rank
as the senior one. and be entitled to
precedence at state functions. But thus
far the Earl of Suffolk has given no
promise that he will ever make the name
for himself which Lord Curzon has won.
7