Monday, Nov. 4, 1918

News of the death of another Troy soldier in France is overshadowed today by the death in New York City of philanthropist Margaret Olivia Sage, The Record reports. The widow of financier Russell Sage, “had been in feeble health for several years,” but “her condition became serious” late last week. Her death doesn’t appear to have been caused by the Spanish flu, but by “ailments due to advanced age.” The former Margaret Olivia Slocum worked her way through the Emma Willard school and spent nearly 20 years as a schoolteacher before marrying Russell Sage in 1868. “Mrs. Sage took such a deep interest in her husband’s affairs that he turned over to her five years before his death [in 1906] complete control of his business and found that his faith was borne out by her successful operations,” our reporter writes. After her husband’s death, she donated an estimated $30,000,000 of his estate for philanthropic purposes, including $1,000,000 to Emma Willard, more than $2,000,000 to RPI, and over $1,000,000 to Russell Sage College, which she founded in 1916. “The death of Mrs. Russell Sage is a distinct loss to the city,” says Troy mayor Cornelius F. Burns, “Her generosity has been beyond expression and her acts will be remembered by a grateful public.” Burns orders the City Hall flag lowered to half-staff in Sage’s honor.

Private Cummings Killed in Action

Maria Cummings of 295 Ninth Street learns this morning that her son, Private Frank P. Cummings of the 74th Company, Sixth regiment, U.S. Marines, was killed in action somewhere in France on October 5.

The government telegram gives no details on the circumstances of Private Cummings’ death. The 23 year old enlisted in December 1917 and was shipped to France last March. He had previously survived wounds and gassing suffered during the battles of Chateau Theirry and Belleau Wood in June. His last letter home arrived in Troy on September 23.

Schools Will Not Open Until November 11

With the Spanish flu epidemic subsiding, Troy’s public schools were scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, November 6, but public school superintendent Arvie Eldred has pushed the resumption of classes back to Monday, November 11.

The delay has been only tangentially to do with the epidemic, Eldred explains. During the hiatus, Troy’s teachers have been deeply involved in relief work for flu sufferers, from preparing meals for afflicted families to carrying out a door-to- door survey for an accurate count of patients.

“If the teachers were withdrawn from the canteen work Wednesday morning the entire relief organization would suffer,” the superintendent says.