Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-12-31
"IN THE NAME OF JOSEPHINE"
Story of a Remarkable Philanthropy
fst of New Orleans.

Story of n Remarkable Philanthropy.
| list OF New Orleans.
There died the other day in New Or.
leans q man who was in some respects
the most notable character In that city
Alexander C. Hutchinson, president Of
Morgans Louisiana and Texas Rail
road and Steamship company. He was
one Of the most successful captains OF
industry in the south.
He was generally regarded as cold
austere and even parsimonious man
and yet it turns out that there was nc
man in New Orleans whose heart was
fuller Of sympathy for his fellows, OF
sentiment, Of love Of the beautiful, and
| whose hand was more generous in
charity. Indeed, in the extent Of his
giving be seems to have been the first
Of the city's philanthropists. What
most distinguished his philanthropy
was his systematic effort to keep II
secret. 1t was his habit gruff1y to re-
pei those who applied to him for char
ity and Immediately to cause a quiet
investigation of their cases. II they
were found to be deserving Of aid 1t
was promptly and generously given
them; but secretly and in no other
name than that of Josephine"
He was passionately fond Of flowers
and embowered his, home in them. He
was devoted to art, his residence be-
ing filled with the rarest pictures,
statues and books, while his taste for
music made him the leading spirit In
maintaining French opera in New Or
leans.
The death of his beloved wife, who
had shared his tastes, left him DESC
late, expect for the comfort he found
In alleviating want in her name.
So live. dear friend, all through your
life,
That be it short or long,
Though others may not know your
name,
They'll not forget your song.
It was thus he lived.
The Picayune says that "he would
send a message Of cheer and help into
some darkened home, and the recipient
knew not whence it came. No one ever
suspected him. How could they? He
was 80 gruff, so stolid, so determined
to keep up the appearance OF snow
and sleet lying above his heart Of gold
If you would have barely limited that
it was A. C. Hutchinson who was find.
ing out the hidden sorrow Of tear-lader
hearts and seeking to alleviate them
no one would have believed you"
For many years no one knew who
| Josephine" was, in whose name sc
much good was being done. Accord
ing to The Picayune:
"In the name Of Josephine send
these gifts:" that was the way the
legend ran for many and many day
coming like flash Of sunlight into ar
1aIfey-aYfu garret. into an Fa8yTum dnC
orphanage. into the homes for the sor-
rowful outcast, and everywhere bring
ing new life. new purpose. With the
simple. rough scrap Of paper came Of
ferings Of coal, Of groceries, of wood, OF
clothing, Of money-substantia gifts
that lifted the clouds at the darkest
moment. ''in the name Of Josephine;;' "
that was all, and nothing more.
And so after awhile people began to
ask: "Who is Josephine, whose the
memory that is so dear that such roy
al deeds are done in her name, such
unexpected blessings fall across the
pathways Of the miserable and for
saken?"
A little over year ago the city was
taken by surprise that a generous
friend had donated the sum Of $4,000
to the Charity Hospital Of this city for
the erection of home for the Training
School for Nurses. One day last No
vember The Marine Journal, Of New
York published an article saying that
it had leaked out that A. C. Hutch
inson was the giver Of the beautiful
home. Then The Picayune published
the story Of Josephine" and it was the
first real glimpse that the world had
into the real character of Mr.. Hutch
inson. It was story that was copied
far and wide, and seemed in it's en-
tirety more like an echo from the ages
eaf. faith and charity than living.
Breathing product Of this prosaic age.
I'm the name Of Josephine" this rich
and powerful man left a nobler monu-
ment among his people than the great
transportation system which he had
builded up, and he made a better dis
position of his fortune than II he had
boarded it. to be fought over by rsla-
tives, devisees and lawyers.