SURPRISES INDEED.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 106, 20 April 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

SURPRISES INDEED.

LARGE ANONYMOUS GIFTS THAT CAME UNEXPECTEDLY.

fTIHE recent striking effort to collect £lOO,OOO in twelve days in London for the Y.M.C.A. brought, (says an English paper), forth many curious and surprising, even anonymous, gifts in the course of that period. But, perhaps, hardly as many as were expected, seeing what strange and eccentric ways some wealthy folk have of giving to great and worthy causes. The late Dr. Barnado used to relate how he sat one day in his room at Stepnoy Causeway when a stranger was announced. This gentleman, proved to be by no means a very superior-looking man, and was not strikingly dressed or noticeable in any way beyond the ordinary. He was shown round the place, just as all visitors are, with quiet courtesy, and thanked his guide at the | close. Then he left a le:ter to be given to the Doctor, and without more ado took his departure.

£l,OOO FROM NOWHERE. Ur. Barnado was astounded when he opened the letter to find that it contained bank notes for £l,OOO. But there was neither name nor addfess of the splendid giver. -And from that day to this not the least trace of him has ever been discovered.

Recently a gentleman entered the office of the Anti-Vivisection Society in Victoria Street. London, and inquired for the Honourable Stephen Coleridge, the well-known, secretary of the society. Putting into his hand a letter, the gentleman explained that he had been sent with it by another man, who wished .to remain unknown, but who would be glad if Mr. Coleridge would use what it contained for the benefit of th© work he was so keenly engaged in, and so enthusiastic about. .With those-words the gentleman left, and, when the secretary opened the letter, expecting it to hold perhaps a £5 note, he was astonished beyond measure to find that the note was not for that sum, .but one for £500!

The late Bishop of Ripon, preaching one Sunday morning in Headingley Church, which had just been rebuilt, mentioned with w’ at pleasure he heard that such a large sum as about £23,000 had been raised for the work, and that all but £lOO or so of the debt ha<l been entirely cleared. Hardly had he said the words when a note was passed un to him from some stranger in the congregation, .and the Bishop read out with delight to the surprised people that an anonymous gentleman had most kindly given there and then a sum which would quite clear off the amount he had’ just mentioned as the remaining debt! '

REWARDED.

The chairman of a New York hospital, which had been appealing for funds to meet the year’s’ defiich, a larger sum than usual by £2,000, was going into the accounts in his room at the hospital, when a strange lady, who had just been looking over it, was announced as wishing to see him. For a moinent, being deeply immersed ; in the accounts, he appeared inclined to decline on the plea of being so busy, but on second thoughts he agreed to see her. She camo in smilingly and took the chair he put for her. She expressed her pleasure with what she had seen, but talked about, many other things, and the chairman began to wish he’d kept his first resolution. Moreover, she appeared in no hurry to go, and actually seemed to enjoy his evident impatience and restlessness. Then, just when he was thinking he must 'ask her to depart, willyz-nilly, the lady said sweedy. “And your funds are something like £2,000 less than what they ought to be, eh, Mr. Chairman?” "Yes,” he answered curtly. "Ah, well, there’s a trifle towards wiping’ off the debt!” she said, as she rose, and, without a further word as to her name and address, left the room, hurried down the lift, and was quite out of sight before the astounded chairman could find presence of mind to open the letter she had left on the table. When he did so there came out of it ten banknotes for a thousand dollars each! How his heart thumped at what might have happened! Suppose he had refused to se her, or had in Lis impatience asked her to go!