The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-21


In looking over history of the Massachu-
sets General Hospital, published In 1901 'y
n. l. Bowditch, we find among tiie s""soiiP-
tions to the funds OF that institution this
very significant one: Sarah Clough, q do
mest;c. 5000! Though individual contribu-
lions in some cases reach the sum of hun
dred thousand dollars, and the Subscriptions
aud donations In the aggregate have made
the Hospital the possessor OF property worth
at least two million dollars, it may be doubt
Ell II anyone among the founders of the Hos
pltal has deserved more commentator than
this great-hearted serving woman whose name
Is only preserved from oblivion by the musty
records of the institution and by book now
out OF print.
From this circumstance some idea may be
obtained oil the enthusias n which was arous-
ed In the old Commonwealth In favor of this
SC hems for the amelloratlon of the condition
Of the poor and unfortunate. Millionaire
and servant girl alike gave of their means Ter
an object that so mucl commended itself 10
their benevolent impulses The Legislature
laid the foundation upon which the people
subsequently built by granting the Province
h )use Estate as an endowment at the same
time that the act OF incorporation was pass
ed. This endowment, obtained tbl ough the
eIorts of Drs. Warren and Jackson in 1911,
was accompanied by condition that 500 600
should be obtained from the people. When
the proper measures were taken the people
responded so readily that eighty thousand
dollars were obtained in three days in Boston
alone! The Hospital, the first in New Eng
land, was opened in 1921.
Mltne Is now asked to do what Massachu-
sets did more than half century ago. An
act OF Incorporation for the "Maine General
Hospital" was obtained in 1868. At that
tne no appropriation was made because it
was felt that the Slate could afford none.
This winter the Legislature will be asked
second time for an endowment to which the
peope by their private subscriptions may add
until our own charity in proper degree ap-
proximates to that of the mother common
wealth. Already the petitions presented at
Augusta show that the people will leave the
Legislature no doubt of their entire satisfac
tion with what is proposed. Means will be
taken Immediately to give all who desire BY
private subscriptions to contribute to the
foundation of so indispensable charity to
do so. Its hoped that by means of both
public and private generosity sum certainly
not much less than one hundred thousand
dollars will be obtained at an early Jay, so
that measures may be taken to begin work
On the necessary buildings in this city. The
corporation has organized Professionally for
the preliminary work, and the men who have
been appointed as an Executive Committee
to do what Is necessary at the presen,
time are the best possible representatives
OF the Intelligence. benevolence and
wealth of the State. There will be
no hesitation to subscribe, owing to want OF
confidence on the part of any intelligent per
son who knows that the enterprise is now in
the hands of such men as John T. Gilman,
John B. Brown, Ex-Governor Wasbburn,
Phnehas Barnes, Andrew Spring, WIN. Deer
Ing, VIM. McGivery, George Stetson, II. n
jose, Eden Steele, James T. McCobb, Joseph
q. Williams, VIM. P. Haines, A. D. Lockwood
and VIM. d. Sewall.
So far as the Legislature is concerned we
have little far that the appeal for an aprro-
priation will be disregarled. We know thai
some of the most influential members are
deeply interested In this philanthropic project,
and will do all that Is possible to bring about
q proper result. As for The result of appeals
to private benevo ence we feel still less anx-
iety. The people that are to day uniting to
pay unprecedented honors to man dlstln-
guisbed above all his contemporaries tor the
munifcence of his charity will not per-
NIT means for relieving distress that is so
perfectly indispensable to be neglected. The
Hospital will be prominently benevolent in
stitution, and it is from this point OF view
alone that the intensity of public interest will
spring 1t is true that The scientific advan-
tAses arising from the presence OF such an in.
sti.ution in the State will be considerable, and
that the superior facilities thus secured to the
medical profession will result in higher medi-
cal culture. But it /. the fact that the poor,
upon whom sickness comes like the shadow
OF death, because 1t chains the bands that
earn bread for themselves and their families.
will reap an advantage, that will give not only
our hearts best wishes but our most earnest
efforts and largest possible contributions to
the enterprise.