The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-05

THE DEATH or GEORGE PEABODI.
A GOOD man gone to his reward. This will be
the verdict of both hemispheres on reading
the intelligence of the death of George Pea
body, which occurred last evening at London. /
Mr.. Peabody's work is accomplished, the
world has already formed its opinion of him.
and we are prepared upon the first news of
his decease to sum up the result of his labors,
and to allude in proper terms to his character.
Upon our first page will be found detailed
account of the life of Mr. Peabody and the
various services he has performed for the
benefit of humanity; and it therefore but
remains for us to speak of him in this place
in general terms of eulogy. 1t is scarcely
possible to allude to the career of such man
in any other than eulogistic language, and yet
every one must feel that eXtravagant laudation
is out of place, and that plain recital of the
facts are sufficient to place the great philan-
thropist in proper light before the public.
Mr. Peabody, after a long and honorable
career as a merchant, during which not the
shadow of a suspicion rested against his repu-
tation, startled the world by series of such
munifcent gifts for charitable purposes as
had never before been heard of. In England
and America he gave away millions with the
most lavish generosity, but with such wise
discretion that it was impossible to accuse
him of mere ostentation, or the desire to gain
the praise of men. 1t is true that there have
not been wanting those who disparaged Mr.
Peabody's motives, but the singular modesty
of his life, and his profound sentiments of
gratitude to the Almighty for all the blessings
thot hol
sufficient to silence every caviller. 1t was
impossible for Mr.. Peabody to do what he did
in secret, but by appropriating his great
wealth to the alienation of human suffering
to the promotion of the cause of education,
and in other ways by which large numbers
could receive the benefit of it, he set an ex-
ample that is worthy of the imitation OF men
who, like him, are blest with wealth beyond
their own necessities. Mr.. Peabody did not
wait until after his death to distribute his
money, and to leave it source of contention
between his heirs and executors, with all the
risks that mistakes would be made as to what
his real intentions were, and that his ideas
would not be carried out in spirit as well as
letter. He wisely, and in the spirit of true
philanthropist, gave what he had to give
while he was still in health and able to super
wise the management of his enormous endow-
ments. The result of this is seen in the
general satisfaction that has attended the be-
stowal of his gifts, and before death
overlook him in his green old age
he was able to see already some
of the practical results of the large
hearted and clear-headed policy he adopted.
To-
factions, and the public institutions that he
has endowed, the ''Homes for Laboring Men
in London" and the Southern Educational
Fund in the United States will remain as
the monuments of his wise, clear-sig GIFTED, and
practical philanthropic spirit Mr. Peabody
repeatedly expressed his entire satisfaction
with the manner in which both of these en-
dowments were managed, and by his own
words and acts effectually silenced those who
complained that the money was not used in
the manner he intended. In London the
Peabody Fund has erected in different
quarters of the city large and commodious
buildings, in which industrious poor men are
provided with clean and comfortable homes
at a small rent, thus drawing them and their
wives and little ones out of the
dismal and filthy alleys and lanes,
with their degrading associations, where
they were forced to abide previously. Those
who are thus aided by Mr.. Peabody's bounty
lose nothing of their self-respect but they
are rather encouraged to independence of
thought and manly self-reliance. The fami-
lies who live in these houses are removed
from the atmosphere of filth and vice that
formerly surrounded them; they are able to
bring up their children in decency and clean
liness, and it is impossible to estimate the
amount of moral and physical good that has
already been accomplished in London by
means of Mr.. Peabody's money.
The Southern Educational Fund is proof
that Mr.. Peabody clearly perceived the one
great need of the Southern States of the
Union, and by coming to the aid of that i'm
poverished section in the great work of build
ing up free school system, he at once
pointed out the most effectual method of re-
construction, and he set an example to the
people of the South themselves, as we'll as to
all patriotic citizens of the United States,
that has secured for him the warmest graft
tude of his countrymen, and that ought to
incite others to follow in his footsteps and to
aid in carrying ON the work he commenced.
Never perhaps since the world began have
such immense sums of money been bestowed
with such clear judgment, and it is in this
that the chief merit of Mr.. Peabodys gifts
consists. 1t is not in the donation of millions
of dollars alone to charitable purposes that