The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-11-10

Traits and Anecdotes of W.. ps,hodx.
In personal appearance Mr. Peabody resem-
bled professional rather than a business
man.
Mr.. Peabody's great interest in education
doubtless partially arose from the fact that he
was taken from school at the early age of II
wears. and was thus deprived of what in that
day was known as grammar school instruc-
ton.
The first money Mr. Peabody earned out
side of the small pittance he received as clerk,
was for writing ballots for the Federal party
In Newburyport. This was before the day OF
printed votes
When MIR. Riggs invited Mr. Peabody to be
partner, the latter said there was one insu-
perabe objection, as he was only nineteen
years of age. This was no objection in the
mind OF the shreWd merchant, who wanted
young and active assistant.
James Reed was the first merchant who
gave George Peabody credit. The purchase
was for thousand dollars, half oft on credit.
The amount was promptly paid, and the trans
action led to a long business relation and life
long friendship.
Two gentlemen are living who were friends
of Mr.. Peabody in boyhood, and who willingly
paid his share OF the cost of sailing and fish
ing parties, ten pins, etc., during the war OF
1S12-14-his excellent company being eonsid-
cred more than an offset to his lack of funds.
The late Rev. Daniel Dana, d. D., of New
burypOrt, was the clergyman whose preaching
first attracted Mr.. Peabodys attention when
a lad. DIR. Dana was uncle to Mr.. Samuel L.
Dana of Boston, who has been MIR. Peabody's
agent of late years.
Mr. Peabody did not bestow many gifts TO
relieve individual poverty or distress. He
thought that much of the money thus contrib
uted 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 OF an En-
glish railway once overcharged him shilling
for fare. He made complaint to the Direct
ors and had the man discharged. "Not," said
he, "that L could not afford to pay the shIl-
ling, but the man was cheating many travel
ers TO whom the swindle would be oppress-
ive."
When Mr.. Peabody first resided in London
he lived very frugally, taking breakfast at bis
lodgings and dining at q club house. His
personal expenses for ten years did not aver
age six hundred pounds year.
Mr.. Peabody had very retentive memory,
particularly in regard to names and places.
He would give the most minute particulars of
events that occurred between fifty and sixty
years ago.
WI. dppedTeu III pTlnC as the
champion of American credit in England at
the time our State securities were depressed
on account of the non-payment of interest
by PENNSYLVANIA.
MIR. Peabody administered many severe re-
Dukes to prominent Southern men for the
manner in which their States treated public
creditors.
Essex county. where Mr.. Peabody was
born, has five public buildings erected by his
itv fo1 to Al
of education, science and religion.
MIR. Peabody leaves a sister, Mrs. Daniels,
formerly Mrs. Russell of Georgetown. He
has several nephews and neccs, to all of
whom he has been very generous,
Mr.. Peabody was very fond of singing,
Scottish songs being his favortes.
MIR. Peabody was good talller; at the table
ant dinner party was, where there was a great
deal of talk and he could take the lead in con-
versation.
The favorite games of Mr.. Peabody were
backgammon after dinner, and whist in the
evening. He was as fond OF the latter and as
rigorous player as Charles Lambs friend,
Sarah Battle, who neither gave nor took quar-
ter.
About quarter of a century ago Mr.. Pea
body was so much pleased with an American
lady visiting London that he offered her his
hand and fortune, which were accepted.
Learning short time afterwards that she
was already engaged, fact of which she had
kept him in ignorance, he rebuked her lack
of sincerity and broke off the engagement.
Mr.. Peabody visited, incognito, the houses
erected by his munifcence for the Door of
London, to see if those in charge of the char
ity properly attended to their duties. He
asked the wife of the superintendent the
name of her child, and was answered, George
Peabody" This prompted present to the
infant, which the mother quickly interpreted,
and announced to her neighbors the presence
of their distinguished benefactor, who gladly
took refuge in a cab to get rid of their bene-
dictions.
Chief Justice Shaw paid Mr.. Peabody the
compliment of remarkng that business doc
ument, written by him was one of the clearest
and most comprehensive papers that had ever
been presented TO our supreme Court.
By temperament, religious training, early
education, political bias and business connec
tions, Mr.. Peabody was conservative.
The last time Mr.. Peabody spoke in public
was at the National Peace Jubilee in Boston.
1t was fitting place and occasion for one
whose long and useful life had done so much
for peace and concord.
Several years ago Mr.. Peabody selected his
grave in the beautiful cemetery near his ma
tive 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 he min
istered in early lite. One who knew all th
circumstances allCdes to them in the folloy
ing words:
"Might we invade the sanctuary of
early home, and the circle of his immed
connections, we could light around the you
ful possessor ofa few hundred dollarS,-e
avails of the most severe and untiring effor-
brighter halo than his elegant hospitals,
his munificent donations, or his liberal rDlic
acts, now shed over the rich London baIer."
Boston Transcript