News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-04-26
DEATH OF A GOOD MAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE FOUNDER OF
THE COOPER INSTITUTE,
Incidents and Happenings in the Life of the
Late Peter Cooper.


Ii,
Newfoundland, and London Telegraph
Company. They steadily paid out money
for fourteen years, without return, in the
confident hope of ultimately pcrfecting
Geographic communication between Eu-
rope and the United States. They lost
the first cable that was laid across the
Gulf Of ST. Lawrence, a misfortune
which cost them between three and four
hundred thousand dollars. This occa-
stoned Il delay of year and a half. But
at length the line to Newfoundland was
completed, and after vigorous efforts the
requisite capital was secured for the Law
ing of the first ocean cable. English
capital was obtained to take part of the
risk, and the first ocean cable was laid.
It worked until 400 messages were re-
ceived, and then gave out. But the tes-
timony that the line had worked was so
conclusive that other capital was secured.
Peter Cooper maintained his confidence
in the ocean cable from the first, and in
company with Moses Taylor Cyrus w.
Field, Marshal O. Roberts, and others.
got up the subscription for laying the
second cable, which was unfortunately
broken and the end lost in the midocean.
Peter Cooper did not even then lose
faith, but kept on advancing his share OF
the money, and was one Of the chief
stockholders in the company that laid
the first successful ocean cable. He was
one of the most sangUine of those whose
persistent ettotts at last succeeded in
picking up the lost end of the second
cable and using it to make a perfect line.
He was prominent in the enterprise Of
IN, 0I,j ,.9,,9I,,i,,rr
cable. Even after the second ocean cable
had been successfully laid it was difficult
to secure capital to lay a second cable
across the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Peter
Cooper, however, still held on to his
faith, and advanced money.
A HABIT OF GIVING.
Mr.. Coopers visits to his office in
Burling slip of late years were some
what irregular. The burdens of the de
tails of the business have long been
borne on other shoulders than his. al
though when the time came for con-
sultatiOn and the determination of some
question of moment, his counsel was
never dispensed with. But, no matter
at what time revisited his office. whether
in the morning the afternoon: whether
every day in the week, or only at inter
walls Of several days, he was sure to be
greeted on his departure by swarm of
begGars. It was a mystery how they
knew he was coming. It seemed as
though they had n man always on guard
to spread the news far and near, for he
no sooner entered the Office than the
mendicants began to collect Not Il few
were tramps. who, even reeking with al
cohol, held out their hands for gifts.
They swarmed to the front OF the store
and even invaded the premises. 1t was
no use telling Mr.. Cooper that they were
idle and drunken. He would not relin-
quish his habit of giving something to
every man every time He did it in
spite OF his partners, and said it gave
him pleasure.
ALWAYS GIVING.
Mr.. Cooper was reputcd to be a very
wealthy man. but the extent of his for
tune is known only to his immediate
family. He gave away millions to his
relatives, besides the millions that he
gave to the Cooper Union. His bene-
factions in other directions have been
enormous. People never tired of ask
ing him for money. His daily mail
brought him bushels of begging letters.
He was besOught to engage in all sorts
OF wild schemes OF bencvolence, and to
contribute to the most pressing individ-
nal needs. It would have required more
than the labor of one person to answer
these letters; and many Of them went
unanswered. But many of them met
with success. He was literally giving
all the time How much money Mr..
Cooper did make will probably never be
known to the public. He reserved
something for himself MS a source OF IN
come for his running expenses. hut it is
said to bear no considerable proportion
to the vast fortune which he earned.
TO HELP ONESELF.
One of Mr. Cooper's latest addresses
in public was singularI- characteristic
Of the man. It was delivered in theopen
street to a mixed crowd OF men and
boys, who choered the aged philanthro-
pist right Justify in return. 1t was late
one afternoon last fall, at Broadway and
Houston street Peter Coopcr's carriage
had come to a sudden stop in front of the
Revere House; one of the traces was
broken. The driver Iahored vaiulv to
repair the damage The policeman on
the corner tried to help him. but without
l Ie ST. ne street was nI"cked and
t i, MIMI, IJT" Me- Oh ll'slIet - IN
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