The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-17
HUNrrNGToN.s HUMANITY.
The Practical Charity of the Busy Railroad
Magnate Illustrated,

Magnate illustrated.
Los Angeles Times
ard, the famous "Jayhawkerr related an incis
dent OF his experience with G. p Huntingdon
illustrating phase of that gentleman's charae-
ter which, although we'll known to his intimate
friends, IS not understood by many who are I'M
acquainted with him.
Mr.. Woodland said: "Nhen | was IN New
York, in May, had some important business
with Mr. Huntington, and we parted Saturday
afternoon with the understanding that we were
to meet at his Office at 10 o'clock Monday mcrn.
sing. Early Monday morning anote was brought
to me at my hotel, changing my appointments
and asking me to meet him at his residence at 9
sharp. / went there, found his carriage rather
a plain old lumber wagon, but quite comforta-
ble,, waiting at the door. He said 20 me-
have to 60 up to Seventy street; get In
with me, and we can talk as we co.
During the entire trip the business which we
had in hand was under discussion. and until the
street and Fifth avenue had not the slightest
idea Of the cause of his ride out there.
81 soon discovered that Mr.. Huntington owns
. square of vacant ground on Seventy second
street and Fifth avenue, near the corner, but
fronting toward Seventy second street was lit
tie hucksters stall, owned by half-blind Irish
woman, and / noticed that she had three blind
children. Directly on the corner, and between
her place and Fifth avenue. was stall box
which the park commissioners had erected as q
sort OF pay-ofice for paying the park employees
once month.
II soon discovered from the talk between Mr.
Huntington and the woman that the wife of one
of the park employees was in the habit of taking
possession every Sunday of the park commission
ers box and using it as a cake and pie stand, and
being next to the avenue was not only COM
petitor of the blind woman, but absolutely shut
her off from any part of the business.
Il also learned that the old woman had g0ua-
down to Mr.. Huntingtons residence on Satur-
day aft nd haA har ease tn r0
Huntington, who laid it before her husband on
Sunday.
"Mr. Huntington heard all Of the statements
relating to the case, considered it carefully,
then ordered the park commissioners box re.
moved hundred feet up the street. and directed
his agent to pick up the stall box belonging to
the old woman, carry it to the corner. and turn
it around so that it would front on Fifth avenue.
IAN of this matter occupied from o'clock
until noon. AS drove away said to him,
You are very busy man to give so much tina
to a small case like this On it, hasn't the
woman right to liver was his answer i am
not using that ground; she never pays a cent of
rent nor would think of asking such q thing;
but while make no other use of that ground, If
she can make a living out of it without being q
burden to the public or any individual, she has
the right to do IL, and am very glad to give her
all the opportunity possible
Mr. Woodland said: This little circumstances
impressed me very much. Here was man with
more details of business to attend to than tho
President of the United States; man control
ing railroad reaching across the continent, with
its thousands of collateral interests, a man who
is called a tyrant in railway matters; one
who grinds rival corporations whenever che.
opportunity presents; the wicked partner in the
Central Pacific syndicate yet, with all that q
man whose heart is so gentle that he will spend
half day adjusting the rights of half-blind
woman in whom he has no earthly interest be-
yond that which every Christian should have in
every unfortunate human being"