The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02

OOunDoi, altn0dGh ne - not huNlnOSH -
board Among the directous o ere O.
Adolph Low. Edward s. Marston. Aobert W.
De Forest. r. Fulton Cutting. ETsktne
Hewitt, James s. Alexander. DR.. John =.
Billings, George L. Rives and w n ~.
Moore. There is still one vacancy IN the
board.
The deed Of trust provides that ell persons
needing rest as q means OF cure snail De
eligible Tor admission to this ~conyalescent
hospital, but as far as possible the sell,
respect Of the applicants 10 70 be considered
and n moderate charge may be made 20
them. In case the patient prefers this VIII
be considered as a loan, to be repaid without
interest and without security.
the directors Of the foundation shall estab-
lish q thorough, careful and kindly system
Of choosing as benelciaries men n women
who beyond all reasonable doubt are within
the purposes described by the founder. nj
suffering caused by tardy. action In giving
relief. urges that the methods to be used.
90 far as they are consistent with propriety,
shall be 90 expeditions as poaHibt0., IT u
also provided that arrangements may be
made with the city for the care Of malignant
cases, either by the erection OF suitable
buildings or by assuming thec cost OF treat
ment in such cases.
The trust Iced makes it plain that two
considerations are regarded by tho founder
as OF vital importance; First, that the re-
lief shall be given to self-respecting persons
who have beer able as a rule 70 maintain
themselves, n second. that the relief
Mould be temporary and not permanent.
MIR. Burke does not wish to establish an
asylum or to provide for a body OF pen
sioners.
In giving the trustees the COVER TO
modify his plan he provides that the fund
shall be used in such a way as not to increase
but to prevent the growth Of poverty. the
chief purpose of thef founder being TO help
those who give or have given evidence OF
being willing TO help Themselves
The plan c~ontemplates that provision
shall be made at the hospital for the recep-
ton Of sick children not proper subjects
for any existing hospital. but requiring
careful attention in order to prevent more
eriou ailments. Provision will also be
made for supplying nurses at a moderate
cost TO families having sick cases requiring
special treatment under the supervision OF
the attending physician.
The gift is largely made up OF personal
real estate. Among the securities turned
over by MIR. Burke to the trustees were:
0.20o shares common stock Chicago, st
Paul, Minneapolis.
1000 shares Amalgamated Copper.
600 sha res Chicago and Northwestern pre-
ferred.
1880 shares Chicago. Milwaukee and st.
Paul common.
$40 shares Chica 60, Milwaukee and st. Paul
1000 shares OF Morris aud ESSEX.
1000 shares Missouri. Kansas and Texas.
1900 shares Southern Railway preferred.
900 shares Quicksilver Mining common.
1900 shares Quicksilver Mining preferred.
264 shares New York and Texas Land
Company.
$50 shares Texas Land Syndicate.
I9g 6hareg TeIaa land Eppdinata NJ
1000 shares Canton Company, Baltimore.
Mr.. Burke was born at 1 William street
and lived here all his life. Most of his
fortune was made in the South American
and in investing in real estate. He
owns large parcels OF property in this city,
Mount Vernon. Texas and the Northwest.
Among his associates in business before
retired were Abram s. Hewitt, Russell
Sage, Samuel Sloan. William H. Wander
bilt. Commodore Van Santvoord. Judge
Sanford. Moses Taylor and Paul G. The
baud. Those who know Mr.. Burke best
rather reserved exterior. He has few
because he has outlived them: but
hose who remain are enthusiastic about
lis character.
Miss Fensley. his companion, is a daugh-
er Of Capt. Fensley, a wealthy merchant
Il California. who died after losing ali his
money. The Captain was a friend of Mr..
burke, and since Miss Fensley has been in
house she has been greatly devoted
o the aged man.
Always leading a frugal life Mr.. Burke
vas a great foe TO what he considered
waste. In this classification he put un-
Iecessary expenditures, sueh as orna-
nentations in residences and institutions.
1t is said that st. Luke's Hospital was
a his mind many years as the final bene-
igned a will making that institution his
esiduary legatee. st. Luke's then oc-
upied a plain old structure at Ffty-fourth
and Fifth avenue. TIT site was 40
aluable and the building 30 old that the
loye TO Morningside Heights.
Mr.. Burke, il Is eaid, used to keep G close
on the hospital when il was downtown
nd was a great admirer Of the work il did,
ut when he saw the new building on the
Fights he made up his mind that there
as waste in construction and ornamen-
ltion. and he changed his plans for the
isposition Of his fortune. It is specified
the papers finally signed for the founda-
on OF the convalescent home that no
shall be spent on architectural
be saved and used for the actual adj
illustrative. expenses Of the institution ii
the hospital. No decorative artist or eI-
snsive interior furnisher will profit by the &,
urke foundation.
Mr.. Burke is an Episoopalian and in poli- /
80 80 4AO h1Ou III Ut VI
lend Of Samuel J. Tilden. whom he greatly q
imired as q statesman.
He ia also an admirer Of Grover Cleveland &
g never smoked and he never drank any {
imulants except those prescribed by his I
/
The announcement Of his gift in 1907 I
ought a horde Of beggars, grafters and {
kers Of all kinds to the house, but none of q
aver succeeded in seeing the philan-
ropist. The announcement Of the dis I
very OF a new and generous millionaire
SO broughta food Of begging letters which
Yelled Mr.. Burke's ordinarily modest mail |
enormous proportions. /
A satchel full OF letters was turned over
Mr.. Denham twenty-four hours after
e announcement was made public. Nearly a
Of them asked for aid In one form or I
and some were applications for 9
bs in the proposed institution. {
nearly forty years Mr.. Burke and his =
have lived the q~uietest OF lives, q
id the amount OF attention they attracted |
the gift was some what d~isoonoertinR. I
'rhaps the most surprised people In New @
'rk were The neighbors and tradesmen O
arby, all Of whom had known Mr.. Burke J
r years. but none Of whom suspected {
at he was 30 wealthy. v
An interesting side OF this man Is that G
ter living to the age Of 90 in the striotest I