Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-09
BEGGING BIZ MAIL.
A Glimpse In the Mail Rag Of a Mil.
liOnaire.

"A Glimpse IN the Mail Rag OF a Mil.
li0naire.
THE BEGGING LETTERS RECEIVED BY Mr. w. w.
CORC0RAN-A MAN WHO WANTS BARREL OF
PORK AND WOMAN WHO ASKS FOR A SILK
DRESS-A CURIOUS PHASE OF HUMAN NATURE
THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER MEN OF WEALTH.
The name Of Mr.. W W. Corcoran is 30 widely
known by his deeds of philanthropy, and is SO
Intimately identified with every movement that
Is calculated to alleviate suffering and improve
the condition OF the unfortunate, that the ap-
peals which come to him tor all sorts Of char
liable purposes are almost overwhelming. His
daily mail for years has largely consisted of
letters asking for money, and each year and
each day adds to the volume of this sort of cor
respondence. The surprising feature of it is
that the majority OF these appeals are not for
objects OF a general character such as HOSPITALS.
colleges and charitable organizations, intended
1Or The benefit OF q number. but are mainly in
dividual requests for aid in Carrying out some
Cherished purpose or to realize some personal am
ultlOn- STAR reporter, in conversation with
Mr.. Anthony Hyde. who has been Mr. Corcoran' q
confidential agent for thirty-fve years, learned
a number OF interesting facts relative to the
character of this correspondence.
A WOMANS AMBITION.
For instance q lady entirely unknown to Mr..
Corcorsn writes long letter, In which she states
that her husband Is worth $5O, 900, and Is doing
large aud prosperous business The writer.
however, desires to be Independent Of her hus-
band, and asks Mr.. Corcoran to send her enough
money 30 that she may live on the interest. The
letter IL well written. and closes with an urgent
INVITATION to Mr.. Corcoran to come and make
in
her garden and enjoy the fruits and flowers
The writer was evidently we'll to do in this orld
and refined and educated, yet, amid her pros
per1ty, she had one ambition which was not sat-
isned, and that was to have bank account of
her own In this particular she is not, perhaps
an isolated example. but the course Of reason
ing which led her to think that an entire stranger
would help her Ii entirely unique.
THE SALT PORK MAN.
II want barrel OF mess pork, and want you
to send it to me" was the laconc but perempt-
DRY letter received from man In one OF the south
ern states. Mr.. Coreoran, amused by this
strange demand, sent the pork as requested
What was the result? He was rewarded by re-
ceiving request for another barrel"
WANTS TO GO TO BALL.
young lady asked Mr.. Corcoran to send her
a pink silk dress, trimmed to order, to enable
Iva
much in the style Of an order to a dress maker.
and there is nothing to indicate that the writer
had any doubt but that the request would be
granted
WANTS TO TRAVEL A LITTLE.
Another lady correspondent. living in Europe.
sends 16 pages of commercial post, closely writ
ten, giving history of her family, which seems
to have had very ancient origin, and request
ING that $4,000 be sent to her address. to enable
the writer to take trip to the southern part of
France for the benefit OF her health.
The motive which leads to the composition
and mailing OF such a utter as this. as well az
thousands Of Others presents q curious phase
OF human nature. the writer's are unknown to
MIR. C"rcoran; they base their demand upon no
ground except personal desire. The objects to
be attained wiz benefit no one but themselves
and yet they confidently call upon Mr.. Corcoran
to send on check by the next mail. What Is
the course OF reasoning, the impulse, the in
stinct, OF whatever It may be termed, which be-
gets this confidence? Or Is 1t simply the ven
ture OF person who buys q lottery ticket?
This phenomena of human action opens an in
teresting field for psychological Investigation.
Perhaps 1t may be explained simply on the
ground that letter Is easily written: that for
some unexplained reason, 1t may evoke O favor
able answer. and, at any rate, the humiliation Of
q refusal by this medium is very Slight People
Whatever the explanation is, there Ia no doubt
that there are large number OF letters written
TO wealthy men. in which requests are made
that have not the shadow Of reasonable claim
for their basis.
but he has so much money. and could give
the little we want without missing It," is the
reflection, and so these curious productions are
intrusted to the mails with hearts beating nigh
with expectation.
WHAT Mr. HYDE SAYa
care the writer's of these letters insane?"
asked the reporter Of Mr.. HYDE
mot at all, +" was the reply; ''they are not in
sane. They are sensible enough. They want
what they ask for. and it is very important
matter with them"
What proportion Of the writer's are men and
women" continued the listener.
"At least two-thirds of the letters are written
by women" was the reply.
The few letters cited above, picked at ran
dom almost out Of the immense volume of let
tiers that daily pour In through the mails, may
be termed the frivolous appeals. but there are
others which depict woe and suffering. hard
struggles with fortune. and pttiful scenes OF
poverty. 1.-The annals of the poor" are rewrit-
ten every day, and the opening of such mail ia
not an agreeable task. Begging letters of this
description, especially from distant points, can
not secure . response from the very nature of
things.
THE CHARITY OF MR.. CoRCORAN.
as ia well known. has afforded relief to thou-
sands, and the amount he daily gives away will
probably never be known. Yet if he made re-
Spouse to all the demands upon him, even his
ample means would soon be exhausted.
What disposition is made of these begging
letters9" asked the reporter of Mr.. HYDE.
''The appeals that come from entire stran-
gers" was the reply. ''who have no claim upon
Mr.. Corcoran, are Of no avail to the writer's. and
are source OF disturbing sOlicitude to Mr.. Cor
coran. from which his advanced age and the state
OF his health demands and must have relief: and
such appeals should not be made as 1t is simply
impossible for him to meet them"
A curious feature Of this correspondence.
which has now extended over vefy many yeara'
are the periodicities which have been observed
In their volume The receipt Of such letters ID
daily occurrence, but there are times when the
number 10 greatly increased. Such an increase
has been noticed Immediately after the publica-
ton Of some philanthropic act Of Mr. Corcorsn's.
An instance In point IL the bringing OF the re-
mains Of John Howard Payne to this country
The begging letters from al parts Of Europe
began to pour In, and the effect ol
this patriOtie deed mag uttn b<
seen In the volume Of his daily mall. A shor,
time ago newspapor article giving N account
Il ~ Rxw ~ ~ a a