The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-08
GENEROSITY AND
VERSATILITY STRONG
MAYBURY TRAITS

IL has been said OF the late ex-Mayor
William c. Maybury that no one In dis
Hess. real or assumed. eyer appealed
to him in vain for assistance. Intimate
friends of Mr. Maybury recall hun
dreds OF little incidents illustrating
his unfailing generosity, and his heart
was so big that IL WAS All easy matter
for the undeserv!ng 10 impose on him.
There were SO many III these lit
tic incidents that IL is difYicult 10 sin
gle out any one in particular" said
George w. Fowle, who was Mr.. May
bury's inseperable companion. Il know
positively that all OF his salary As
mayor and more besides went TO char
ity. III his income had been a million
believe he would have given IL all
To help others. IL was impossible for
him To refuse an appeal for aid.
One day. recall. We are walking
on Griswold-st.. near the city hall,
when a ragged fellow approached the
may OF and asked Tor a quarter. In
stantly Mr.. Maybury complied with the
RI quest. and when the fellow had shu'
fled OF | criticised the mayor for being
So easy. for I was satisfied that the
man wanted the money 10 buy whisky
ITO my surprise. the mayor called
the man back. as | supposed TO ques
ton him as to what he intended &c
dc with the money. But | vas quick
ly unGeceived. Mr.. Maybdry noticed
that the man had his coas buttoned
and his collar turned up. He wanted
to know why. The fellow then unbut
tened his coat and revealed the fac
that he had no shirt. Down went Mr.
Mayburys hand into his pocket again
and this time he gave the beggsr -
NOW go and buy yourself a shirt.
he said A few minutes later, as We
we've standing at a window in the
mayors private once. we saw the
beggar shutting across Michigan-ave
and watched him just out Of curiosity
He was headed straight for saloo-
and, as l expected went inside. He
must have seen MS at the window
however. for he Immediately turned
around and walked out again. Then
he went into haberdasher's next doo'
and when he came out he held up fol-
our inspection a brand new shirt. MIR
Maybury enjoyed the thing immensely
and I never heard MIN laugh more
heartily. He thought IL huge joke
|
on me.
MIR. Maybury was a veritable en-
cylopedia OF information on every sui
ject One of the greatest delights oi
my life was to sit beside him on our
long drives and just listen 10 him talk
No matter what subject came up, he
always knew something about IL and
could discuss IL intelligently. He was
we'll up on the Bible. I believe he
knew every word OF il. and | have
seen him. when visiting a stricken
home. get down on his knees and pray
with the family. He was true. Chris
tian gentleman in every sense of The
word He enjoyed a good time and
good story. but he was always the
Christian gentleman"
A. II. Grifith. director of the Detroit
Museum OF Art. who was also an in
innate friend OF Mr.. Maybury, tells
O story illustrative OF the latter 5
great versatility as public speaker.
II once ran across a man in Omaha
who had just recently attended q
|horseshoers' convention in Detroit,
said he. When the man heard was
from Detroit he began sounding the
praises of Mayor Maybury. Why.
said he. that man told us things about
our business that We never knew be
fore. / think he must have been
horseshoer himself once.
Mr.. Grifith recalled another occa-
sion. In the Light Guard armory, when
Mr.. Maybury addressed a convention
of churchmen. gathered on rather Q
serious mission. and brought tears to
their eyes Then he stepped to an
other part OF the building. where a so.
cjal order was In session. and had
the crowd laughing uproariously in.
side of a minute.