Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-15
zsrli,to,tt Chronicle.
THURSDAY. MARCH Is, 1855.
STORIES OF CORCORAN.

Many years ago ". ". Corcoran, the
Washington pliIanthropist, whose death
was recently announced, said to friend:
Il mean to be selfish about my money.
1t shall be all for my own enjoyment
during my lifetime. | shall give and
enjoy the happiness of those to whom !
give Ishall not leave much behind me" :"
How well he carried out the benevo-
lent ideas outlined in these few words
many grateful benefciaries could tell,
and the Louise home and the CorcOran
Art gallery are monuments of his broad
liberality for all the world to see.
But that this kindly old man never
quite satisfied his desire to give is shown
by a remark he made some years later:
People tell me-" he said, 81 am gen
erOus. have tried TO be, vet | never
wake up in the night that some case
which l might have relieved does not
come to me. After ali, the part of my
fortune which L have most enjoyed is
what have given away"
The following incident was recently
recalled by New York Tribune cOrre-
spondent: "At the beginning of the
war Mr. Corcoran's Southern sentiments
were well known. and the government
seized upon the art gallery building and
used it for the quartermaster generals
office. Secretary Stanton also gave or
ders for the occupation of Mr.. COrcO-
rams private residence for hospital pur-
poses, but the old gentleman succeeded
in thwarting the great war secretary by
a neat artifice. Through friend he
heard of the order, and at once drove to
the residence of Count MonthOlOn, the
French minister, to whom he told the
story and proffered the use of his resi-
dence, free of all expense, as long as the
war should last The count called one
of his secretaries, and with his legation
flag entered Mr.. CorcOran's carriage and
drove Immediately to the house. Just
as they entered the building and unfurl-
ed the flag in the hall, two officers from
the war department came up the steps
with an order to take possession. The
count calmy informed them that it was
now the residence of the French minis
ter and that Mr.. Corcoran was his guest.
There were some pretty sharp words,
but the flag of France floated there and
had to be respected. Although Stanton
was a deeply religious man, it is said
that he fell from grace when the officers
returned to the department and made
their report. But here the matter ended.
Seawall Sydney, in letter to the
Ne,n York Mail and Eapress, told this
story of the manner in which Mr. Cor
coran discouraged the attentions of
Mrs EustiS:
Louise CorcOran was regarded as legIt-
innate prey by all the designing MEM
bers of the diplomatic corps in Washing
ton. Mr.. Corcoran bitterly opposed her
marriage to foreigner. although pro-
Tossing perfect willingness for her to
marry any deserving young man she
fancied. no matter how small his for
tune, only he must be an American.
But the young lady was full of life and
liked admiration, as Young things of her
sex do. One day, when she was enter
tanning a forbidden admirer, who was a
member of the Spanish legation, she
heard her fathers step in the hall. The
young grandee turned pale. as did the
needless girl. The step approached
nearer-a hand was on the knob of the
door-when Mr.. Grandee, forgetting all
about his dignity, scampered under the
grand piano in the corner. Mr.. COrcO-
rams eyes were too quick, though. Go
ing back into the hall. he reappeared
with a buggy whip, which he used Wig
orously on the shins of the grandee, who
got out of the house as fast as his legs
could carry him. That cured Miss Lou
Use of foreigners, and shortly after she
married Mr. Eustis, of South Carolina.
then Young member of the house. Her
married life was very happy, but she did
not live many years. In 1870 she died
of consumption, leaving two sons and a
daughter behind her. Her husband did
not long survive her. The loss of his
beloved child was an overwhelming blow
to Mr. Corcoran. Years after he could
not speak of her without tears. Only a
little while ago, in speaking of General
Lee, with whom he was on terms of
great intimacy, he said: Il have the
last letter he ever wrote. 1t was upon
the occasion of my child's DEATH" He
stopped and said 10 more, overcome
with emotion.
Mr.. Corcoran was an ardent Demo-
crat, and for many years has announced
his intention Of living until Democrat
ic President was elected. His delight at
Mr.. Cleveland's election was boundless.
He and Mrs. Cleveland were great
friends. and on his last birthday he
showed with pride splendid bouquet
of La France roses, sent him by the
lady of the White House.
NOl,En N-LTER Az