Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-04-27
From the New York Tribune.
The Art Of Giving.

-l The present is denounced By great
many philosophers, and not few poets, as
grossly material age, joined to the idols
of the Exchange, and given up to ma
king money. There is in this certain
truth which is by no means diseoarg-
ing one War no longer being the main
business of mankind and the safty-valve
Of superfiuous human energy, production
and commerce have taken its place, to
the great disgust of the manufacturers
of verses. There is an end, say they, of
high aims and generous purposes, and
the world has grown altogether selfish
and sordid. We cannot help thinking
thatit will do these grumblers good to
read the newspapers What is mere. mil
itafy fame unconnected with patriotism
worth when compared with the reputa-
on which Mr.. George Peabody, q plain
merchant, has established for centuries,
simplysby giving away his money ju-
diciously !? Admitting the occasional
value OF war. BfrPeobody does that kind
ly and gracefully which the Yelling
tons and Bonapartes. did cruelty and
coarsely. With our little knowledge OF
history, we do not remember a period
with such power, and we may say pas
sion, for giving asithe present, Our chari-
ty, too, it must be remembered, is tolera-
Bile independent of ecclesiastical stimulus.
Dying men now give, it is true, to reli-
gion, but they donot think that they viii
be damned for not giving nor does the
Church get all, and other proper objects
of liberality comparatively nothing. Aims
giving in the nineteenth century is catho-
lie in the best sense of the word, and
while our wealthy men do not forget
.meeting-houses and the missionaries they
remember the oftalue, libraries, picture
galleries, and universities for teaching
something beside. theology. There is an
established habit of giving. The opulent
are expected to bestow, and capitalists,
living or dying, to found something.
| Whenla rich maa-rich enough we mean
to be notable-is gathere2to his fsthers,
the world, sure that it is coming in for
La legacy, opens its ears to hear the will
read, and the reporters go upto the pro-
| bate office to tkae notes and to publish
them.ts It,isato the credit of. human ma
| bUlTe, III Is Jlle SuHlcleLb ISlutdtiOu VI eue
Rochefoucaulds and the Swifts, it is.a
proof that the old parsimony of the drai
mais no longer common, whenswe find a
custom of beHeyolence established, and a
taeit admission Ionl the part of Ofoesus
that be holds his gold in trust for his fel
iow-creatures.3 Nat
But the most lavish generosity is moth
ing, except by accident, unless wisely di
l.rected. lie who founds9a hospital foI
cats must look othe cats for. gratitude
1t is. the crowning glory of our modern
charity thatit walks hand IN hand with
science and letters, andsseeks nothing SC
| feryently as to make men wiser, and,hap
/ pier, and better. There are many things
| In themselves extremely desirable which
must be hopeless out of the reach of the
moor. however Industrious and viftuous
unless the wealthy make them accessible
and among these we may reckon books
in large collections, museums. of art s.and
science, picture galleries, and parks
When q rich man recognizes the yalus
of these, we may beasure that cent PEE
cent has not altogether hardened hll
heart nor ebschred his brain.sf Ifseme O
these things are not according to hisltasti
and habits, ,she submits to be advised
valves his own sprejudices, and Z deters te
the iud dgment of those whosnlssa 'fEaers
enlightened than himself Such con
/ cession. (which we suppose Mr.. Girard