Milford chronicle., 1883-04-13

And he went through his long life as
gentle as a sweet woman, as kind as a
good mother, aad as honest and as guile
less a man as could live and remain
human.
His face always reflected his heart and
1t never wore a mask. The pressure of
his hand made as true a welcome as a
touch of spring-time. His walk and
bearing were as modest as his talk.
And within n decade of his century Of
life he has died as full of simplicity as he
was when this century began.
TO HELP ONESELF.
One of Mr.. Cooper's latest addresses
in public was singularly Characteristic
Of the man. 1t was delivered in the open
street to mixed crowd of men and
boys, who cheered the aged philanthro-
pist right Justify in return. 1t was late
one afternoon last fall, at Broadway and
Houston street. Peter Cooper's carriage
had come to sudden stop in front of the
Revere House; one of the traces was
broken. The driver labored vainly to
repair the damage. The policeman on
the corner tried to help him, but without
success. The street was blocked and
the crowd pressed on impatiently. In
the hubbub MIR. Cooper opened the door |
of the carriage and stepped out to learn |
what was the matter. The crowd, in |
stantly recognizing him, made room re-
spectfully. He no sooner saw what the |
trouble was than he called the coachman |
away, and, unbuttoning his great coat,
fell to work on the broken traces him.
Golf Tho f4Yaf,rrrT al, I.
creasing interest as he deftly made his
bitches and half-hitches, and with only
a piece of string and a small wooden
stick IN a few minutes repaired the
trace sufficiently to allow the carriage TO
be driven on. As he stepped upon the
cmbstone after finishing his work Mr..
Cooper, pointing to the trace, spoke
kindly to some young men who stood
lear, explaining to them the advantages
If being able to help oneself when there
vas need. His address was brief, and
vas listened to with respectful attention, !
md when the old gentleman stepped
nto his carriage and closed the door.
he crowd cheered and hats were swung
n his honor.
PAID IN THE END.
In 1928 Mr.. Cooper was induced bv '
wo gentlemen to join them in the pur- t
hase Of 5000 acres of land within the
mits of the city of Baltimore. The
rice paid was Sl05, 900, and rs his two
artners proved to be irresponsible Mr.. Il
ooper was Obliged to pay all of the f
urchase money. BY this transaction il
g secured the whole of the shore line :,
Baltimore from Fell's Point Dock for !
distance of three miles. At this time "
Ie Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was II
)out to be completed, but the expendi-
res had been greater than the amount ~,
money subscribed, and it was found
at on account Of the many sharp al
rves in the road and heavy grades the p'
st would be much greater than was at NJ
st estimated. It was declared that no sa
could ever run on the road, m
d the public refused to subscribe to a.
e stock. At this point Peter Cooper, ~
10 wanted the road completed on ac-
unit of its value to his property, came "y
the rescue. He resolved to demonstrate "I
e feasibility Of running trains around nj
2 Objectionable curves, and for this y,
iect he built a locomotive which he IN
lieved would serve his purposes, and Is
proved successful. The Baltimore m,
1 Ohio was saved, and money flowed do
rapidly to complete the road. Mr. oa
oper, however, was not successful in
posing of his Baltimore property at a
fit, and he determined to embark in cal
manufacture Of charcoal iron, and no.
this purpose he erected a number Of ~
ye kilns of novel design and con- ,.,, nc
lction. He was not very successful ht'
that business, and he sold the property fro
something over 800, to a firm Of cat
'ton men, and the Canton Iron Com bal
y was s es'apiisnea, At cooper takIing del
re, the par value being 800. The I
TX Of this company rapidly appreciated er,
value, and Mr. Cooper sold his por- the
at $3.50 share, so that his Baltimore liar
proved paying one in the no,