Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-10-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Oct. 18th, 1884.
A prophet is not without honor save in
his own bailiwich, and the stories going
the rounds of the newspapers about our
great phllanthropist, Mr.. w. w. Corcoran,
affirm the quasi scriplurai quotation. II
is said abroad that Mr.. Coicoran has given
for public beneficence more than three
million dollars, to say nothing OF another
million distributed to private charities,
while he has ten million left to fail back
upon in case of drought. These are very
pretty stories to read in the newspapers,
but when the tax-boOks of Washington
are consulted they deprive the narratives
Of a good deal of their romalic interes I
They hardly size Mr.. Corcorsn up TO more
than one tenth of the amount ascribed to
his exchequer, although his property ut
the capital and elsewhere is very produc-
,, tive and very valuable. Ii may be said of
Mr., Corcoran that he Is one of those phi
anlhropisIs who keeps his lett hand thor.
oughly posted ON what his right hand ia
doing, and his benevolent contributions
(public and privale) are so thoroughly
panopled with conditions, that the name
of Corcoran will scarcely grope its way
10 prosperity by the side OF that of Howard
Peabody or any one OF II dozen Others
whose charaiies partook oi none of the
ostenlation that MIR. Corcorsn exacts MS q
condition precedent and subsequent 10 his
graluities. After four score or more Mr.
Corcoran 6"ds himself enjoying the best
Of health, despite the fact that the doctors
gave him up as u dead man thirteen years
ago He has outlIved all three of the doc
tors who EN- predicted his early demise
and under hls nbsleni.ms and altogether
plain mode Of living, there seems to he n,
reason Tor slspectng that he will occupy
his elaborate tomb. AT Oak Hill Cemetery
lor many II moon.
There are upward OF 100000 books IN
the Congressional Library to-day, will
room upon the shelves for about one four i
OF them. What on earth can be exppcled
in the way of utilizing library with 400,
600 Of its best volum- piled up lIeller-ss ell
ter on The floor, and The other 200 900 il
uOtlDlc IOWb OH rutlNtF, may Utul-
onslrnted by ihose who are crying on
against the construction of new library
capacious enough for the storage ut iens
OF This vast multitude Of books-lhe larges
| in the World. Besides this slowing away
OF bouk-, valuable maps OF reference, en-
cravings, elchings, etc, are necessarily
hidden away from public view, possibly
To ace the light OF day for another gem
| lon ilI hAr IN a..
periodicals. hat are intended TO meet tn,
current wants of the member, which nr.
likewise confined 10 HE dark receases 0i III
basement of the capnol 1t is poslIly,
shame and Disgrace TO the American name
that foreign visitors who come here shoul,
always find the Congressional Library III,
lit subject Tor their Gaming criticism, wher
n lour-hnndredtl part OF The money lyinl
idle in the Treasury vaults would furnisl
u library building that would he a lasting
credit to n people who can Thus show theil
ability To su'tain the largest library in al
the world
| zee that the campaign speeches lhi,
year have but little 10 say about the ablisu
of the contingent fund oi lhe Two House,
OF Congress. And we'll they may for on,
party l. jus Az bad az the o her when !
rnnes 10 The foolish sqma.dering OF III,
peoples money. have Just fepslej m,
eyes npun aD account made ior n member
discharge Of his Congressional duties
The ARTICLES embraced perlumery, cusrs
fans, toothpicks, fourteen carat charm pen-
ellis, cologne, pocket-kniveS, handkerchief
boxes, odor-cases, 0perc-slasses, hair
brushes, sliayng-cases, aud visning-lis,s
II IL time that this contingent busines
should be abolished.
Dom PEDRO.