Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-15
The Vassars and Their Charlie
 Men and Noble Deedz.

The yassars and Their CharIties-Soble
 Men and Noble Deeds.
 rPouEhkeepsie respondencs of the COoperstown
 (Nsw York Freemsn's Journall
 Saturday morning 1 met Mr. John Guy Yassar by appointment, and spent the fore noon with him in visiting the different insti tutions in which he is specially interested. The last time was here I closed my visit with a call on his brother Matthew, who died in 1881, and he then told me of their inten- ton to erect home for aged men. He lived to see it nearly completed. It is large and splendid brick building, granite facings, standing on the site formerly occupied by the mansion of Matthew Vassar, ST., having a front on three streets. It Is complete in all its appointments and was recently opened ''The Vassar Brothers Home" cost them, tn the liberal endo wment, about $100, 900, and is under the direct supervision of an ex- ecutive committee of ladies. There we found a few happy and contented old gentle men, some of whom we had known in their more prosperous days-one of whom was for many years a leading business man of the city It is a truly noble charity, as we most forcibly realize when stand ng within it's cheerful rooms and in the presence of these worthy old gentlemen. They and hundreds 
 of Vassar in the years to come.
 A year or two ago there were three Litera- ry societies in this city, one of them con ducted especially in the interest of young men. Neither of them owned & building. After consultation the Vassar brothers said to these societies. ''If you will consolidate your forces, we will put you up a building suitable to the purposes designed by the new organization. |" To this ready acquiescence fri,, nH nh ohf nF kha ook Legislature. Architects were directed to draft and submit plans and specifications but when they arrived Matthew was upon his death bed, and he never saw them. It was supposed that he had carried out his purpose of providing by codicil to his will for one half the expense of the promised building, and he was a very methodical man {; but he had delayed to learn the approximate cost, and his brief and severe illness did not permit of the exertion. When the will was opened there was a natural disappointment felt by those interested in the project But it was of brief duration. for John Guy, the surviving brother, said to them, "I know what was the intention of my brother in re gard to the building, and it shall he carried out at my individual expense" That act il- lustrates the character of the man. Near the Home, on Vassar street, stood the first brewery erected in Poughkeepsie by the grandfather of the Vassar brothers the fath- CT of the late Matthew Vassar, sr. The lat ter and their father succeeded that firm, and then these brothers, on the death of their father, became the partners of their uncle Matthew, the founder of Yasssr College. On this site ''The Vassar Brothers Literary Society" building is being erected, at a cost of about S+O 900, and I could see from the drawings of the architect that 1t will be an imposing one, of brick and granite, with 6 high dome. When the first story was partly completed, it was represented to the gene rous donor that the societies were increasing in membership and the audience room would not be large enough to admit of platform, 1 which would be very much needed. Gould he not possibly arrange it so as to give them