New-York tribune., 1867-03-26
THE ART OLE GLYING-

The present is denounced by great many
philosophers, and not few poets, as grossly
material age, joined to the idols OF the Ex-
change, and given up to making money. There
is in this certain truth which is by 10 means
dscouragng one. War no longer being the
main business of mankind and the safety-valve
of superfluous 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 think
ing that it will do these grumbers good
to read the newspapers. What is mere mil
| itary fame uncOnnected with patriotism
worth when compared with the reputation
which Mr.. George Peabody, plain merchant,
has established for centuries, simply by giving
away his money judiciously7 Admitting the
| occasional value of war, Mr. Peabody does that
kindly and gracefully which the Wellmgtons
| and Bonapartes did cruelty and cOarsely. With
our little knowledge Of history, we do not re-
member a period with such power, and we
may say passion, for giving as the present.
| Our charity, too, it must be remembered, IS
tolerably independent of ecclesiastical stimulus.
| Dying men now give, it is true, to religion,
but they do not think that they will be damned
for not giving; nor does the Church get all, and
other proper objects of iberality comparatively
nothing. Alms-g giving iD The nineteenth
century is catholic in the best sense of the
word, and while our wealthy men do not forget
meeting houses and the missionaries, they re-
member the value of convenient tenements,
hospitals, baths, libraries, picture galleries, and
universities for teaching something beside
theology. There is an established habit of Civ
ing. The opulcnt are expected to bestOw, and
capitalists living or dying, to found something.
When rich man--rich enough we mean to be
notabe-is gathered to.his fathers, the world,
sure that it is coming in for legacy, opens its
cars to hear the will read, and the reporters go
up to the probate office to take notes and to
publish them 1t is TO the credit of human ma
ture, it is the sufficient refutatiOn Of the
Rochefoucaulds and the SwiftS, it is a proof
| that the old parsimony of the drama is no
longer common, when we find custom OF be-
nevolence established, and taclt admls-
] sion on the part of CrGsus that he holds
| his gold in trust for his fellow-creatures.
But the most lavish generosity is nothing,
except by accident, unless wisely directed.
| He who POUNDS a hospital for cats must look
to the cats for gratitude. Ii is the cTowning
| glory of our modern charity that it walks hand
in hand with science and letters, and seeks
nothing so feryently as to make men wiser,
and happer, and better. There are many
things in themselves extremely desirable which
must be hOpelessy ont of the reach of the
poor, however industrious and virtuOus, unless
| the wealthy make them accessible and among
these we may reckon books in large collections,
museums OF ant and science, picture galleries. and
| parks When a rich man recognizes the value
of these, we may be sure that cent per cent has
not altogether hardened his heart nor 0bscured
| his brain. If some of these things are not ac-
cording to his tastes and habits lie submits to
be advised, valves his own prejudices and de-
fers TO the Judgment of those who may be
more enlightened than himself. Such conceS-
sion (Which we suppose Mr.. Girard and Mr.
Astor both made) to the higher opinions OF
mankind proves that money getting aud
money boarding are not Incompatible with gen.
erous emotions and elevated views. The real
genuine, traditional old hunks is going out of
fashion, and we trust in fifty years more
will become as extinct as the mastodons
and the megatheriums For this, In
America at least we are indebted TO the abo-
HtlOn Oh lIle HWs VI pliIuOStnloulc anu Sh'di,
and to the delightful impossibility which here
exists of founding n family. This wise feature
of our legislation has made the rich man what
he ought to be-the servant, the benefactor, the
Good Samaritan of society. He tolls for the
power and the pleasure of making will
which shall diffuse happiness, increase social
comfort, and promote the morals and the man
ners of his race. If he can do this, he may
consider himself eminently favored Of fortune.
There are many poor men to whom the gods
have not given the gift of gathering, who are
impatient only of their material mediocrity
when they keenly feel how much it lessons
their power of doing good To these, however,
is left the rich consolation Of that blessing
which is bestowed upon those who edo what
" they can"
1t is, as we have said, a fashion now to be
benevolent. When the historian of these days
in which we live shall record our successes
and our shortcomings, what we did and what
we left undone, he will be forced by his very
materials to recognize the liberality and the
charity which are characteristics of our age
and, If he finds no individual distinguished
and prominent, like Howard, Clarkson, Wilber-
force, or Elizabeth Fry, it will be because the
law of kindness has touched so many hearts,
and a wise beneyolence has opened SO many
purses and so many hands.