The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-26
MRS. HEARST AND MRS. STANFORD,
These Valiant California Women Known
by Their Fruits.

spending their vast fortunes in a noble
endeavor to further the educational ad-
vancement of the youth of the West.
Both women are Californians. al
though Mrs. Hearst was Dorm in Frank
lin county, Missouri. educated and mar
ried in st. Louis. She is peculiarly en-
deared to the citizens of Anaconda by
reason of her gift to the city of the
splendid Hearst Free Library. Both
Mrs. Hearst and Mrs. Stanford have
fine mansions in San Francisco and in
Washington. Both their husbands be-
ga life as farm lads. became million
aires and died holding seats in the
United States senate. both these good
women gave the first notable express
sions to their charity by founding kin
dergarten schools in San Francisco.
But beyond these points of resem-
blance these two are widely different.
Mrs. Hearst is a woman of social am
bftion. 1t was she who inspired the
purchase for $3.50 900, of the splendid
Skae mansion in San Francisco and in
stituted a series of social entertain
ments so splendid that her rugged,
plain-mannered husband opened his
eyes in amazement. 1t was she who in
duced him to purchase the San Fran
cisco Examiner as a means of political
advancement and afterward to run for
governor of the state. 1t was Mrs.
Hearst who during that disastrous
campaign kept open house at cost of
thousands of dollars and after her hus-
bands appointment to the senate her
entertainments in Washington exceed
ed in number and magnificence those
which had made her famous in Califor-
mia.
Mrs Stanford, on the contrary, did
not love society. Her husbands posi-
ton as governor of his state and after
wards as its senator in Washington
obliged her to entertain largely and
handsomely but her heart was not en-
tirely in it. 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 cos
tune She possessed one of the finest
collections of jewels in America. Her
great diamond necklace was said to be
worth 5000, 900. She had 60 rings worth
from $50 to $4,000 each. She had mag
nificent sets Of diamonds in black, yell
low, pink, blue and white. Their value
amounted in all to s2,000,0O0 but Mrs.
Stanford wore few jewels. She kept
them in an iron safe at bank, ana
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, MIS-. SldHlolu saw -
cause she loved her son, and, latterly,
because she wished him to be remem-
bered for all time by all men.
Until about the year 1882 Mrs STAN
ford 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 kindergarten
method and she visited school, with
her son Leland. bringing toys ana
sweetmeats for the children
After the visit was over and Mrs.
Stanford had left the s2nool young
Stanford looked at her and said:
Mamma, that is the best thing you
ever did in your life"
Mrs. Stanford had been deeply i'm
pressed by the poverty she had wit
messed but she was still more deeply
impressed with the effect which 1t had
upon her son. During the few months
of her life which remained to him the
boy made that school his chief care,
and Is his last illness in Rome--;n Inc
malarial fever which carried him away
he spoke to her concerning $1,000
which he had saved and put in 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 $4,000
on them and then gave 100000 as an
endowment.
She never used the money of the
dead boy. That $1,000 lies in the bank
to this day. His room in the great
house at Palo Alto remains as he left
it. The same pictures are on the walls,
he hnVjSh
things Even his clothes are in the
closets and drawers as they were dur
ing his life.
For years the mother visited that
room only TO weep and pray. But mean
while the conception of a gigantic. I'M
dying monument to the dead boys
memory rose in his parents mind.
With that death their world had ceas-
ed to hold anything of worth. The love
of gain and power had faded from the
old mans mind. Together they thought
of some method by which they could
perpetuated Leland Stanford's name
and his character.
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., kindergarten memorial was al
ready success. The Leland Stanford,
Jr., university was to follow.
They called on President Dwight Of
Yale to aske his advice.
How much will it COST" asked the
senator
The old collegian thought TO startle
his questioners by his reply.
"You might accomplish something"
he said, with say, $4,000. 0OO."
"Oh," replied Mr.. Stanford, I'VE had
thought of spending s12,O0O,00o or $15,-
000. 000."
And they spent II and more. During
the years which preceded Senator Stan
ford's death they lavished $50 000,0 900 on
their sons memorial, and a great jOv
came to the old man in his latest days
when he sat in a carriage and saw the
opening of the school. 1t was the hap
piest achievement in all his stirring,
successful career.
At first glance 1t might seem that
such vast work as this might well
dwarf the efforts which Mrs. Stan
ford's unconscious rival is making for
the general good, but on the other hand
f.. L., he Na,,n fA6f or q