Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-22
Posthumous Charities.


Il has long been subject of comment and won
der, that men Of large MEANS like Girard. Nc
Donough. and others that might be mentioned
who have had cherished schemes of public benefit
TO be consummated after their deccase; should not
put their plans into execution while living, that
they might see the fruit of their well applied
wealth, and enjoy while they could, the satisiac-
ton of knowing that the world had been made
happier by their existence.
There are other reasons why this would be EN-
inently the wiser course. for it not nn'requehtly
happens that the will OF the testator is so warped
aud stretched as leave little Of his original plans
10 be executed More than this; the funds are ire
qucntly absorbed by costly litigation and admins
traton whilst posterityl deprived, for full gen
Grafton. of any advantage that may accrue from
the remnant that has been saved
This was the case with the Girard property, the
most of which was squandered in expensive build
ings that were in progress during long series of
ycars-the fund itself passing successfully into the
hands Of the different municipal ADMINISTRATIONS
of the city Of Philadelphia, and constitutnga
bone of contention while it lasted so that when,
at length, the costly marble buildings ware com
!
were totally inadequate to the purposes Of the
donor and tho princely Request of Girard has
served to educate, con- Imrntiyely, few young men,
whilst the facilities afforded are not ns drop in
the bucket to the wants Of the great city upon
which il was expected to confer such immense
benefit.
We sce that the McDonough estate, also, fruit
ful of trouble in this regard. and that expensive
lawsuits are now eating like n moth into the prop
erty The cost Of administering it Is immense,
and when the remainder that may escape the vo-
racious jaws of the lawyers administrators, aud
courts, shall come to tho Iegatces, it will be re
lucod to a mehe skeleton of its former proportions
How much better for these gentlemen to have
been the almoners of their wealth while they lived
to have established the institutions they CON
templated and to have put them upon firm aud
enduring basis? How fa1ornhy does the conduct
Of those real beneinctors. the brothers, Amos and
Abbot Lawrence, and George Peabody, compare
with the men before mentioned?
The lameuicd Lawrcncos used their wealth
while they lived, in spreading abroad the blessings
of education and intelligence, whilst Peabody.
who "sll lives is doing the same thing. Tho
Iawrcnccs were useful and a blessing in life, and
will long live in the grateful recocct'ons Of thoV
who will have occasion to thank God that they
ever did 1.-Two. They did not hang On to their gold
with the ,cnacity Of life, and part from it only he
cause they could not take il with them; but freely
dispensed it with their own hands.
We have been led to these rcmarks'bv state
mcnt which i, going the rounds of the papers, 10
the effect that Mr.. Walter Harper, of Detroit.
has conveyed in trust to certain parties, property
valued ut 100000. for the establishment of II
"ho>pilal for the benefit and relief Of the sick and
aged poor. within the limits, or adjacent to the
city of Detroit" Tho trustees are authorized to
sell or mortgage this property, or pursue nny
course that ma, he necessary TO convert it Into
money; with this sing lie stipulation, that the mod
crate Of 81 .opn year be reserved to the do
for his support while he lives.
This i, certainly rare instance # generosity,
and vastly more sensible than some Of those to
which We have referred. In this case the. bcnc
factor will zee the fruits of his hcnifcrnre while
he lives will sec that his funds are lcgitima,cly
applied aud will be- able To appropriate more 20
the desired object, than if his estate hal to endure
thc depicting process of passing through the
courts.
We have young and PROMISING; literary nsti-
tuition in our midst, TINT ght be mndo grent
blessing to our community, whilst other institu-
tions for the moderation Of suffering humanity
might be established; and we have the men, who
could spare more than Mr.. Harper has given, and
still have plenty left. Wllthry follow his wise
example?