The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15

Mrs. Anderson, the Woman Who Gave
n Million to Barnard.


New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.
The legal residence of Mrs. Anderson,
whose gift of million dollars to Barnard
College has just been acknowledged, is in
the State of Connecticut, as is also that OF
her brother, Joseph Milbanks, although
Mr.. Milbanks lives within almost a stones
throw, certainly within pistol shot Of the
New York state line Brother and sister to-
gether have done relatively for Barnard
what Mr.. Rockefeller has done for the Uni
versity of Chicago. Their aggregate gifts
are almost 100000
Mrs Andersons home In Connecticut Is
beauty spot and is one of the many proofs
that may be brought forward by those who
have asserted that Tweed, vile as he may
have been as a politician and ruler, was,
nevertheless, possessed of keen sense and
appreciation of natural beauty. When
Tweed was in his glory he purchased on
Long Island sound, about two miles from
the New York boundary line, In the town
of Greenwich, a farm which had been in
the possession of one family or its descend
ants from the time that the original deed
was signed by the Indians, who used HERO
gIyphfcs for their signature. The farmers,
one after another. did not know the beauty
Of the place. TO them 1t meant nothing but
successive crops.
Tweed bought 1t for his family and after
his misfortune IL passed into the possession
miah Milbanks, who was among the fore
most of the merchants and financiers of
New York and whose genius and authority
are still felt in the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul Railroad. He ii was, too, who ex
plotted the commercial practicability in
such a humble thing condensed milk,
conquering opposition and cynicism so that
to-day the income for his heirs Is reported
to be not far from 100000 year.
One of the most beautiful of homes was
erected there; not original architecture. for
lG md nod To he naraxr of fnrf0
and greatly admired country home in Eng
land, and there Mrs. Anderson lives, ex-
cepting In the winter. The place is beauti-
fed with every device and charm that the
talent of landscape gardeners can suggest,
and IL has, among other attractions, seven
miles of drives. serpentine, parallel, laba-
rynthian, but never in one place crossing
or touching. Probably the wealthiest wom-
in the State. she is also conspicuous for
her conviction that great wealth involves
great responsibilities, and Is, after all, a
trust and If there has been publication of
her many public benefactions to hospitals,
public libraries, Barnard College and to
her church, as we'll as more private kind
nesses. il has been in spite of her wish that
these gifts should have no public record.
Moreover, in her personal association with
the world. Mrs. Anderson Is singularly UNI
assuming, nor is she beset with any false
pride. There Is no conventionality excepting
that which springs from a proper self-re-
spect which hedges her in. and she is so
utterly without Self-conSciOusneSs as to be
a cause Of amaZement TO others whose
riches in all not equal to her yearly
income, but whose ostentation is conspicu-
Gus and constant.
Mrs. Anderson has taken great interest In
the growth of Barnard College and 1t was
partly because of her benefaction that it
was possible to match the offer made by
John ID. Rockefeller of a gift of 500, 900,
provided others would raise like amount.
Mrs Andersons brother, Mr.. Milbanks, is
one of the directors of the st. Paul Rail-
road, succeeding TO the seat long held by
his father. He, too, is transformations, but
he is an enthusiastic Republican. and there
have been times when subscriptions made
by wealthy men of New York to presiden-
tial campaign funds followed in the order
of amount given by that which Mr.. Mil
banks felt it a privilege to set down against
his name.