Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-21
CHARITIES.
The Dead Milionaire's Numerous Act.
of BeneyoIenca.

The Dead Hillionaire's Nurnerous Acts
of Benevoience.
Il is Of but recent years that the aid
given by MIR. Croker to charitable objects
have been known, and of them the seal of
secrecy was generally enjoined upon the
reel pients. Some idea of his private chart
ties may be gathered from the fact that he
gave his wife $4,000 monthly for expendi-
lures in this manner, and had himself a
lengthy pension list of old friends or ac-
quaintances to whom he gave 50 much a
month. He was accustomed every Christ
mas to send checks to ali the homes and
orphan asylums, the only condition of their
presentation being that no publicity should
be made OF his generosity. The penalty
for noncompliance in any instance was the
neglect OF the offending institution when
the next distribution took place. Num-
berless tales are told of his benevolence.
There is one told about his treatment Of
two ladies who came for subscriptions to
the Old Ladies' Home. Mr.. Croker was
conVersing with friend when the ladies
were announced. "Show them in" he
said; Sit doesn't do to keep ladies wait
ing" The object of the visit stated Mr..
Croker smilingly asked how much he was
to give. son, anything you please, Mr..
Croker; we will be perfectly content with
any sum-" another cool robbery, l sup
pose" said Mr.. Croker, then drawing his
check-book toward him he smilingly wrote
an order for $1,000, which he handed with
a polite bow to the astonished ladies.
In November, 1885, Mr. Croker pre-
sented $3l 900 to the Boys and Girls Aid
Society, which vas the estimated cost of
their new building on Baker street. He
rebuilt the dome on the conservatory in
Golden Gate Park, that had been burned
in 1882.
In October, 1885, the large establishment
OF H. s. Croker & Co., stationers, on Bush
street, San Francisco, was totally destroyed
by fire Charles Crocker, having the
largest interest in that house, telegraphed
$1,000 from New York as gift to the
families of two brave firemen who persisted
at this fire.
Some ten years ago, jointly with Gov
ernor Stanford, Mr.. Croker purchased for
$4,000 the Ward natural history and
geological collection of casts and originals
and presented the same to the California
Academy Of Science at San Francisco. To
the same institution he presented $4,000
as fund the interest of which should be
spent in giving employment to such per-
sons as have, by their devotion to scientific
pursuits, incapacitated themselves from
active business life. The fund has already
been of great service to needy scientists.
1t is known as the "Crocker Scientific In
vestigation Fund"
When the RECoRD-UNIoN called atten-
ton last winter to the need of aid for the
Sacramento Protestant Orphan Asylum,
there sprang up at once most generous
I, effort among the people to place that
institution beyond all want. A great
deal Of money was raised, and peo-
pie and press united in contributing
to the worthy charity. A young lady
of Sacramento Miss Lindley, wrote
to Mr.. Croker, and presented the case Of
the orphan asylum. He responded at once
with a check for 81, 600. Elsewhere it is
recorded that the last act of his business
life was to sign a check for $3.50 to aid a
I Sacramento free kindergarten school.