The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-09-07

passed. l just can't talk about it,"
And after another pause the ivory
needles slipped on again weaving out
soft, fine garment for some poor wo-
mans child.
Mrs. Ryan is never idle and her fine
white hands work ceaselessly. Many
humble hard working woman in New
York has proudly dressed her baby in
clothes that were made by the rich
Mrs. Ryan
Mrs. Ryan is interested in wage
earners of every class an there are
few fields of labor in this country she
has not aided in some way. Several
years ago she was in a great hurry to
get telephone connection with a busi-
ness Office. 1t was at the rush hour
and the Gramercy Office was very busy.
Mrs. Ryan heard the weary voice of
tired operator come over the wire:
Il can't get them now; I'll try again
and ring YOU"
That afternoon Mrs. Ryan called the
managers Office. What happens to
i'll operators?" she asked.
"Why they go home,' was the sur
prised answer.
But don't you take care of them
when they get ill? Most of those girls
or their families need what they make.
Don't you take care of them at all
when they get ill?
No. The telephone company doesn't
take care of its employes-it couldn't
afford to do that. But before that days
sun went down Mrs. Ryan had per-
manently endowed four rooms at st.
Vincent's Hospital for i'll or worn out
telephone operators. and the managers
Of all the Offices were notified that this
had been done. AS usual, Mrs. Ryan's
name was not mentioned In the same
manner three rooms were endowed for
ill nurses, who, spending their lives
in the care of the i'll, are not cared
for gratis at any Of the New York
hospitals when their own health
4
breaks.
| But these are only a few of the
small and unknown charities of this
| woman, who gives away $1,000,0OO ev-
| cry year. AS philanthropist, her
work has been far reaching. She has
| built more churches and missions for
the worship of God, more schools, or
phan asylums and hospitals than any
other living person.
To Virginia, her native state. she
has given the finest cathedral in the
South-the Cathedral of the Sacred
| Heart at Richmond. In addition to
this she has given more than $5,0O0.-
| 900 worth of schools, churches and
hospitals to the Dominion state. New
| York has been another favored field
for her work.
For nearly a quarter of century
Mrs. Ryan has had one or another of
her sons at Georgetown university. Her
youngest son is now completing a sci
entif1c course there, and to commem-
crate this she has given an eighteen
Thousand dollar gymnasium, one of
the finest university dining halls in
the country, thoroughly equipped, and
several additions to the university IL
brary. She has also endowed schol-
arships there and in many other uni
veysities. where ambitious boys with
out means can be given the best ad-
| vantages the colleges offer.
Mrs. Ryan is a very devout Roman
! Catholic and has received from both
Pope Leo XIII. and the present Pom
tiff, Plus x. many privileges and &C.
clesiastical decorations. She has been
made a member Of the Roman soci-
ETY. "For Church and State" She has
received within the last two years
| the Cross of Honor and two medals
from Plus x, in token of the great
work she has done for the Church.
Mrs. Ryan has also the privilege Of
chapel in her private car, the Pere
Marquette. which honor has been ex-
tended to only one other person, the
Queen of Spain. In her many tours
Mrs. Ryan has always had service in
her car and any railroad employees or
others desiring to attend mass wera
welcomed She has private chapel
in her Fifth avenue home and one Of
the finest private chapels in the Unit
ed States attached to her residence at
suffern. When other women of wealth
are having their beauty sleeps or re-
cuperating from a nights pleasure in
the early hours of the morning Mrs
Ryan is up and about, and the first
hour Of the sunrise finds her beginning
her day with the service of God in her
chapel.
Following is partial list Of Mrs.
Ryan's philanthropies.