The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1869-11-25
Anecdotes OF George Peabody.

In personal appearance Mr.. Peabody
resemblcd professional, rather than a
business man.
Mr.. PeabOdy'S great interest in educa-
ton doubtless partially arose from the
fact that he was taken from school at the
early age OF eleven years, and was thus
deprived of what in that day was known
as grammar school instruction.
The first money Mr. Peabody earned
outside of the small pittance he received
as a clerk, was for writing ballots for the
Federal party in Newburyport This was
before the day of printed votes.
When Mr.. Riggs invited Mr.. Peabody
to be a partner, the latter said there was
one insuperable objection, as he was only
- years of age. This was no objection in
the mind of the shrewd merchant, who
wanted young and active assistant.
Two gentlemen are living who were
friends of Mr.. Peabody in boyhood, and
who willingly paid his share of the cost
of sailing and fishing parties, ten pins,
etc, during the war of 1Sl2-14-his cx-
cellent company being considered more
than an Offset TO his lack of funds.
Mr.. Peabody did not bestow many gifts
to relieve individual poverty or distress
He thought that much of the money thus
contributed only tended to increase the
evil it sought to alleviate.
Mr. Peabody was beautiful penman
His letters were usually brief and very
much TO the point.
Mr.. Peabody was strongly opposed to
fraud in little matters The conductor on
an English railway once Overcharged him
a shilling for fare. He made complaint to
the directors and had the man discharged.
Not" said he, "that could not afford TO
pay the shilling, but the man was cheat
ing many travellers To whom the swindle
would be oppressive"
When Mr. Peabody first landed in Lon
don he lived very frugally, taking break
fast at his lodgings and dining at club
house. His personal expenses for ten years
did not average e600 per annum.
Mr.. Peabody had very retcntivc mem
ory, particularly in regard to names and
places He would give the most minute
particulars of events that occurred be-
tween fifty and sixty years ago.
Mr.. Peabody first appeared in print as
the champion of American credit in Eng
land, at the time our State securities were
depressed on account of the non-payment
of interest by Pennsylvania.
Essex county, where Mr. Peabody was
born, has five public buildings erected by
his liberality They are consecrated to
| the uses of education, science and re-
ligion.
Mr.. Peabody leaves a sister, Mrs.
Daniels, formerly Mrs. Russell, of George
town. He had several nephews and
nieceS, to all of whom he has been very
generous.
Mr.. Peabody was very fond of singing,
Scottish songs being his favorite.
The toast Mr. Peabody sent to the Dan
vers celebration in 1852 was:
Education-A debt due from present
to future generations"
Mr. Peabody was good talker; at the
table few men were his equal. His idea
of pleasant dinner party was where
there was great deal of talk, and he
could take the lead in conversation
The favorite games of Mr. Peabody
were backgammon after dinner, and whist
III the evening.
About quarter of century ago MIR
Peabody was so much pleased with an
American lady visiting London that he Of
fered her his hand and fortune. which
were accepted. Learning a short time
aftcrward that she was already engaged 9
fact of which she had kept him in igno
rance, he rebuked her lack of sincerity and
broke Oft the engagement.
Mr.. Peabody visited incognito the
houses erected by his munificence for the
poor of London, to see if those in charge
of the charity properly attended to their
duties. He asked the wife of the supcrin
tcndcnt the name of her child, and was
answered, George Peabody" This
prompted a present to the infant, which
the mother quickly interpreted, and an
nounced to her neighbors the presence ol
their distinguished benefactor, who gladly
took refuge in cab to be rid of Their
| benedictiOnS.
Letters by the hundreds were daily re
ceivcd by Mr. Peabody of late years
They were first looked over by a secretary
and only few ever reached the eyes o
the great banker He received one o
thirty-six foolscap pages from a decaycC
English gentleman who solicited loan o
few thousand pounds to establish the
claims of his family to an estate. Mr.
Peabody wrote in reply substantially this
"That you should have written such
letter, would surprise your friends; that
should have read it, would indeed surpris,
mine"
Chief Justice Shaw paid Mr. Pcabod,
the compliment ol TclndTklnE tllat DuSl
ness document, written by him, was on
of the clearest and most comprehensive
papers that had ever been presented Il
our Supreme Court.
by temperament, religious training
early education, political bias and busincs
connections Mr.. Peabody was conserva
tive.
Several years ago Mr.. Peabody selectc,
his grave i'm the beautiful cemetery nea
his native place, called Harmony Grove,
where the remains of many of his kindred
are buried.
Mr.. Peabody always cherished the mem
ory of his mother, to whose comfort h
! ministered in early life. One who knew
all the circumstances alluded to them il
the following words:
Might we invade the sanctuary of hi
early home, and the circle of his immcdi
ate connections, we could light around tn
youthful possessor of few hundred dol
iars-the avails of the most severe and un
firing efforts-a brighter halo than hi
elegant hospitalities, his munificent dona
tions, or his liberal public acts now shes
over the London banker. Boston Tran
script.