Page:Life of Isaiah V Williamson.djvu/91

Rh or more free patients in the hospital." This is what General Chamberlain has to say regarding the visit to the Quaker financier:

"One picturesque incident, at least, arose in this private subscription. Isaiah V. Williamson was a man noted for his wealth, but almost equally for his unwillingness to give from it. Two members of the committee, however, one of whom was Dr. William Pepper (at that time the Provost of the University), with some reluctance, braved his common reputation, visited him in his dark little office in an obscure building on a narrow street (30 Bank Street), and laid their request before him. He allowed them to talk for almost an hour, only asking two questions, and then brought the interview to a close by saying he would think the matter over. In a few weeks the hospital committee were surprised to receive from him a subscription of $50,000, the largest single contribution to the hospital fund. But, curiously enough, from that time forward, Mr. Williamson became a liberal giver to philanthropic objects. He gave $50,000 more to the University and left $100,000 to it in his will, and his office became a