my memories of eighty years-第70章
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York Herald。
Mr。 Bennett was a good friend of mine for half a century。 He was delightful company； with his grasp of world affairs and picturesque presentation of them。 A President of the United States who wished to change the hostile attitude of the Herald towards his administration and himself asked me to interview Mr。 Bennett。 The editor was courteous； frank； but implacable。 But some time afterwards the Herald became a cordial supporter of the president。 The interview and its subsequent result displayed a characteristic of Bennett。 He would not recognize that his judgment or action could be influenced； but his mind was so open and fair that when convinced that he was wrong he would in his own way and at his own time do the right thing。
Mr。 Bennett did me once an essential service。 It was at the time when I was a candidate for re…election to the United States Senate。 I cabled him in Paris and asked that he would look into the situation through his confidential friends； reporters； and employees； and if he found the situation warranted his taking a position to do so。 Of course the Herald was an independent and not a party journal and rarely took sides。 But not long afterwards； editorially and reportorially； the emphatic endorsement of the Herald came； and positive prediction of success； and were of great help。 He was one of my groomsmen at my wedding in 1901。
Among the thousands of stories which appear and disappear like butterflies； it is a curious question what vogue and circulation one can have over others。 By an accident I broke one of the tendons of my heel and was laid up in my house for some time； unable to walk。 The surgeon fixed the bandage in place by a liquid cement which soon solidified like glass。
Julian Ralph； a brilliant young newspaper reporter； wrote a long story in the New York Sun about a wonderful glass leg； which had been substituted for the natural one and did better work。 The story had universal publication not only in the United States but abroad； and interested scientists and surgeons。 My mail grew to enormous proportions with letters from eager inquirers wanting to know all the particulars。 The multitude of unfortunates who had lost their legs or were dissatisfied with artificial ones wrote to me to find out where these wonderful glass legs could be obtained。
The glass…leg story nearly killed me； but it gave Ralph such a reputation that he was advanced to positions both at home and abroad； where his literary genius and imagination won him many honors； but he never repeated his success with my glass leg。
I suppose； having been more than half a century in close contact with matters of interest to the public； or officially in positions where I was a party to corporate activities or movements which might affect the market； I have been more interviewed than any one living and seen more reporters。 No reporter has ever abused the confidence I reposed in him。 He always appreciated what I told him； even to the verge of indiscretion； and knew what was proper for him to reveal and what was not for publication。 In the critical situations which often occurred in railway controversies； this cordial relationship with reporters was of great value in getting our side before the public。
One reporter especially； a space writer； managed for a long time to get from me one…half to a column nearly every day； sometimes appearing as interviews and at other times under the general phrase： 〃It has been learned from a reliable source。〃
I recall a personal incident out of the ordinary。 I was awakened one stormy winter night by a reporter who was well known to me； a young man of unusual promise。 I met him in dressing gown and slippers in my library。 There he told me that his wife was ill； and to save her life the doctor informed him that he must send her West to a sanitarium。
〃I have no money；〃 he continued； 〃and will not borrow nor beg； but you must give me a story I can sell。〃
We discussed various matters which a paper would like to have； and finally I gave him a veiled but still intelligible story； which we both knew the papers were anxious to get。 He told me afterwards that he sold the interview for enough to meet his present needs and his wife's journey。 Some time after he entered Wall Street and made a success。
I have known well nearly all the phenomenally successful business men of my time。 It is a popular idea that luck or chance had much to do with their careers。 This is a mistake。 All of them had vision not possessed by their fellows。 They could see opportunities where others took the opposite view； and they had the courage of their convictions。 They had standards of their own which they lived up to； and these standards differed widely from the ethical ideas of the majority。
Russell Sage； who died in the eighties； had to his credit an estate which amounted to a million dollars for every year of his life。 He was not always a money…maker； but he was educated in the art as a banker； was diverted into politics； elected to Congress； and became a very useful member of that body。 When politics changed and he was defeated； he came to New York and speedily found his place among the survival of the fittest。 Mr。 Sage could see before others when bad times would be followed by better ones and securities rise in value； and he also saw before others when disasters would follow prosperity。 Relying upon his own judgment； he became a winner； whether the market went up or down。
I met Mr。 Sage frequently and enjoyed his quick and keen appreciation of men and things。 Of course； I knew that he cultivated me because he thought that from my official position he might possibly gain information which he could use in the market。 I never received any points frorn him； or acted upon any of his suggestions。 I think the reason why I am in excellent health and vigor in my eighty…eighth year is largely due to the fact that the points or suggestions of great financiers never interested me。 I have known thousands who were ruined by them。 The financier who gives advice may mean well as to the securities which he confidentially tells about； but an unexpected financial storm may make all prophecies worthIess； except for those who have capital to tide it over。
One of the most certain opportunities for fortune was to buy Erie after Commodore Vanderbilt had secured every share and the shorts were selling wildly what they did not have and could not get。 An issue of fraudulent and unauthorized stock suddenly flooded the market and thousands were ruined。
As Mr。 Sage's wealth increased； the generous and public…spirited impulses which were his underlying characteristics； became entirely obscured by the craze for accumulation。 His wife； to whom he was devotedly attached； was； fortunately for him； one of the most generous； philanthropic； and open…minded of women。 She was most loyal to the Emma Willard School at Troy； N。 Y。； from which she graduated。 Mrs。 Sage wrote me a note at one time； saying： 〃Mr。 Sage has promised to build and give to the Willard School a building which will cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars； and he wants you to deliver the address at the laying of the corner…stone。〃 I wrote back that I was so overwhelmed with business that it was impossible for me to accept。 She replied： 〃Russell vows he will not give a dollar unless you promise to deliver the address。 This is the first effort in his life at liberal giving。 Don't you think he ought to be encouraged？〃 I immediately accepted。
Mrs。 Sage was a Mayflower descendant。 At one of the anniversaries of the society she invited me to be her guest and to make a speech。 She had quite a large company at her table。 When the champagne corks began to explode all around us； she asked what I thought she ought to do。 I answered： 〃As the rest are doing。〃 Mr。 Sage vigorously protested that it was a useless and wasteful expense。 However； Mrs。 Sage gave the order； and Mr。 Sage and two objecting gentlemen at the table were the most liberal participants of her hospitality。 The inspiration of the phizz brought Sage to his feet； though not on the programme。 He talked until the committee of arrangements succeeded in persuad
