The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-04

-,orla ehall be permanent and stable in its
kind. 80 that it may endure after they are
dead and be remembered in their favor Tor
all time to come In the lists of benetactors
which so often adorn the walls of our old
churches, it is almost touching to read how
''John So-and-so hath left SO much to be dis
tributed in does to the poor of the parish
forever" how SO many ''needy men and wo-
men are under the will of Thomas So-and-so
TO receive on certain day in the year Goals,
bread etc, forever" In old testaments and
benefactions to colleges or schools the same
spirit is visible, the same phrase constantly
occurs. forever. The founders kin, or
sometimes those of the same name,
or boys from a certain county or
parish. are to have the preference
t'for ever;" in the case of a hospital a new
ward or wing is to receive the name of the
benefactor, so that bis memory may endure
''for ever" The motive for this is often of
very mixed nature. 1t is commonly COM
bination of selfshness, pride, benevolence,
love of God, fear Of the devil, the wish to be
remembered as q good man, and strenuous
desire to legislate for posterity and to exercise
power even after death. Este pe'petUd. But
in these days we legislate for time, not for
eternity. In the present state of things, the
wisdom of devising this kind of benefac-
lions is something more than doubtful. 1t is
q method which, from various causes, has
ceased to answer any good purpose; it seems
sagacious and prudent, while in reality it is
short-sighted in the extreme; and the convic-
tion is gradually forcing itself on all who re-
hect much that it is vain to attempt definite
legislation for posterity, since it is certain that
posterity will refuse to be legislated for except
according to its own necessities and require
ments as they arise. The progress of science,
the rapidity with which information is OBJ
tained and digested, and the habit of organized
combination, are three forces which act in
the same direction. And the result is that
old theories and institutions are tried and
sifted, and if found to be harmful, insult
able, or unavoidable, the verdict is given;
they are forthwith scattered, broken up, and
the funds transferred to other hands for diff
ferent purposes. And, according to Mr.. Mill
there is not more accurate test of the pro
press of civilization than the progress of the
power of cooperation. In old times O man
would build his castle in fashion which
would last for hundreds of years. In these
days no one does so, for he knows that his
Son or his sons wife may not like it, and that
he will pull it down, send for London con-
tractor, and build one according to his
fancy. To give one or two illustrations of
what we mean. Our endowed schools
have been tried, and SO far as regards their
T0is0n detre they have been found want
sng. The same with our universities Most
have derived thence a long lease of glory, but
it has been apparent to the nation that a
change is imperative, and all the special bene
fits, reservations, and preferences which have
heretofore existed are doomed to extinction.
With national institutions the same Take
the Irish Church Establishment or Greenwich
Hospital as examples. The vast hospitals
which have been established in London,
Paris, and elsewhere for the gratuitous relief
and treatment of disease, and for the promo
tion of medical science, have been, are still,
source of honest pride. These institutions
have We'd with each other in Importance and
excellent management; they were, in fact,
testimony to the progress, humanity, and
civilization of nations. Recent investiga-
lions have discovered evils lying at the very
root of the system, the existence of which
were unsuspected, but the magnitude and
extent of which can hardly be regarded too
seriously.
If further research proves the statements
made by Sir j. Simpson to be correct, it
points to great revolution which will most
certainly have to be carried out in our hospi
3al system, and it will embrace nothing less
than the destruction or abandonment of all
our large hospitals, and the superseding of
5hem by cottage hospitals, temporary mfr
maries, dispensary treatment, and the medi-
cal treatment of the sick poor at their own
homes. The schools of surgery and medicine
will be obliged to adapt themselves in some
way or other to the change. 1t is not our
intention todwell on this matter. We only ad-
duce it as an illustration of what we mean when
we say that progress is SO rapid and changes
come so fast that it is clearly inexpedient that
money bequeathed for charitable purposes
should be restricted to any one method or
purpose beyond the life of the donor and one
generation beyond. 1t is curious fact that
even when benefactor leaves his money
in general terms for the benefit of
q hospital, asylum, OF school, the governors
and managers almost invariably hasten to do
what he has left undone, and to tie up the
money or invest it at three per cent, so as to
add to the permanent income of the institu-
lion rather than extend its present usefulness.
Now in this we think the governors may take
mistaken view of their office, as well as Of
1he best interests of their charge 1t is their
duty not to save but to spend; not to exceed
3heir income on the one hand, not to hold it
on the other. The result of their method is
10 render the institution more or less indie
pendent of public opinion and support, a
condition always detrimental to good manage
ment and real progress. OF the many chari-
would have been better done away
with long since, not one would be
in existence at this moment had they
depended on public sympathy and aid, except
on condition of a thorough and satisfactory
reform. We do not, of course, advocate the
hand-to-mouth system. for everyday house
holds but, as things are the most healthy
and natural condition for public charity il
TO be absolutely dependent on the recogni
lion of its usefulness and merit. Weremembe
The case of hospital in the north of England