Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-08
The Use of Wealth.

Nhat ~ the use OF money There arc
very few men 10 the world who do not con-
slider themselves perfectly competent to an.
swer the question. And yet very few men
would answer il alike. Give a million Of
dollars each to fifty men, and the practical
answer which they would give would be va
rious as, the characters Of the men One
would invest in the safest securities, and lock
them up in his chest, and turn guard and sem
try over his strong box. lie would not dare
to spend cent Of the capital nor dollar of
the income. lie would go with bad hat
and poor coat, and walk rather than ride, and
make il his life's business to see how much he
could add to his capital, and how much he
could quit when he died, and leave to others
to spend. Another man would sec how much
pleasure of the senses it could buy how
much wine how much sensual qualification
how many fast horses, and fine carriages, and
fast women. He would run it through in a
few years, and leave his friends the happy
privilege Of hiding him out of sight, and al
allowing his memory to rot like his body.
Another would endow hospitals, colleges,
asylums, and extend his influence by his char
table largesses. Another would crafty his
taste build palace to live in; decorate it
with statues hang the finest pictures on its
walls, and environ it with elegant conserya-
tories and gardens. Another would permit
his enthusiasm for science to hold the key OF
his safe and unlock his treasures to be used
for the objects of human enlightenment and
welfare But the most would make their
wealth tributary to selfish ambition aud az.
grandizement or to the misery passion for
accumulation. So when wealthy man uses
his riches for unselfsh and humane and noble
ends, he is noteworthy aud honorable He
deserves to be distinguished from the common
herd Of rich men, whose wealth is used only
as the basis of accretion, or the means Of the
lower forms of self-indulgence
Peabody was one of the ilustrous sort Of
rich men. He distributed his wealth while
he lived and gave nothing to his heirs tc
wrapgle about. He provided comfortable
homes for the London poor, and means Of cul.
turo and progress to the population of our
Southern States. He gave for these pur.
poses nearly six millions of dollars, reserving
to himself only what would give him hand
some income while he lived and respectable
burial when he died lie was noble 10.
stance Of intelligent generosity, and he did
not wait in his charities till he should be un
able to direct their appropriation, and receive
the pleasure of his benehcence He executed
his own will long before his death, and hi,
closing days were blessed with the honor ant
esteem which men always give to large
hearted aud large.minded appropriation anC
distribution of immense wealth.
In smaller way aud to less extent there
are men now living who are worthy of homo
and emulation for the use of their resources
In our own State we could refer to some pc
culiarly useful and generous distributions o
personal wealth. That venerable and nobl
gentleman, who is the thinking, planning
contriving, inventing soul of the celebrate,
firm of the Fairbanks at st. Johnsbury, i
worthy of honorable mention. The Hom
. Missionary work of Vermont has Away
p found in him hearty supporter, large con
trbutor and wise director Besides build
tnr htunsalf of ka
in the State, and surrounding himself with
the evidences Of his taste and love for tn,
beautiful he has contributed tens of thou
! sands Of dollars to the educational Interest,"
of his own town, and to some of our Nev
England Colleges. Nothing that relates t.
the religious and intellectual improvement
and welfare of the State is foreign to hi
mind or to his generous consideration A few
years ago his brother Henry died and lief
ten thousand dollars in trust to the Genera
Congregational Convention, its income to b,
used for the relief Of worn out and feebl,
ministers, and ten thousand more whose in
come was to be devoted to the education o
young men for the ministry. Nor should i
be forgotten elsewhere than in St. Johnsbury
that one Of the younger members of the firm
Horace Fairbanks, has built an elegant pub
lie library and furnished it with choice col.
lection Of books, at cost Of $4,000, for
the benefit of his native town. Such men
as the members Of this firm, of two genera
tons, show US how splendid, practical an
answer can be given to the question, What is
the use of money? Their use of wealth Sc.
cures and diffuses the best things They buy
for themselves and for the community. moi
greater boards Of unused resources, not sen.
suous indulgencies, not the sating of high
ambitious or low passions, but honor, graft.
tude and admiration for themselves; culture
light, dignity, and power intellectual and
moral, for their communities. Men of this
style are doing Gods work in this world, and
get honor for it as they go along The best
use of wealth pays best. 1t gets the daily
round of honorable mention, the daily reward
of useful service, aud gives opportunity for a
veracious epitaph, of which one need not be
ashamed when he dies We could wish that
other towns had their Farbankses. Then
Vermont would not fall behind any State 10
the beauty of its scenery, the nobleuess of its
leading men, the character of its education,
or the intelligence of its people
" The colored people have keen per-
ception of the issues involved in the coming
Presidential campaign. Their political and
social future is to be determined for good or