The Detroit times., 1909-05-07
GENEROSITY AND
VERSATILITY STRONG
MAYBURY TRAITS

IL has been said OF the late ex-Mayor
william c. Maybury that no one In dis
,ress. real OF assumed, ever appealed
10 him In vain for assistance. Intimate
friends OF MIR. Maybury recall hun
dreds OF, little incidents illustrating
his unfailing generosity. and his heart
was so big that IL was an easy matter
for the uhdeservtng 10 impose on him
There were so many Of these iit'
tic incidents that IL is difficult TO 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 10 char
ity IL his income had been million
believe he would have given II all
To help others. II was impossible Tor
him TO refuse an appeal for aid.
One day. l recall. we Are walking
on Griswold-st.. near the city hall.
when a ragged fellow approached the
mayor and asked for a quarter. In
stantly Mr.. Maybury complied with the
re quest. and when the fellow had shut
fled of criticised the mayor for being
So easy. for | was satisfied that the
man wanted the money 10 buy whisky.
ITO my surprise. the mayor called
the man back. as ] supposed 10 ques-
ton him as TO what he intended 10
dc with the money. But vas quick.
ly undeceived. Mr.. Maybury noticed
that the man had his cos1 buttoned
and his collar turned up. He wanted
to know why. The fellow then unbut-
tened his coat and revealed the fact
that he had no shirt. Down went Mr..
Maybury's hand into his pocket again.
end this time he gave the beggar 81.
Now go and buy yourself shirt.
he said. A few minutes later. as We
were standing at a window in the
mayors private once. ve saw the
bsggar- shutting across Mfchfgan-ave.
and watched him just out OF curiosity.
He was headed straight for saloon
and. as expected went inside. He
must have seen us at the window.
however. for he Immediately turned
around and walked out again. Then
he went into q haberdasher,s next door
and when he came out he held up for
our inspection a brand new shirt. Mr..
Maybury enjoyed the thing immensely
and I never heard him laugh more
heartily. He thought IL a huge joke
on me.
Mr. Maybury was a veritable en-
cylopedfa or information on every sub
ject One OF the greatest delights or
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 II and
could discuss II intelligently. He was
we'll up on the Bible. 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 he
word. He enjoyed a good time and
good story, but he was always the
Christian gentleman"
A. H. Griffith. director OF the Detroit
Museum OF Art. who was also an in
innate friend OF Mr.. Maybury. tells
a story illustrative OF the latter's
great versatility as a public speaker.
II once ran across man In Omaha
who had Just recently attended a
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. I think he must have been a
horseshoer himself once"
Mr.. Grifith recalled another occa'