The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-30
SENATOR LELAND STANFORD.
Brooding Over the Loss Of His Son Said to
Have Caused His Reason to Give Way.

SAN Francisco, CAL, Jan. 29.-Fol ne days
past rumors have been current in thi y that
the mind of Leland Stanford has been settled
by the death of his son. Ever since
that event Stanford has shown an
aversion for business, and has freely COM
municatod his intention to devote the remainder
of his life to eonsecrating the memory of the
young man by erecting public institutions in his
honor. His project to establish a university at
his celebrated country place, Palo Alto, which
should rival, so far as endowment was con-
cerned. the wealthiest educational institutions
of the old world, was prompted by this feeling,
and his other schemes for the benefit of the pub
lie had the same origin.
It is now asserted here that the continual
b~rooding over these matters has incapacitated
the ex Governor for public or private business,
and it is also whispered that he is surrounded
by a crew of sycophants who are continually
harping on the subject. At the extraordinary
memorial services at Grace Church in this city
a serious attempt was made to impress upon
the mixed audience who hocked to the house,
which was made very attractive by an elabor-
ate display of flowers, that young Stanford pos
sessed a character almost sanity. The affair
gave rise to much scandal, as it is alleged the
canons of the Episcopal Church were grossly
violated in several ways.
1t is alleged that Stanford is tinctured with
splrltualism and his mind infected to suchian
extent with that belief that he tells compare
tive strangers of his assurance that his son is
near him. Only a few days ago the newly
elected Senator met a gentleman on the street
with whom he had scarcely any acquaintance
other than purely a business one, and without
any introduction at once preached the subject so
near his heart, and told the gentleman he had
no further aims in life; that his only hope was
IN ms nrm confidence of the Immortality of the
soul. When spoken to about the senatorship he
declared that he took little or no interest in
the matter; that he had passed the time of life
when such honors had any attraction for him.
against these ldiosyncrasies is arrayed the
fact that he has caused to be drawn up an act of
the Legislature which will insure the carrying
out of his various ideas for public improve
ments, among them his university project and
institute modelled after that of Peter Cooper of
New York. This act is drawn with great care
and by the best lawyers of the corporation. and
it is asserted by them that Stanford takes a most
lively interest in these schemes. 1t will no
doubt be shown later that Stanford has absolute
ly no further capacity for public business, and
the probabilities are largely in favor of his prov
ing All absentee.
Senator Stanford is sixty-one years of age, and
has been physically feeble ever since his last at.
tack of sickness, when his physicians ordered
him to give up his business and get rid of all
care by going to Europe, which he did, remain
ing there for a couple or years.
Mrs. Stanford seems to be affected mentally
precisely as her husband, and has caused her
servants and dependents to make extraordinary
exhibitions of woe over the loss of their young
master.