Life — June 12, 1902 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PING-PONG RAGE REACHES THE RURAL DisTRICTS. Life’s Dictionary of International Biography. Alphabetically Arranged. J. PIERPONT MORGAN. A DEALER in securities and insecurities, at one time influential in politics and a trader in second-hand railroads. Mr. Morgan began his career in the old days when the United States was a Republic. He was born in the Nutmeg State, but moved to New York soon after the seat of the Government became located in Wall Street. Asa boy he was studious and thoughtful, but oc- casionally gambolled on the green as practice. Before he was fourteen he saved up enough money to buy a small railroad, and with nothing in his pocket but this he journeyed to Wash- ington, where he first met the Senate, and disposing of his property at a profit—not so easy then as now—he came on to the Metropolis and made the Stock Exchange what it is to-day—the proud monument of government by the people, for the people, and in spite of the people. Mr. Morgan, although only a poor young man at that time—being only worth ten or twelve millions—had am- ditions, and even thought of becoming in time as notorious as Marie Corelli or Dr. Parkhurst, but finally determined to take the more humble career of inagnate, owing to a fatality that is not always to be avoided. Thus we see that humility is often an inherent quality of true greatness. Grover Cleveland, at that time President, one day walked into Mr, Morgan's office and timidly knocked at the inside door. “Hello, Grover,” said Pierpont. the matter now?’’ “Look at me,” said Grover, “I haven’t been able to buy a pair of suspenders for four months. Heaven knows when. the ghost will walk again. The Secretary of the Treasury is eating free lunches in the Riggs House, and the Capitol is mortgaged right down to the Senatorial cold tea room. Lend usa few, will you?” “ Sure,” said Pierpont. ‘I'll reorganize all the railroads Ican in the next week and send you the proceeds. In the meantime, ship me all the old bonds you have and I'll hold ’em for a rise.’ Thus the Steel Trust was possible, and Mr. Morgan hurried to England to buy out Parliament. The members were to be shipped over here in gold cages and exhibited in Central Park free to. the Irish vote. But Carnegie said, “No! I'll be true to the old country. Leave ’em alone, Pierpont. If you want British, blood, start an: American club in London, and let me write books for Americans to read. Thus the balance of power will be preserved.” Mr. Morgan is now resting upon his laurels. Living as he does, with one foot in Pittsburg and the other in the Episcopal Church, surrounded by loving clerks, who sit up “That you? What's comicbooks.com