The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-09
DIED In POVERTY.
The Pitiable End of the Author %
the Monroe Doctrine.
Neglected by Country and Friends he
Suffered Extreme Hardships
and Ended Bis Days
- In Want.

James Monroe. the immortal ex-
FOUNDER OF doctrine that is to-day the
arbiter of our national destinies, died
in beggary and neglect in q 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, il is enduring
a destitute and decaying Old age, and 10
one pays any heed to it. The house
Etands at the northwest corner of
Prince and Marion streets In New York.
The ground floor is converted into q
cheap foreign esting-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 Dor
rowed some money TO bury him with.
James Monroe wanted the necessaries
of his feeble condition during his last
days. His death was FASTENED 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. Grosvenor. Mr..
Grosvenor belonged to fine old family,
but he was not rich. He cheerfully
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 ex-
tant. He was country gentleman Of
the old school, and was, of course, deep
1y 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-fashioned, 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'x
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 singular stroke of fortune this
old house, with it's three stories and
attic, is stin 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
everyoDe's lips, and whose creed is our
national religion, is utterly neglected.
The jingoes of congress have not a word
to say with reference to the preserve
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 il
stands it must always be a reminder
10 the American people that they al
lowed one of the greatest of their pres.
idents TO die in restitution.
1t was only natural that, during
the period in which Monroe lived at
this now decaying house, men of emf
nence should come 10 visit him.
Among them was John Quincy Adams
lie recorded the visit very infinitely in
his diary, and commented feelingly
upon the miserable condition IN which
lie 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 a very moving portrait Of
the old man. He mentioned the former
magnihcence of Monroe, and, contrast
ing it with his present Indulgence, made
various reflections upon the mutab ility
of human fortunes. Those who ART
curious on such topics may consult
Adams letters and dairies with profit
Monroe died at last, with the cannon
booming all about him m honor of the
nations birthday. His son-in-law, Mr.
Grosvenor, 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-
mony, refused payment of certain Of
his claims. Monroe was buried 81
Second street cemetery, where his &c
mains lay utterly neglected and IN.
marked for years, until the legislature
of Virginia appropriated funds for
their removal 20 his native state. The
usual buffeting of fortune followed
them, for vandals stole the bronze from
the grave after the interment IN Viz
ginia. OF all our presidents, Monroe
has been the least bOnored by memor,
ials.-St. Louis Republic
WINGED SEEDS.