A Rich Man’s Wisdom.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 2 June 1906, Page 44

A Rich Man’s Wisdom.

RUSSELL SAGE, THE MOST CONTENTED MULTIMILLIONAIRE IN NEW YORK. Ninety years of age and weighted with scores of millions, Russell Sage to-day one of the most completely satisfied rich inen in the world. This is true, for “he himself has said it, and ’its greatly to his credit.” Russell Sage is now the oldest of the money-kings in New York. He was born twenty years before Andrew Carnegie, who threw’ off the harness of business five years ago. The original John Jacob Astor died at eightyfive. and Commodore Vanderbilt at eighty-three. But Russell Sage is still standing at the tiller of his gold-bal-lasted craft, as keen and sharp-eyed as he ever was. He is as saving in his opinions as in his money, and it is seldom that he can be persuaded to make his mind an open book for the general public. But recently he consented to give the New York “World” the full story of life as he sees it. It is the most complete description of the Sage philosophy that he has ever given to the public. Whatever this advice may be worth to you. it has been worth about a hundred millions to Russell Sage. I think, if I had ray life to live over again, he said, it, would be as honest, as simple, as home-loving as I could make it. I would try with all my power for home-like comfort, happiness and long life, as against show, shallow pleasure and a short existease. Home life is best. Clubs are only a place for idle old men and wasteful young men. Great wealth is not everything, by any means. The mere making of money is not the only criterion of success. Many men whose names are our common heritage have died in very moderate circumstances, or even in poverty. Money is not a measure of brains. Real success is often achieved after many failures. An active man builds success upon a foundation of failure; a passive man does not. A real man is not hurt by hard knocks. Hard knocks make character. WOULD MAKE CHARITY A LIFE STUDY. I think, had I my life to live over again, I would make charity a life study. It is a science. It cannot be learned in a day. The older a man lives the more he gets to realise this. From my own investigations I have found that there is a large class of professional mendicants that prey upon the well-to-do and charitably inclined. From time to time I have taken a whole month’s batch of appealing letters and have had them thoroughly investigated by trained agents. Ycry few have been found to possess real merit. Most of the appeals were from persons who would not help themselves even with the aid of a helping hand.

Real charity is dispensed without the blare of trumpets. Notoriety and professional philanthropy, hxHserhnlnute ulms-glviug in auy guise, have ul-

ways been repugnant to me. I hare never asked for any publicity for what I have done. Silence has invariably been my rule and practice.

MARRY EARLY AND KEEP OUT OF the “four hi ni>ij:i> ■

If I had my life to live over again I am sure 1 should not attempt to move in what is termed "society.” I would rather be one of a few gathered together by a bond of friendship than io partake of all the glitter and hollowness of what is called the “Four Hundred.” The friendship .of a few' outlives life itself. Friendship remembers; society forgets. In the home only is there true happiness. It is there that a man’s best ideas get their birth and growth. If 1 had my life to live over again 1 would marry even earlier than I did. The tender eare of a good wife is the finest thing in the world. lam thankful indeed that I have had this in the fullest measure. LOOK OUT FOR CLOTHING BARGAINS. Thrift is the first element of successful manhood. When you have made your fortune, it is time enough to think about spending it. Two suits of clothes are enough for any young man. The only thought, that a young man need spend about his clothes is to look out for bargains at the lowest price. Let him be on the lookout for eheap hats, bargains in shoes, knockdowns in suits. He is fostering business traits that augur well for his success in years to come.

The boy who knows bargains in socks makes the man who knows bargains in stocks. Fifty cents is enough for a straw hat; it will last two seasons. You can get for 39 cents an nnlaundered white shirt, which is excellent. You can get a good undershirt for 25 cents. Silk is not for salaried men. Fine clothes bring sham pleasure. Don’t try to rival the flowers of the field.

A GOOD Al AN CANNOT HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY.

A rich man does not work for him self alone.

He is really the nation's agent. He turns his wealth over constantly in a "way that helps others. No one need be alarmed over the constant increase in the wealth limit. Big enterprises require big men. Had Imy life to, live over again, I would work just as hard.

There is no such thing as a money curse.

It is the man. not the money, that makes the amount of individual wealth wrong. A good man cannot have too much money. The easiest way a poor citizen is made is through inheritance. Take a young man who comes into a large fortune which he hasn’t earned. What does he do with it? He wastes it.

And so let me say in conclusion, if I had my life to live over again, I would try just as hard as I knew how to turn my money over and over again, that it might do the most good to other men.

I would live no differently. I would do as hard a day’s work as I knew how. I would not feel it necessary to take vacations to recuperate. I would get my pleasure simply. I would take a drive in the afternoon as I have always done. I would dine simply on plain food. After dinner there would be a little reading of the papers or of good books, a chat with friends that might drop in. and maybe a game of whist. 1 get plenty of relaxation from an exciting rubber. When the game is over, my day is done. I sleep like a top till morning. That woul be my life if I had it to live over. All my life my home has been my haven of happiness.