The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-05
They DeIuge PhlIanthropist With
Petitions for Help.
He WILL FOUND A HOME
Endowment viii Be $4,00O,000 Mr.
Burke Says No Relief Can Be Given for
One Year.

New York. July 5.-A long string OF
callers rang the door bell of IS West
Forty-seventh street yesterday. most OF
them with tale OF distress which they
wanted to tell TO John Masterson Burke.
who has given $4,000. 900 too found a home
for convalescents I'm memory OF his moth
er. who died more than forty years ago.
None OF the visitors got past Annie. the
housekeeper. who told every one that Mr..
charitable work.
Mr.. Denham. the lawyer. explained
when the applicants reached him that
100000 charity fund was In no
shape for distribution and would not be
for year. There Is much more prepara-
tory work to be done before the Winifred
Masterson Burke Foundation is anything
more than a board Of trustees and a
name.
According 10 the articles OF incorpora-
ton. the trustees will hold meeting next
week. but II is doubtful II the first real
steps toward selecting a site for the new
institution will be taken.
A committee on plan and scope is to be
organized. and Mr. Denham said yester-
day that its members had been no more
II IN discussed as yet. II Is possible that
Homer Folks, commissioner OF charities.
OF President Stewart, OF the state board
OF charities. will be asked TO serve on this
committee with two OF the trustees.
FLOOD OF BEGGING LETTERS.
The announcement that a new millior-
aire, and a charitable one at that, had
been discovered In New York has made
Mr.. Burke's mail reach alarming proper
tions. A satchel full OF letters was turned
over to Mr.. Denham when he called on
his client yesterday morning. Nearly all
OF these contained appeals for aid In one
form or another. but there were also sew
eral applications for positions In connec-
tion with the new institution and the bu-
reaus OF investigation and administration
that are to be organized under the direc-
tion OF the trustees, Abram S. Hewitt.
William Hubbard White, Edward Nj.
Shepard and Frank X. Sturgis.
when all OF Mr.. Burke's plans are
known" said Mr. Denham. the lawyer
and secretary OF the corporation. yester-
| day. "it will be seen that any deserving
poor person may obtain relief and with
out suffering in his pride. 1t is the inten-
tion OF Mr.. Burke to render aid as a gift,
but II there are those who desire to ben
eft by II in the nature OF a loan, to be
paid back, that condition will be met and
none will be excluded"
Mr.. Burke remained at home and In
bed yesterday, following the advice Of his
physician. The multi-millionaire, who is
ninety years old. has felt strong enough
TO be out of bed In the last two days. but
he is an excellent patient and takes his
orders from the doctor like child.
HIS NURSE IS ILL TOO
Miss Fensley. who has IN Mr..
Burke's constant attendant for some
years, and who Is TO receive an annuity
of $4,000 and the possession of the residence
as long as she lives, according to the
terms of the trust deed, was not well
enough TO see callers yesterday. II was
said that she was tired out by the strain
OF nursing and also by the unusual excite
ment and the great number OF callers
and lettsrecedtdshgenoudes EFT IOA
and letters In the last two days.
For nearly forty years Mr.. Burke and
his little household have lived the quiet
est Of lives. and the amount of public
attention they are now attracting has
proved somewhat disconcerting. Perhaps
the most surprised people In New York
when the announcement OF Mr.. Burke's
muniflcent benefaction was made were
his neighbors and the tradespeople near
by all of whom had known the little old
gentleman for years. but none OF whom
suspected that his wealth was I'm the mil
lions.
One reason for this, II Is said. Is the
fact that the millionaire always has been
the most reticent OF men so far as his
private affairs were concerned. He never
talked about himself. and his most inti-
III p
most daily for a quarter OF a century, had
no idea that HIS fortune even reached
seven figures.
An interesting side OF this man is that
after living for ninety years In the strict
est privacy, so far as the outside world
was concerned, he has accepted the pub
tic attention and interest so suddenly
aroused as something entirely nautical.
He has not been displeased with the
prominence given 20 him and his AFFAIRS
at this late day In his life and he is will
ing that the public should know what
manner OF man he is and how he looks
WILL HAVE PICTURE TAKEN
Arrangements have been made" said
Lawyer Denham yesterday. "for Mr..
Burke To SIT for his photograph as soon
as he becomes little stronger. SO many
applications have been made for a pho
tograph by newspapers and weekly peri
odicals that Mr.. Burke thinks the public
desire should be gathered ef(salesgkii tr
desire should be gratihed. and he will
have several views taken and make his
personal selection OF the best for publica-
ton. This may be done next week He
believes the public is entitled 10 this In
view OF the fact that his gift is public
one"
The first step In setting the machinery
OF the new charity foundation 10 work
x.ylf ha he NJ n ~ txvn
OF the four trustees 90 serve with him
as the executive committee. This commit
tee will then appoint the committee n
plan and scope. which will select n site
for the institution. II is not likely that
either Of the three parcels OF New York