St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-16
Phil Armour, the Millionaire,
Philanthropist and Mer-
chant.
His Daily Life at Home and
in Business Cir
cles.
An Existence Profitable to
Others as Well as to
Himself.
A Description Of the Armour
Mission--Some of His Ben
efactions.

Kill ATiflOuT, Gll6 STcdI CdtIlo hlHb
of Chicago. is a familiar figure in Wall
street and on some of our exchanges,
says New York paper, but there is
little about him personally to indicate
that he is at the head of some of the
largest enterprises connected with the
products of beef and pork in the United
States. That he possesses large fort
une goes without saying; that he dis
penses considerable share of its in
come where it will do the most good,
and with generosity that is royal, is a
fact not generally known outside of the
Garden City,"
A gentleman who recently visited his
residence spoke of it as ''a poem in
color and TEXTURE" and the abiding
place of all the graces that make do
nestle life beautiful. He described MIR.
Armour as possessing dual character
that which he exhibits to his intimate
friends and family, and the sterner side
which he turus outward when he enters
the business world.
His life in the latter is Systematically
begun every morning at o'clock. By
or 10 his vast correspondence is over
looked, briefed, and transferred to his
little army of stenographerS and type
writer's. Then begin the current duties
of the day, the name of which is legion,
for his hand is shown in great variety
of enterprises. To the honor of the
man it must be said that many of the
latter are unselfish in their nature, and
are more apt to concern some private
charity conducted on businesS-like
scale than any mere personal benefit to
himself. 1t is because he is minute"
man in business details that he finds
time amid the ordinary routine of his
office to dispense the good that has
made his name famous in all charitable
circles.
Speaking of Mr.. Armour's charities, a
friend of his recently said: Among
the larger benefactions that occupy his
attention is what is called the Armour
Mission,' memorial to dead brother.
Under the roof of the institution are to
be found all industrial school, kinder
garten, chapel, reading and reception
poor are furnished medicines and the
attendance of the best physicians free
of charge"
Surrounding the EMISSION" proper is a
block of houses, the rental of which is
donated to the Institution, thus making
it Self-SuppOrting. Other blocks of
buildings he rents at nominal figures to
those who are deserving but cannot af-
ford to pay the high rents of Chicago.
A salaried physician is also employed
to investigate the wants Of the poor, and
| authority is given him to draw upon
Mr.. Armour for the amount required to
relieve their necessities. He often
| goes in person to see that the sum
| called for is sufficient to meet the de-
mands of the case.
On his way to church, not long since,
| he met poor woman leading by the
hand little boy whose eyes appeared
| to be affected. The sight touched his
| sympathetic nature, and stopping the
| woman he inquired where she was go
ITO church," was her reply, with
some surprise at being thus accoSted by
stranger.
Handing one Of his cards to her. he
| said: 81 want you to come around to
| that address after church; something
must be done for that boys eyes,"
Mr.. Armour went his way, but the
woman stood in blank establishment,
| looking first at the card and then at the
rapidly disappearing stranger. After
| the service, she repaired to the million
kindly received and questioned IN re.
| gard to herself and boy.
"You must take that boy to New
York for treatment, my good woman"
said the big-hearted man after listening
| to her story.
why, that is out of the question, sir;
| l can't afford it," was the reply.
whether you can or not, l tell you
that you must go to New York and have
that child's eyes attended to at once;
| I'll see to the rest. Here is the money
for your fare to and from that city; let
me know what your expenses are ON
reaching New York, and l will see that
| they are paid"
The grateful mother attempted to
utter her thanks through her tears, but
the bluff merchant waved her off. ex-
claiming: Come, now, none O. that;
| wait till the boys cured"
Such is one Of many similar acts that
occur in the busy life of this thought
| full man, and it illustrates a phase of
character that will some time deserve
| the epitaph: HE hath done what he
could" E. G. DE FoNTAINE.