ATIS, FROM A RICH MAN.

The Characteristic Philosophy of Russell
Sage, the Most Contented Multi-Millionaire
in New York.

Nearly ninety years of age and weighted with scores of millions, Russell
Sage is to-day one of the most completely satisfied rich men in the world.
This is true, for "he himself has said it, and 'tis greatly to his
credit."

Russell Sage is now the oldest of the money-kings of New York. He was born
seventeen years before Andrew Carnegie, who threw off the harness of
business five years ago. The original John Jacob Astor died at
eighty-four, and Commodore Vanderbilt at eighty-two. But Russell Sage
still is standing at the tiller of his gold-ballasted craft, as keen and
sharp-eyed as he ever was. Of all the famous figures of Wall Street, only
Daniel Drew lived to greater years; and Drew lost all his millions before
he ended his long career as a speculator.

Mr. Sage 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 my life to live over again, 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 existence. 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.

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 realize
this. From my own investigations I have found that there is
a larg