The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-03-02
PHIIAHTHl0PIsf

Within the past week the hand OF
death has been laid upon the venerable
millionaire philanthropist. w. w. Cor
coran. When his spirit passed away
the most distinguished Of public bene-
factors, save. perhaps, the equally phil
lanthropic George w. Childs, LEFT this
earth. Fur a score Of years Mr.. Corco-
ran has made it his diversion to spend
the income arising from several mill.
ions invested in various enterprises In
acts Of benevolence. No public spirit.
ed NAH has ever exceeded him in gen.
erosity, and his demise lie a general
misfortune.
Had Mr.. Corcoran's life been spared
few months longer he would have
been nonagenarian. He was born In
Georgetown, D. G., on the goth Of De
cember, 17oS. His father was a shoe
maker. and Georgetown was known
during the early part Of its existence
as Corcoranville. Springing from hum.
BILE surroundings the foundation Of hi:
wealth was laid In some fortunate in.
vestments in real estate, and during
the war. when business was under high
pressure, he swelled what was then q
handsome fortune, into princely pro-
portions. But he was not grasping,
and the wealth that flowed in upon
him flowed out again in channels Of
benevOl ence.
The most conspicuous Of his eff0r ta
I'm behalf of the suffering was in his
endowment of the Louise Home, In
Washington, an establishment deli.
cately described as can institution fol-
INDECENT gentlewomen." The descrip.
ton is precise one. 1t was named at.
ter daughter of the philanthropist,
who died many years ago, The Home
Is provided for women who have had a
high social standing, but have been re-
duced to want. NJ. Corcoran logically
held that those who had been accus-
toned to wealth and were afterwards
red uced to poverty were the keenest
sufferers from poverty, and. in the es-
Enlistment of the Home and its rcgu-
latiOn 1t has been provided that, as far
as possible, no suggestion that the in
mates are paupers and objects of char
ity lie allowed. He called those who
accepted his generosity, his "guests, I"
and the inmates are all ladies former
ly Of social rank. Their occupation is
needle and fancy work, which they do
at their own convenience. On New
Years day they receive in the magnifi.
cent parlors of the Home. and II there
is such thing as heightened poverty
it exists In it's perfection at the Louise
Home.
There was a good deal ofsentiment
in his disposition. which was partic-
ularly manifested when, at great ex .
pense, he had the remains of John
Howard Payne removed to this coun-
try from Tunis, in order that the au.
thor Of "Home Sweet Home" might
not rest in foreign CLINE. His last
act of generosity, only a week before
his death, and while on his sick bed,
was the gift Of $4,000 to assist the
Reading strikers.
Several wears ago Mr.. Corcoran pre-.
pared an autobiography. In it he
gave the details of his career. As it
was only intended for his immediate
friends he modestly withheld it, but
gave instructions that the edition
should be distributed after HE death.
The book was printed and bound in
costly style. On the fly leaf Of each
one was written an autograph note
addressed to the friend who was to re-
ceive the particular copy. For years
these volumes have been locked up,
not to be released until death had
the author. It is not yet
known who the friends are who will
receive the uninue Gifts