Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1911 — The Millionaire and The Boy [ARTICLE]

The Millionaire and The Boy

The other day, when the elevator service in the Standard Oil building, at 26 Broadway, New York, gave out, the newspapers had considerable amusement over the fact that the millionaire tenants of. that building had to walk from two to fourteen flights of stairs to get to their offices./' In this connection an amusing story is told about Henry. M. Flagler, one of the oldest of the Standard Oil pioneers. While approaching the age of 81, he is strong and stalwart, paying regular attention to his large business interests, both in New York and in Florida. His office is on the twelfth floor -of the Standard Oil building, and it was thought that he would not care to do what many a younger man would shrink from, and so a porter was sent to meet him at the door and advise him to establish his office temporarily on a lower floor, as the elevators

were out of service. While the porter was hastening on this mission, Mr. Flagler was gayly climbing the stairs and shortly appeared on the twelfth floor as unconcerned as ever. W. H. Beardsley, Mr. Flagler’s right-hand man, tells an Interesting story about a messenger boy who was to have delivered a message to Mr. Flagler, but who declined to climb twelve flights of stairs to do so. “How old Is the boy?’’ asked Mr. Beardsley. “Sixteen/ 1 was the reply. “Well," said Mr. Beards ley, “you can tell that boy that a fine old gentleman approaching his eightyfirst birthday has Just climbed vths twelve flights of stairs without turning a hair.” Turning to Mr. Flagler, Mr. Beardsley remarked: “You have taken the conceit out of a good many today.” So much for good habits and right living.—Leslie’s.