The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-11-03
WEALTHY CRANKS.
VERY QUEER PHlLANTHRoPlsTs.
Ersi<ine Phillips. Robert and James Lenox
ct al.-The Charities-Psssion for
Collecting Books--How They
Employed Their Time.
The death Of Erskine Phinip.

lies in the city, not because of his per
S,nal Importance, but because his father
sad been pastor of the Lenox family.
When William w. Phillips preached in
ne Wall Street church, Robert Lensx
vas a ruling elder, and James Leuo1
WIS studious young man of recluse
.sabits who sat III the family pew. The
eenoA's lived in Broadway, below Wall
rect, and well remember their large
rass door plate which then was fash
nable. How strange to think of a
nurch in Wall street, but |
emember 1t well. IL stood near
roadway, and the site which
aen was worth $4,000 would now be
aeap at thirty times that sum. Hugh
laxwell and Brockholst Livingston
we're among the leading members.
anes Lennox, recluse, was keen
cough to foresee the Importance of the
o-town movement, and he favored the
sm0val OF tho church to tho Fifth ave-
ne site, $. hich was then out of town.
he church when thus removed was
ie farthest up town, but now it is so
AZ down town that a second removal
sill soon take place. Ersliine Phillips
las one Of the small number that knew
ames LenoX, and his death limits this
George ii. Moore, John Boorman and
Harriet LenoX. The first of this trio
SISTED Lenox In the formation of his
Drary, and is now tho manager of the
.enoX institute. The second was ior
Iirty years Lenox's agent and book
eeper, who was of use in administering
harities, and the third is the sole sur
ivor of the LenOX family. Her brother
equeathed his estate TO her, and she
.rries out the same system of philan-
lropy, and retains John BoOrInan in
lis long accustomed duties.
James LenoX has been dead three
ears, and yet the public has seen aA
nueh OF him during this interval as it
I'D before. lie was the hidden man of
lew York, and though there Is great
nriosity concerning his habits, especi-
lily his inner life,it will never be graft
led. The man in the iron mask was a
;reat mystery, and so was the hidden
nan OF Fifth avenue. He was hidden
u the sense of being inaccessible to ac.
suaintance. True, he always appeared
church and often in the street, but he
poke To no one, and his house was
AIRED against all visitors except his
MUSICIAN, his pastor and his favorite
ephew, all of whom know enough TO
'eep away. The front-door bell rever
vas answered and it probably
vas muflled. The small privileged num-
ier probably entered through the base
uent, where John Boorman had his of
zee. This seclusion was maintained for
n entire Lifetime. James Lenox never
al a crony or n bosom friend
ever had even a visitor.
10 never made New Years
alls or any other visits, never attended
party, was never seen in theator, or
"a or even picture gallery, nor indeed
any other public meeting unless it
vas of religious character With this
Exception, indeed, he might as we'll have
,assed his life on a desert island. To
.his it may be added that ho never
wroto line for publication and sue
ceeded in Keeping his name out of print
Two instances of this aversion are as
follows: The Evening Post at one time
gave sketches of the private libraries OF
he city, which proved highly interest
ing, but the LenoX collection was CON
spicuous by its absense. Some wears
aiterward, when the rebellion took place,
the finest private galleries in the city
were exhibited in behalf of the sanitary
commission. THE Lenox collection.
however, was an exception. but the
owner accompanied his refusal with n
check for $4,000 The question has been
asked whether such a man was ever
lonely. II so, he never showed il. He
was uniformly cheerful, and, indeed,
was rather of a happy frame. He was a
hard worker, his chief business being
the gathering of that immense collec.
ton of books which now renders
the Lenox library so attractive.
lie and John BOOrman were
writing letters TO foreign book dealers,
ana then they were constantly receV-
ing cases OF books which needed assert.
a la a Of IA I. 4.
% had the assistance of George IL.
Moore, whose experience as librarian of
ne historical society was highly val
liable. TO this work was added the
luty of heneiicence. He had list of
ocular charities to which his checks
we're sent without solicitation, and then
mere were the begging letters, which
we're carefully road aud in many In
tances answered. The management of
he estate also afforded occupation.
treets were opcned through the farG,
s.louses Were tO be erected, Leases to ho
highed, and In this manner the hidden
man was kept hard at work until the
md. When this took place he slipped
nut of existence In the same quiet man
ler, and never was rich mans funeral
% simple and transformations. No
monument or oven slab bears his namo.
IltLltO
IN the catalogue of paintings, whore It is
only mentioned as "tho portrait of "A
.entleman.n Such was the hidden man
who passed eighty years in this city
and never varied from this soclusion,
Old John Jacob Aston had been for
many years acquainted with James
i4enoN's father, and rs he saw tho
family wealth devoted TO boneiicence, il
40 doubt had its effect upon him. He
knew that James LenoN was collecting a
library, which would eventually 30 a
public honefaction, and he determined
10 forestall it, which he did by founding
Tho Aston library. The original cndow-
ment was S4OO,OO0, but the family has In.
creased II in very liberal manner.
P~ter Cooper was the next man to win
public admiration by philanthrophy,a and
the Cooper institute has for twenty
wears been u boon of highest value 10
the public. The entire Investment was
about S6ON,NO IL Is said, however, that
James LenoN gave away $i,0OO,0OO dur.
ing the course of long life, which,
though hidden was intensely
active. Among other promi-
nent beneiactions, which have
followed il the Roosevelt hospital
founded by tho invalid bachelor. lanes
Roosevelt. He inherited a large estate.
out 1t did him but little good, since IN.
he9lth rendered life miserable. Perhap,
II was this diseased condition which led
aim TO endow an Institution for other
sufferers. ENGOv Morgan, on the
ltlier hand, madc theological seminar,
the leading beneficiary of his p0sthn
nous charity, while Commodora Van,
lerbilt, under the influence of his sec
ond wife, who Ia from the SOUTH gave
million to Ma hvillu university. vii
liam Ii. Vanderbilt, has admirably con
tnued this nunihcent generosity, fol
he not only gave us the ohelisk anC
added large gift TO Nashville univer
Sity, but has shown an appreciation oI
the claims OF science by the recent gifl
OF n half million to the college of medi
elmo and surgery. II IL also said thai
ne intends TO make his splendid pic
lure gallery u public bonofaction.-
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Angelica wine NJ 81 nor gallon nj Al