Meet Mr, and Mrs Russell Sage. It is appropriate that his picture dominates the post because Mr. Sage was a very domineering figure in his professional and personal life. Do read on  to discover why Mrs. Sage is smiling. . . . . .She is Olivia Slocum Sage, his second wife. Rumor has been whispered though the ages that this marriage  was never consummated but was merely for appearance, so Mr. Sage could carry on his numerous affairs.

Mr. Sage was a self-made man, part of the American dream. He started as poor as a church mouse delivering  groceries and studying arithmetic in his free time. Later he bought that store, was elected to Congress and became very wealthy in the Golden Age of American Railroads. He certainly had the Midas Touch when it came to business.  There is one story that pretty accurately describes his personality. His male  secretary became a  human shield in an assassination attempt on Mr. Sage.  After his serious injuries , Sage  never visited the secretary in the hospital, or  thanked him for saving his life.  He actually fired him for missing work, and refused to pay him the money necessary to cover his medical bills. People called Sage miserly, but he ignored the criticism, not caring what others thought of him.

Olivia must have been a silently, suffering dutiful wife because when Russell died he left her all of his $70.000.000 fortune mostly made from the the railroads.  Immediately upon his death, Olivia set up the Russell Sage Foundation for the purpose of giving away her husband’s money.  She gave generously to Emma Willard School for Girls, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and founded Russell Sage College ( for women).  I guess you are wondering  why I am giving you this nice, boring history lesson..but I am coming to the good part!

You see Mrs. Sage had the last and best laugh because miserly old Mr. Sage hated three things:

1.  Philanthropy

2. Higher Education

3.  Women ( Remember he had a male secretary?)

Olivia named the women’s college she founded for her husband using his money . You will also see the mausoleum she had built for his final resting place with no name engraved to tell who is buried there. She was buried in Syracuse with her parents.  This silent suffering woman became a example of women’s activism and generous  philanthropy during the Gilded and Progressive Age at the beginning of the 20th century. No doubt she laughed last and best.

Now you know the rest of the story of this small, liberal arts college, in Troy , New York and the story of the man whose name she bears. Here are the sights I see on my walks down Second Street.

Mr. Sage’s nameless mausoleum.

I saved the best picture until last. Mrs. Sage gently feeding the little squirrel as she smiled or is she laughing?

Namaste. . . .. .  T I N Y