Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-07-05

Day in and day out she sits and
knits and knits and knits, with a
steadfastness of purpose that ruled
the fingers of Nine. Jacobin. But the
stitches she takes are not the record
Of evil destinies. They mean succor
for the sick and heavy-laden, work
for idle hands, bread for the hungry,
enlightenment for the untutored.
Gentle, sympathetic, intensely pious,
a home-lovsr and a home-maker, is
this woman-this mother in the old
fashioned meaning of the word, the
wife of Thomas Fortune Ryan.
The characteristics of Thomas Ryan,
money-making prince and Wall street
baron, in a way also rule in the life
of Mrs. Ryan, builder Of churches,
hospitals and schools, and the little
known but enthusiastic cooperator in
every move making for the betterment
of the human kind. 1t has been said
of her husband that he has had a fin
ger in every big financial pie in the
last decade. She has had a hand in
nearly every philanthropical work in
New York, Virginia, the District OF
Columbia and the southwest in that
time. She is now giving away more
than $1,000, 900 a year.
This woman, Of whom the world
knows practically nothing, has built
more churches, hospitals and schools
and endowed more places for the wor-
ship of God than perhaps any other
living person. She gave 100000
last year alone to the churches and
schools of Virginia, her native state
Publicity is Mrs. Ryan's bette noir
To give without ostentation is the only
way to give, according to her belief
There is no difference between Mrs
Ryan of 80 years ago and the Mrs
Ryan Of to-day. 1t was of no momen'
to the public then what she did or die
not do. She cannot understand VIII!
it should be interested now. Sh'
counts herself as doing no more thai
the wife of q poor man who gives o
q slim purse to others. She give
from + richer purse, that's all.
Old-fashioned as Mrs. Ryan is. sh'
is a m combining all the bushes
qualities and foresight demanded b,
the times. She is a of affairs
yet her home life ZONES first.
A glimpse into the favorite residenc
of Mrs Ryan-the old Minturn house
on the northwest corner Of Fifth ave
nue. and Twelfth streets a menta
bath after the glitter and glare an
g%arnishness n usually meets in tn
homes of the rich, declares a write
in the New York Times. You ente
through a high-ceilinged hall, drape
with soft garnet hangings. A pain
ing OF the master of the house has
place of honor there, and on the wal
are a few good engravings. This ha
is like those found in all the fin
old southern mansions. On the firs
floor are the library, drawing-rool
and smoking hall.
But it is up a wide staircase to tn
second floor that one must go to fin
a room about 20 feet square, furnishe
with chintz-covered chairs, hung wit
pictures, SUCH as have long since bee
consigned to the fashionable an
wealthy to dusty attic corners, an
strewn with sewing tables, chests,
tea table and a music box. Everythir
is old-fashioned, with n exceptio
and that is an up-to-date desk, with
telephone attachment, which stant
unobtrusively in a corner. This Is Il
room, with it's windows filled vii
red geraniums the year round, whe
Mrs. Ryan plans her good work
which the wealth of her husband ex
cutes.
There is never an idle moment WHIT
Mrs. Ryan is in that sitting-room
hers. No visitor is so important,
conversation so interesting, al to a
sorb her entire attention. She h
a sympathy for the comfort and !
terests of the friends who go to h
there, but always begins the Wis
with:
"You won't mind my going on wi
my knitting, will you?"
Not very long ago, when Cardin