The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-09-15
CIvELITY WON
LARGE SUMS.
Two New York Hospitals Are
Left Million Each.
DONOR WAS A STRANGER.
Courtesy Shown Old Man by Superin-
tendents Is Rewarded-Rosers' $s,-
100000 to Art Museum and Other
Gifts Recalled.

N1nNS heCdiGos
Some time in May, 1909, rather
shabbily dressed old man walked into
the Office of Superintendent Augustus
w. Weismann of Hahnemann hospital,
New York, and made precisely the
same request that many hundreds of
idle and curious people make at the
hospital every year.
The man wanted to be shown over
the institution and see all the hooks
and crannies. Mr.. Weismann showed
the stranger every room, even taking
him to the kitchen and explaining to
him how the food was prepared and
what sort of cooking utensils were
used. The old man seemed to take
tremendous amount of interest in ev-
erything and asked so many questions
that his identity as "Mr. Mitchell Val
entine" stuck in Mr.. Weismann's
memory. He asked about the number
Of nurses, where they slept and what
sort Of foundations the buildings had.
After that Mr. Valentine came again
several times and bothered Mr.. Weis-
mann some more.
Recently Mr. Valentine died and left
the hospital $1,146,S26 because he be-
neved, from the politeness he had re-
ceived there, that the officers had the
best of intentions toward the suffering
public.
Mr.. Valentine also left $1,146,S26 to
the Presbyterian hospital, New York.
No one there could remember Mr.. Val
entine, but his description answered
man who two years ago spent great
deal of time bothering DR.. @. Irving
Fisher, the superintendent, with re-
quests to be shown details of the hos
pital and who took notes on brown
paper bag.
The act Of Mr.. Valentine in leaving
great sums to institutions to which he
was unknown recalled the bequest
made by Jacob S. Rogers of the Rogers
Locomotive works to the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in 1902. Mr.. Rogers,
who was a bachelor of eccentric hab-
its, visited the museum soon before his
death. He was dressed inelegantly
and did not reveal his identity. He
went all through the museum, asked
scores of questions and finally de-
manded that as taxpayer he be per-
mitted to see the minutes of directors
meetings in order that he might sat
isfy himself that the many prominent
men whose names appeared as direct
ors actually attended the meetings and
took an active interest in the museum.
His request was granted, and when he
learned that the directors actually at
tended meetings and gave largely of
their time and money he said that
they were fortunate to have the time
and money and went away. His visit
was not remembered again until his
death, when he left $S,OO0,OOO to the
museum.
Here are some other cases where
courtesy won generous rewards:
Erskine M. Phelps of Chicago left
$4,000 to the nurses Of Hahnemann
hospital, that city, In 1910 because
they were polite on his visits there.
Charles Eissner of Pittsburg left
$4,000 to Minnie NJ. Eicher clerk
in his store, because she was faithful
and polite to customers.
Martin McMuran, a miser, who died
In Evansville, Ind, in 1910, left $780,
600 to servant who once gave him
cup of coffee when he was poor.
Mrs. Rose Baubach of Sandusky, O.,
left 100000 in 1910 to a local hospital
that had cared for her under the i'm
preston that she was poor.
Gustave Meurling of France, being
kindly treated by the people Of Mon
treal when he went there poor years
ago, left a million to the poor Of Mon.
treal