Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-30
TmE FUND.
A Letter frem Cyrus w. Field
The Presidents Will and
Insurance.

INC INtM LUX llIucb.
The death Of the President has led
to inquiries in regard to the fund
raised for the benefit of Mrs. Garfield.
The whole amount subscribed is $751;
500 80, of which every dollar has been
paid except a single subscription Of
$1,000, which was made on condition
that $245,00 we're first raised, and
may be withdrawn should not that
amount be secured. The money, as
fast as received, was deposited with
the United States Trust Company, and
as o as a sufficient amount was paid
in the Trust Company purchased
100000 four per cent registered
bonds, to which it has since advanced
$4,000 more. Owing to the high
premium this $l25,000 in bonds cost
$l45, 281 25. The bonds remain on
deposit with the Trust Company in
trust for Mrs. Garfield, the interest Of
which-$5000 a y~ear-Will be paid to
her quarterly as long as she lives, and
at her death the whole amount will
be divided equally among the surviving
children of James A. Carried. There
is a balance in cash ofS73l8 IL, which,
with whatever may be added here
after, will be applied in the same way.
There would seem to be reason for
expecting a considerable addition to
the fund now that the President is
gone. individuals have made liberal
promises Of what they would do in the
event of his death. Some even felt
that there was an improperly in theat-
tempt to raise subscriptions while he
was still living, with the hope Of re-
covery; that the gift would create q
feeling of personal obligation that
might prove embarrassing hereafter.
Some were restrained from giving lest
their motives should be misunder-
stood. That objection is now removed.
No one need fear the imputation of
unworthy motives for which there is
no longer a place. Our dead Presi-
dent has no favors to give, no honors
to bostow. He cannet be touched by
the tokens of public sorrow, even by
a whole nation following at his bier.
But there is a practical way of show
ing respect for the dead by kindness
TO the living. BE is gone, but his wife
and children live, to carry through all
their lives the burden OF this great
sorrow. Mrs. Garfield will soon leave
the Capital in which her husband was
lately the head of $4,000, 900 of people,
to go back to her distant home. wild
owed and desolate. Only once before
has there been anything so pathetic in
American history. That the country
will deal generously with this stricken
household we will not doubt. But
great bodies move slowly, and it
is long to wait. We have preferred
to do something now, asking only the
privilege, in the first flush of grief, of
showing our sympathy in a practical
way, and so in some slight degree, if
we cannet sOothe the hidden sorrow.
Of relieving the anxieties that must
press upon that widowed mothers
heart. CYRUS W. FIELD.
New York, September 20, 1881.
p. S.-Any one desiring to unite
in this fund will please remit direct to
the United States Trust Company,
No. 40 Wall street, New York.
THE WILL AND INSURANCE.
In the early part of August, it is
said, the President signed a will
which leaves all of his property 10 his
wife. On the same day, finding that
he could write 50 well, he insisted on
writing a letter to his mother, which
he did. This letter found its way
into the newspapers a few days after
wards. From the same source it is
learned that General Garfield owned
real estate amounting to about s25, 900.
This estimate includes the house he
occupies in Washington as a private
residence during the last eight years
he was in the House Of Representa-
tives.
General Garfield had his life insured
for $4,000 in two companies in New
York. He took out a policy of $1O.-
900 in the Equitable Assurance Soci
ETY. soon after his nomination to the
Presidency. The premium fell due
and was paid while he was at Long
Branch in June, a few days before he
was shot The society sent its check
TO its agent. in this city yesterday to
pay the amount Of the policy to Mrs.
Garfield at once. In May last General
Garfield was insured for $25, 1000 in
the New York Life Insurance Com
pany. The policy was written out in
the White House.
When he entered Williams College
in 1854 General Garfield insured his
life for $500 in the Mutual Life In
surance Company Of this city. He
used this policy as security for a loan
Of $500. He repaid the loan after
graduation with money earned in
teaching school.