Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-17

senator In Washington obliged her to en-
tertaln largely and handsomely, but her
heart was not entirely in 1t. Her gowns,
always rich, were not always in the mode.
1t was not unusual to meet Mrs. Stanford
at some great function in a very plain Co.'S
tune. She possessed one of the finest COL
%lections Of Jewels in America. Her great
diamond necklace was said to be worth
$500, 900. She had sixty rings worth from
$50 to $1,000 each. She had magnificent
sets Of diamonds In black, yellow, pink.
blue and white. Their value amounted
in all to 81, 900, 900, but Mrs. Stanford wore
few jewels. She kept them in an iron safe
at a bank, and when her great charity, the
Stanford university, was in need she did
not hesitate to sell them, so that money
should not be needed.
The impulses which moved these two
American women were different. Mrs.
Hearst gave out Of her broad charity for
the race; Mrs. Stanford gave because she
loved her son, and, latterly, because she
wished him to be remembered for all time
by all men.
Until about the year 1882 Mrs. Stanford
had given carelessly out of her great wealth
as other rich women do, but her gifts were
without purpose or method. In that year a
young lady interested her in the kindergar-
ten method and she visited a school, with
her son Leland, bringing toys and sweet
meats tor the children.
After the visit was over and Mrs. Stanford
had left the school young Stanford looked
at her and said:
Mamma, that Is the best thing you ever
did in your life"
Mrs. Stanford had been deeply impressed
by the poverty she had witnessed, but she
was still more deeply impressed with the
effect which it had upon her son. During
the few months of life which remained to
him the boy made that school his chief care,
and in his last illness in Rome-in the mala-
rial fever which carried him away-he spoke
to her concerning $1,000 which he had saved
and put in a bank.
Mamma" he said, you must use this
money for me. You must find some very
poor children and help them with my
money"
From that hour the life OF the mother was
transformed. Her manner Of thought
changed. Since then for many years she
has devoted herself to the relief of want and
pain. She founded six kindergarten schools,
spent $50, 900 on them and then gave 500, 900
as an endowment.
The boy had been a scholar and the
thought Of a vast seat Of learning came to
them. He was buried at Palo Alto, their
beautiful country seat. There the site
should be. The Leland Stanford, jr, Kin.
dergarten memorial was already a success,
The Leland Stanford. jr, university was to
follow. During the years which preceded
Senator Stanford's death they lavished $40,
900, 900 ON their sons memorial. and a great
Joy came to the old man in his latest days
when he sat in his carriage and saw the
| OnAninp OF the school. IL waS the manifest
achievement in all his stirring. successful
career.
At first glance it might seem that such
vast work as this might we'll dwarf the eff
forts which Mrs. Stanford's unconscious
rivaf is making for the general good, but, on
the other hand, two things are to be re-
membered. The Hearst millions are fewer
than those of the Stanfords were. Mre
| Stanford has been a woman Of one idea