The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-02-24

"lf you must say something about
ne, just say have worked consid-
esably for charity"
It was thus Miss Leary replied to
request for a few iterps Of inter-
est to the public in relation to her
social and philanthropical aims, says
The New York Herald.
Modestly putting to one side the
position which she has held with Mrs.
Astor for SO many years as a leader
in Ward McAllister's magical -Four
Hundred, she desired to be known only
rs the woman Who has done so much
for the poor, given so freely of her
wealth, never turned a deaf ear to the
voice of the needy.
For many years she and her brother,
Arthur, lived at No. 80 Fifth avenue.
As leader Of cotillens, a patron of
the Assembly and Charity Ball, di-
rector of the Academy Of Music, later
Of the Metropolitan Opera House, Ar
thus Leary's name was synonymous
xith all that was most recherche in
The social life of our metropolis. Side
by side, step by step, as New York's
social horizon broadened the brother
and sister advanced.
Always devout Catholics and most
liberal in their responses to the many
charitable, demands made upon them,
the brother and sister stood for many
years bright examples OF what could be
done for the poor, "whom ye have al
ways with ye." by those blessed with
The worli's goods.
The house on Fifth avenue, near
Fourteenth street, has long been the
Mecca Of society and philanthropy.
Men and women of wealth and distinc-
.ion gathered there for social functions,
the poor and needy turned their steps
thitherward firm in the belief that as
sistance and consolation would there be
found, and they never turned away dis
appointed.
And the city grow. Trade creeping
steadily northward soon demanded the
Iseary homestead. The house was built
upon leased ground. Notice was
served that upon certain date it must
be vacated. A business building was
to be erected, and the English base-
ment, which had once stood in the
very centre of the social district of
the city, but which now stood alone
and surrounded by offices, must make
uay, for the juggernaut rolling steadily
uptown from the Battery. encroaching
more and more upon the dwelling
places of. New York's old families.
At that time Arthur Leary was
stricken with the illness from which
he shortly afterward died. Miss Leary,
ignorant of business methods, gave lit
lie heed to the notice to vacate,
imagining it was only necessary to say
she was not prepared to move and
that would be sufficient to settle the
matter.
One day the dictum went forth: In
three days the house must be vacated
or 1t would be torn down over their
heads. Then this little woman, who
had never attended to any sordid busi-
uess details before, found herself equal
10 the occasion. Her brother was
moved to the new home. No. Fifth
avenue, and Every stick and stone of
No. 30 Fifth s.yenue was razed to the
ground. The property was turned over
10 the owners and the house had been
to a dealer in second hand building
materials-what is called "wrecking
arn'' today.
In the house on lower Fifth avenue
Arthur Leary died, leaving the bulk
Of his immense estate to his favorite
sister, and Miss Leary became one of
the wealthiest single women in Ameri-
ca. The brother and sister had been
devoted to each other all their lives,
and one Of the most familiar sights
in the avenue and in the Park during
the afternoon parade was the open
braouche in which rat Arthur and Anne
Lsary. III sS f
For several yearss after her brothers