The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-25

His Private Secretary Tells OF His Gener-
osity-A Big Heart.

His Private Secretary Tells of His Gener-
osity-A Big Heart.
wsshing ton Post.
Ibis charities were TOO numerous to mens
tIon. Many of them Rot into PRINT. but very
many more did not. lie mad nothing TO do
with publicity. Information concerning
his gifts was always gwen out by som-one
else. and without his knowIedee. have IN
the safe there a stack of bank checks six
inches high. They run ia value from $lC..
Coz to clio. all given unostentatiously ia
churches. schools. scientihc bodies aud
needy persons. 1t would DO Impossible
10 even approximately estimate the amount
expended ny him In this way during tbs
years in which hs followed the practice.
Evon bis pocket-money account was terrlhc
Ia mau OF moderate means. Ii used Ia
cost him from S65.000 10 $4,000 every SEES
sion of Congress that he lived In washing
ton. Of course these enormous sums were
not ex pended upon himself. They went In
helping needy people.
SENATORS and Representatives besieged
him 10y the score. They wanted donations
for churohes n their districts. for societies.
for dozen different purposes. sometimes
for destitute constituents. L have never
known hin, TO refuse one of these requests.
lie gave unhesitatingly. willingly, even
gladly. He was the object OF solicitation
by scores of people who had no
claim upon him. did not even know
hun. They waylaid him pom every cor.
per. and lao never lost patieDce. lie would
as big a barrel and his rcady hand went
into his pocket IL seemed, instincuveiy. i
have known him to frown and shake his
head and brush the importunate aside. bue
only " hen the man had been drinking and
the Senator scented the liquor. DE drank
himself only q teespoonful Of brandy the,
times day, and q m0uthful or TWO of wine
at dinner. lie could not tolerate druuken-
ness.
"When be first came to Washin gtop 10
would leave the house IN the morning with
pockets full OF twenty-dollar gold pieces
These he dispensed here and there. lie
learned later that those who begged OF him
wonid have been cont tent with ten-doilar
bills. tie used these Tor while and then
tell TO fvcs Ii was his custom OF late 60
load himself up with thirty or forty bills
OF the two-dollar denomination, and he
used TO cbuckle over bis isneied cuteness
in getting rid Of bic worries 40 cheapiy.
But whether he carried twenty-dollar gold
pieces. ten-doiisr bills, nve-Gollar bills. OF
two-dollar bills nc always came home with
ont a cent.
"You will believe me when / say that the
priv ate secretary to a multi-miilionairs
sees q great deal of human nature. not only
personally. but through correspondence.
He may do as | have done. and learn to
love the <reat generous heart and gentle
mind of his EN- pioyer. but be Is not apt 10
think more highly OF his fellow umans.
The mail of Senator stanford was curl
osity in it's way. The fame of his vast
fortune was worldwide. Dukes. earls.
lords and countessos wrote 10 him
for money. Sometimes the petitioners
void occupy = very humble station IN
life and ask for very little. / have read
many moving stories In this way. many
that were transparently fraudulent, and
| many that were sickening IN greed. Here
are che pictures of three brothers. ali Of
them, as you zee. young. ine.looking, mus
| culsr men. They wanted to be adopted. and
| promised 10 be- faithful. Here 10 the photo
| graph of an old-time newspaper writer. lie
| inolosed photographs OF has wife and child.
| and threatened TO murder them out In TIE
park in front of his house unless money
| was sent him. lie did not get it. of course.
| A reporter called uDon me this morning
| and In order 10 give him Nd idea oil whAs
the mali amounts TO asked him TO open
| some OF il. The frat letter BIO picked up
was frsn q lady who lives IN Denison. Tex.
| Her has been attending military
| academy AID she asked aid 20 com iete his
education. OF late months she We OF the
| Senator'S Ill health hss gone abroad and
| tho begging mail has decreased by more
| than halt.
I'm the matter of charity Mrs. Stanford
| was az had, or rather AS good. as her hue.
| band. He found her ready second IN
every hing OF the kind. she it wss who
| used to give the wrsDs. end rnbbers. aud
WOODEN comforters TO the district nessen-
ger boys every New Years day. On such
| occasions you would find me IN this room
| behind stacks of silver dollars on the table.
| AS each boy passed out he was handed o
| coin with Senator Stanford's com piimen 10
| and best wishes. We had :.2S of tho young
ste.s one year. When the senator and Mrs
Stanford were not In Washington when
! the new year began the hearty little per.
Torrance went on Just the name. got my
orders and laid IL stock of silver dollars
| the day before.
Il remember that once Mira. Stanford
| stepped into n little Catholic institution OF
charity here IN the CITY. Near the front OF
! the building stands a small statue of ST.
| Joseph. and &c WAS the cnston TO hang q
| notice upon the figure stating what gift
would he most acceptable. When Mrs
Stanford called card uDon the statne's
| breast bore the word feathers She came
| back and told me TO send the sisters 81 ID
worth OF feathers. gave the order and the
| goods were sent. What use was made OF
the enormous mass do not know"