The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-03-06
HIS PURSE ALWAYS OPEN.
The Good Works of tho Late Leonard
JsromS-HOw ho Aided Unfortunate New
Workers.

The Good workS of tho Late LeonAr
Jsroms-How he Aided Unfortunate Nc,
Workers.
NEW YoRk, March 5.-The late Leon
ard Jerome, who died at Brighton, Eng.
Tuesday night, spent money as freely a
he made It, and never was happier thai
when contributing to the welfare snt
amusement OF others. No matter how
busy he might be, he had always tint
to talk Of racing, yachting and sport o
any kind.
During the civil war he generally was
the first man approached with sub
scription paper, for he put down large
sum by way OF example. All the ex'
psnses OF the 6rst great Union meeting
at the Academy OF Music were paid by
Mr.. Jerome, and his checks for $40, 900
each were not uncommon gifts to the
Union Defense Committee, OF which be
was treasurer. he never allowed the
treasury to be empty, no matter how
great the demands. He founded and
contributed literally to the fund for the
benefit Of sufferers by the anti.draft riots
Of 1864, and when private enterprise
started to build vessel to find and sink
the Alabama, he subscribed S35, 600.
Mr.. Jerone's private benevolences
were not made known when he could
help 1t, but their aggregate was enor-
nous. He seemed delighted with an
opportunity to help any deserving cause
or person. ANY half decent fellow who
failed in Wall street conld borrow
enough from Mr.. Jerome to start anew.
Always surrounded by q crowd Of bust.
ness or social acQuaintances, and Seem.
ing engrossed in affairs of amusement,
he succeeded IN obserying all his &C.
quatntances closely, learning when any
OF them were in trouble and hurrying
10 them with open arms and sympRthet-
ic heart. Here is q case in illustration:
A fine young fellow, who had more
energy than money, was working him
self to death, and Mr.. Jerome urged him
to give up business for q few weeks and
run over to Europe with his wife for
rest. "Can't do it; haven't money
enough" was the reply. "How much
have you?" About s. 500, and l am
not going to clean myself out" Mr..
Jerome said: "Let me haveit; Tllsend
for itas soon as am ready, and I'll make
3 turn for you on 500 shares OF stock.
I'll promise you that at the worst you
shan't lose anything" The young man
the proposition, and within the
week received statement showing near.
ly 5000 TO his credit on some stock
operations, but his own check never
had been sent for.
1t was in the larger sports and social
however, that Mr.. Jerome
appeared most prominent. Handsome,
witty, county and with an unfailing
stock Of physical and mental vitality, he
became the life OF whatever company be
,hanced to be in. He would stroll into
any one Of several clubs and rousea all the
oungers as quick as fash. He dearly
loved good horses and yachts, and spent
great sums OF money on both. Famous
I'D Jerome Park, with the grand avenue
eadiDg to it, would never have existed
lut for Mr.. Jerome, who also was fore
most in the work OF organizing the Coney
Island Jockey Club, as he had been in the
American Jockey Club. Although he
leld in contempt all men who brought
,port down to the level OF cold business
,y "playing the races" for the sole pur.
,ose OF making money, he insisted that
,ettiDg should not be placed under the
IAN because OF those who abused II, and
lis character and argument did much to
prevent unfair legislation at the time the
.ves bill passed. In yachting he owned
irst the pndine and then, with Commo-
lore McVickar, the Restless. Slill later
le was greatly disappointed with the
team yacht, CLARA Clarita, which cost
lin about SIPS 900.
During the draft riots two Gattling
runs were placed in front OF the Times
after the assault on the
Tribune building. had been threatened.
Over one Of these guns Mr.. Jerome kept |
watch during a long and apprehensive
night. His mental alertneSs and his
physical pluck in those days were some.
hing startling. During tho last few
years i'll health so pulled him down as
o make him a wreck and shadow OF his
iormer sell, and 10 all who were familiar
with the exact conditions his death was
1ot matter OF surprise.