Evening journal., 1915-04-03
New News Of Yesterday
HowTwo Presidents Wild
ows Were Provided For
By Holland.

In a chat which ! had with Cyrus
w. gicld on the day after his return
fpsm visit to Europe in 1877, he
spoke reminiscently Of some of those
who were associated with him in the
venture which resulted in laying the
first Atlantic cable between New
foundland and ireland. Mr.. Field
seemed to be especially tender of the
memory of Marshall o. Roberts
There were times, he said. when 1t
seemed as though the project must
fail. Men of science we're opposed 10
/ il: some Of the great engineers pro-
nounced il impracticable. A great deal
of the capital had already been eN-
pended and there came time when
/ the question had to be decided one
/ way or the other. shall We go on
with this work." Marshall o. Rob
erts and Peter Cooper, with Mr..
/ Field. held that the cable should be
laid no matter what the cost and the
company. should be maintained no
matter what the discouragment.
"Mr. Roberts was as noble man
as ever met" said Mr. Field. HE
| became very wealthy, but there was
never an intimation that he obtained
dollar by any unfair method. ! sup
| pose no one will ever know how much
ne gave in private benefactions.
know that he contributed TO the sup
port of a man who had been violent
partisan and a member Of the party
to which Mr. Roberts did not belong
He gave this man a life lease OF q
comfortable house in New York city
and in addition, was one of those who
\ providcd sufficient income for him
II happen 10 know of one gift which
he made which was very timely Mr
Roberts was one of the merchants OF
New York in whom President Lincoln
! placed great confidence, often coun-
selling with him. The relations es-
tablished between the President and
Mr.. Roberts were very cordial. Al
| most Immediately after the death OF
the President, Mr. Roberts who sur
missed I think, that Lincoln had saved
very little. caused a considerable
sum of money 10 be sent privately 10
Mrs. Lincoln. doing that because he
was certain that there must be i'm
mediate demands upon her purse. lie
was gratified TO learn that this gift
did put an end TO certain immediate
financial ombarrassments."
At that time I could not have
dreamed that Cyrus W. Field would
within a few years. lead movement
4 10 provide the widow of another Pres
ident with a sum the income from
which would he sufficient 10 give hel
comfortable support Yet such wa'
fact. Within short time after Tho
death OF President Garfield. Mr.. FielC
made inquiries which justified him il
undertaking a bencfaction OF which
the nation approved. He know tha
when Garfield became a President HI
was possessed OF only a small prop
erty. and he did not serve long enougl
in the Presidency to have accumulat
cd anything to speak Of Mr. Fiel'
therefore called upon a few friends
who gladly responded to his appea
10 provide a fund sufficient to yield ;
comfortable income for Mrs. Garfield
SO IL happened that two men wh'
we're in intimate association in th'
building of the Atlantic cable alsI
contributed TO the financial relief o
two women who had been widoweI
because assassins had murdered thei
husbands who we're Presidents"
Copyright. 1915. bv r. j. Edwards
All rights .reserved)