Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1910 — PATRON OF ART. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PATRON OF ART.

Tragic Death of Spencer Tpttalc Enda a Anl»le and Genejurtfa 1.1 fc. The death of Speaker Trask, the new York was killed in a collision betsreerl the Montreal Express and a fierght train at Croton-on Hudson. was they culmination of a series of misiortufies. Last June he was in-

jured in an automobile accident at Boston and lost the sight of one eye A short time before that death took awiay his only children —two daughters. For years his wife has been an mva’id and it was largely on her account that he made his home at Saratoga. His age was 66. Mr. Trask was a native of the metropolis and had been in the banking bus'ness since 1869. He was the first financier to recognize the co-mmereja! Value cf electricity as applied to transportation and it was to him" that Thomas Edison applied when strug gfing tor recognition. Once'the connection was formed the inventor and the hanker became partners in many other enterprises, Mr Trask assisted in establishing the Edison business in New York and "Brooklyn, and he was also interested in the Edison illuminating business throughout the country. *

Mr. Trask was well known as ,*n art connoisseur and his home in Saratoga contained many art treasures. His estate, Yaddo, is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Upon its site once stood the famous Dutch roadhouse of Mejnherr Barhydt, a resore near Saratoga Springs favored by the presence or Presidents, Daniel Webster, Edgar Allan Poe and other celebrities. memory bfetwr of his dead children founded and practically supported ,St. Christina School for Girls at Saratoga. He spent thousands of dollars In philanthropic work la Saratoga yearly. it was his intention, had he lived, to make Saratoga the Carlsbad of America In 187 A Me. - Trask married Mill Kate Nichols, who is well known to literary fame by her poems, plays and other writings. She is the autW of

a poetic drama. King Alfred's Jewel, and of a nativity play. The Little Town of Bethlehem. Although a physical sufferer, she is vigorous mentally, and -retains much of the beauty of her girlhood. Mys. Trask is deeply interested in philanthropic movements and has been an earnest sympathizer with her husband to his patronage of art.