Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-25
The Charitable Vanderbilts.

New York Cor Philadelphia Press
The charities of the younger Wander
bits are becoming pleasantly associated
with the lame of their wealth. To-day
these benevolent tendencies shone out
! in strong and picturesque light. The
occasion was the public ceremonies at
tendant on the laying of the corner
stone of the Home for Working Women.
The cost Of this addition to the facilities
OF the Young Women's Christian Asso-
citation is 100000, and it is wholly as
sumed by Elliott +. Shepard, one of the
klndest and wisest of the Vanderbilt
family.
The scene of the ceremony was ex-
ceedingly interesting. 1t showed $50
ciety" in its benignant character. Tn
| the crush Of velvets and silks and furs
| the 400" were we'll represented. But
they were out not for display but on an
errand of mercy. On the temporary
staging the spectacle was extremely
suggestive. There, backed by group
| OF the wealthiest leaders of fashion,
stood Rev. DR.. Huntington, sedate, pale
and sch olarly, not the figure one would
pick out as the rector of the fashiona-
| bic Grace Church. Beside him lowered
the gigantic form of Rev. DR.. John
Hall, the $4,000 pastor of Fifth
| Avenue church, which is the very type
of rich responsibility, and himself re-
puted to be millionaire. And at bis
elbow was the familiar figure OF Chaun-
| cey M. Depew, railroad president, town
orator, presidential candidate, social
philosopher and good fellow. HIS kind
ness is genuine, too, which isn't the
case with every good fellow. It was IL
Illustrated to-day by little unn oticed
| incident more eloquent than dozen
| speeches. AS Mr.. Depew was passing
from the parlors of the association to
the platform be observed. with the
quick, keen glance of a railroad presi-
dent, gap in the temporary floor
which the builders had put down for
the accommodation of the guests Stop
ping at this hole, he called the attention
Of the carpenters to their neglect, and
would not leave the spot till he made
sure that the danger was ave,ted. Pos
sibly his caution was quickened by the
remembrance of his own fall into an
open trap and the famous glass leg that
followed. But it was one of those little
incidental, spontaneous acts of thought
fulness for others that wouldn't have
occurred to many distinguished orators
on the way to make a big speech before
critical audience.
Toe speech itself was in Mr.. Depew's
soberer and more philosophic vein.
He treated of the perils that surrounded
triendless women in large cities and of
the mercy which holds out such forlorn
and imperiled souls helping hand.
The chasm between the extremes of So
cletv, he said, could never be closed by
law or by force, but it might be bridged
by mercy. True charity, however, did
not pauperize, and it was the browning
merit Of the present scheme that it was
seli-respecting.
The Home consists of two features,
temporary lodging house, where friend
less women can find shelter until work
can be procured. and a restaurant,
where working women can get good
food for the lowest cost price. The un-
dertaking does not patronize beggars,
but it encourages those who are strug-
Cling to earn an honest living.