The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-08
CAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY.

Statement by One OF Colonel FIslx's Friends.
live may trust the assurances Of those who knew
him best there probably never was man who was
more generally misunderstood by the public than
James Fisk, Jr. He was man who had o great
abnorrence OF all hypocrisy, ana whose theory OF
life 1t was to show to the world his worst side and
to conceal very carefully all his good qualities from
the public knowledge. He was ostentatious OF his
faults and never could be persuaded to
do anything In public except on rare coca.
sions, such as tEat Of the Chicago fire,
which would lead the public to believe him to be
the generous and large-hearted man he really was.
During the last four or five years Of his life, in
which it has been generally supposed that he lived
IN style OF unexampled luxury, and spent enor-
nous amounts on his personal enjoyment, the truth
was that except his four-in-hand. his box at the
theatre, and one or two matters OF that kind
which all the world knows about-he lived in q
much more simple style than threeiourhs OF the
persons who have his income. At the time Of his
death, and for long time previous, ne lived in
LITTLE Two-sToRY HOUSE
OF the very platnest kind, rather dilapidated,
plying only two rooms IN It, and the only real luxury
In which he INDUCED was the luxury OF unusual
cleanliness. lie probably one Of the most scru.
pulously neat and clean persons that ever
lived. His personal expenses were, at q liberal
estimate, not one-flfth as large as the amount
which he spent In providing for persons In
whose affairs he took kindly interest, who had
seen misfortune In life, and whom he felt to be de-
pendent upon him Tor assistance. He gave away
constantly enormous amounts In still more direct
charities, concerning which he rarely spoke to any
one, and II was only by accident that even his most
intimate friends found out what he was doing. He
supported for some years an entire family of blind
persons, without ever saying word about 1t TO his
nearest friends. He was particularly
GENEROUS TOWARD ACTORS AND ACTRFaSFs
who, whenever they suffered nom misfortune
would always appeal to him. One lady, herself an
actress OF considerable repute ana Of very gene.
rous nature, was IN the habit Of coming constantly
to Mr. Fisk to appeal to him for assistance to aged
or unfortunate members OF their profession-assst-
ance which he never refused. Very recently o
lady, VINO was formerly q New York favor
ito, but who made an unhappy marriage
and to escape from drunken husband had carried
her child to England, where, after struggling In
provincial theatres Tor more than year, she came
to almost her last penny and had barely the means
to return to this country, without change OF
clothing and without being able to bring away her
child made her case known to the lady before
mentioned, who Immediately. after helping her 10
the extent OF her own scauty means, sent her with
o note to MIR. Fisk Mr. Fisk listened to her story
advanced her $3.50 on the spot procured her an en-.
gagement In theatre at SIS week and interested
the captain OF one OF the finest seagoing vessels In
the case 30 for as to provide free
PASSAGE FOR THE CHILD
to this country the captain In order to please Mr.
Fisk, taking great pains 10 discover the wnerea-
bouts OF the child and restore n to It's mother
These are but incidental illustrations Of what Mr.
Fisk was daty doing. and always dong with the
utmost privacy and with the greatest reluctance to
allow It to become known. He would rarely sub
10 Of Seore n
Mr.. Flsk's early career has been set forth in ex
aggerated form very frequently, and hardly needs
known that he was left In charge or a good Old
farmer and his wife In the town OF Pownal VT,
them until he was a well grown boy. When James |
was five years old his guardian sent him to district
Thought necessary to punish the e sow
some misdemeanor, whcn went so Rrlevousy to the |
hear OF the old farmer that ne never would send
years old without learning how to read or write. |
His father then caused him to receive some little
and he soon launched into lie for himself lie was
PEDLBR IN MASSACHUSETTS,
and Vermont, and the old ladies' OF Western Aiassa-
chusetts often speak oil the handsome fourorse Team
which he used 70 drive and the excellent goois
nor TO any thing which tney could Obtain in counirv
stores. After this ne settled IN Boston, and received
Co., who at that time were the most noted dry goods
dealers IN that city. Mir. Fisk used after to
tel r w s',o a NOV MR. Beso' ne had
days, devote his whole day to It, ana with what awe
Inc clerks would listen to the sigh OF relief with
which their good chief announced that the davis |
laDors had been successfully concluded. Twenty
thousand dollars In those days was as much
thought OF as million dollars would be in these. |
Mt FISK then entered the establishment OF Jordan,
Marsh ,s,I..1 TO-, and very soon by his remarkable
a0llltlcs, commanded the entire confidence OF the
house and was taken into partnershp. Up to hrs
death they were his warmest friends. lie was sent
6outh oy tnem during the war, and landed In New
oricans Win General Butler, passing through many
REMARKABLE ADVENTURES
with the army. which he frequently accompanied on
40 dissolved partnership with Jordan, Marsh
q 20. and came to New YORK, where,
IS pr0tegG or Daniel Drew, no set up
business In partnership with william Belden. The
1rm OF FISK Beden made many large ventures,
anu old also an immense commission business. |
Mr. Flax has been heard 10 say in illustration or the
equanlmlty with which he wds prepared TO endure
any reverses that might Afterwards peall him. that
nm uA6 |