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卷八 二二、記新聞兩則


  (二月六日)

  今日(二月六日)報載兩事,可記也:

  一為美國海軍費案之通過。全案共需美金一四一,一八九,七八六元。

  一為卡匿奇(Andrew Carnegie)及洛克非老(Rockefeller,J. D. Sr.)二人

  同日受美政府所委實業界關係調査部(Commission on Industrial Relations)之質問。二人皆世界巨富,施財如土。積年以來,卡氏共散財324,657,399元,洛氏共散財250,000,000元,可謂豪矣。受質問之時,卡氏意氣自如,莊諧雜出,傾倒一堂。其論積財,有足觀者,記其最精警一語如下:

  "The day is not far distant, "said Mr. Camegie, "when the man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which were free for him to administer during life, will pass away unwept, unhonored. and unsung, no matter to what use he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be: 'The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.'"

  〔中譯〕

  「這一天不會太遠,」卡匿奇先生說,「一個人死後還留下萬貫家財,那麼他死時將無人哀悼,無人紀念。這些生不帶來死不帶去的財富,不管他身後如何處置,終究只是一團廢物。人們自會有一句話來裁決他:『作為富翁而死是毫無價值的。』」

  洛氏則奄奄無生氣,體弱故也。洛氏吾未之見,卡氏去年在此演說吾嘗見之,其人短小精靈,望之不似陶朱之流也。


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