St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-06-27
JAMES MohRog's DEATH,
Author of the Doctrine Bearing His Mans
Died In Poverty.

JAMES MOkRog'S DEATH,
Author of the Doctrine Bearing Ills Mans
Died in Poverty.
James Monroe, the immortal sex-
FOUNDER of doctrine that is to-day the
arbiter of our national destinies, died
IN beggary and neglect in little house
that still stands in the city of New
York. The house is old and crumbling.
Like the grand parsonage who died
destitute there in 1881, it is enduring
IL destitute and decaying old age, and Ia
one pays any heed to it. The house
stands at the northwest corner Of
Prince and Marion streets in New York.
The ground floor is converted into a
cheap foreign eatfng-house. There is
a carpenters bench upstairs. The side
walls are placarded with posters, and
the pavements are Uttered with refuse.
In the second-story front room of this
battered old residence james Monroe,
fifth, and, in many respects, one of the
greatest of the presidents, died, on July
4, 1881, SO poor that his son-in-law bor-
rowed some money to bury him with.
of his feeble condition during his last
days. His death was hastened by the
poverty that forced him to go hungry
for want of medicinal food.
The entire neighborhood of this old
house is rich in historic associations
Of Monroe, who lived here with his SON
in-law, Samuel L. Grcsvenor. Mr..
Grosvenor belonged to a fine old family,
but he was not rich. He, cheerfulIy
gave the former president a home, for
Monroe had actually no other place to
lay his head. He had given up his Vir-
ginia residence, and official life had
completely drained his resources.
The most delightful and interesting
accounts of the life led by James Mon
roe in his New York refuge are. still e4-
tant. He was country gentleman of
the old school, and was, of course, deep
sly respected by all his neighbors as an
eX-president of the United States. He
daily walked down Marion street as
constitutional until his health gave
out completely. Oddly enough, the
neighborhood still retains the quaint,
old-fasllioned, almost colonial charac-
ter it had during James Monroe's time.
Marion street, as you leave the door of
the Immortal doctrines expounder, is
still occupied by the houses which stood
there in 1881. These houses belong to
old families, among whom Monroe's
name is personal tradition. The
sons and daughters of the children
who played about the door can tell
you about Monroe In his stockings and
stock, because he saluted their parents
as they saluted him.
BY a singular stroke of fortune this
attic, is still strong and intact. The
American people are very ready to con-
tribute to the preservation of Carlyle's
house in London, while to-day the
house of the man whose name is on
eyeryone's lips, and whose creed is our
national religion, rs utterly neglected.
The jingoes of congress have not word
to say with reference to the preserva-
ton Of this Monroe relic New York
has allowed it TO rot away for years.
Very soon, in the ordinary course of
events, the edifice will be torn down
Perhaps it is better SO. While it
stands it must always be a reminder
to the American people that they al
lowed one of the greatest of their pres
sidents to die in destitution.
1t was only natural that, during
the period in which Monroe lived at
this now decaying house, men of emil
nence should come TO visit him
Among them was John Quincy Adams
He recorded the visit very minutely in
his diary, and commented feelingly
upon the miserable condition in which
she found the ex-president. Mr.. Monroe
was indeed very i'll and feeble. His
condition was SO wretched, in view OF
his extreme poverty, that John Quincy
Adams drew very moving portrait Of
the old man. He mentioned the former
magnihcence. of Monroe, and, contrast
ing it with his present indigence, made
various reflections upon the mutability
of human fortunes. Those who are
curious on such topics may consult
Adams letters and dairies with profit
HlolA1 OS uJSu Wltii LuS Cd1IHOu
booming all about him ii honor Of the
nations birthday. His son-in-law, Mr..
.Grosyenor, afterward told about the
melancholy of the old man, whose heart
had been broken by his country's neg
lect. Congress had, with great parsi-
,nony, refused payment of certain OF
his claims. Monroe was buried in
Second street cemetery, where his re-
mains lay utterly neglected and un.
marked for years, until the legislature
of Virginia appropriated funds for
their removal to his native state. The
usual buffeting of fortune followed
them, for vandals stole the bronze from
the grave after the interment in Vir.
ginia. Of all our presidents, Monroe
has been the least honored by memor-
ials.-St. Louis Republic.
The California Lion.
The running and leaping ability of
the California lion when hard pressed