New-York tribune., 1873-03-17
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IN ENGLISH GEORHE PEABOI

| Though the miseries of the rich have long
been stock subject with mOralists, there are
few men who would not gladly be weighed
down by the golden gifts of Fortune. The
wealthy claim that they know the emptiness
of wealth: the poor and the struggling, not
having the slightest apprehension of the sort,
very naturally desire to make such acquaint-
ance. IL seems one of the weaknesses OF our
common humanity to dislike and disapprove
of those who possess what we want, and can
not get Hence, the general unpOpularty of
| the rich unless they do something to disarm
spontaneous prejudice, and unite themselves
to us by some bond of sympathy. Men of
large means are usually set down as embodi-
ments of selishness, and for no better
reason than because they do not give
| TO all who ask. AS rule, however,
they are not so generous as they might be !;
and indeed it may be doubted if the steady
| pursuit of gain has the effect of enlargng the
! heart or quickening the sensibilities. Once in
while there are shining exceptions-nowhere
more than in the Republic-and these excep-
tions, from their rarity perhaps, receive the
full need of praise. We can justly boast OF
our Girards. PeabOdys, AstOrs, COrnells, CooperS,
| Stewards, and Lenoxes, whose examples have
| awakened the admiration and to some de-
gree the emulation of the people of the Old
World. Europeans are surprised, usually, at
the munificence of our donations and bequests,
and, though often much better able, give with
a more sparing hand than ours.
Mr.. Thomas Holloway of England appears
determined to exceed even the broadcast Ameri-
can liberalty, and, moreover, to insure to his
| IoJ ;,;, tbo aIy ntaU hV
the adoption of the most practical forms
in it's administration. He is known here
not as phanthropist, but as q manufacturer
of patent medicines. Aside from his financial
and executive ability, he is man of excellent
mind and large culture, and is connoisseur
in art, as his elegant Berkshire residence, Tit
tenhurst Park, with its superb collection OF
pictures, abundantly testifes. Now over sixty,
he began his present calling about fiye-and-
thirty years ago, with very little capital; and
by untring industry, unnaggiug energy, and
sagaciOus management, has extended his busi-
ness to every civilized country on the globe, and
accumulated fortune estimated at S6O,OOoOOO.
Two years ago Mr.. Holloway resolved to de-
vote the bulk of his fortune to charitable pur-
poses but, knowing the great extent to which
such legaces and appropriations are perverted
and abused, he made up his mind to give his
personal attention to and employ the most
available means for the object he bad in view.
Having seen that even George PeabOdy's Hbe-
Ial donations had been to certain extent mis-
employed, notwithstanding the great precau-
ton exercised, Mr.. Holloway determined,
while in possession of the most vigorous physi-
cal and mental health, to manage, with proper
cooperation. his own eleemosynary enterprises
His principal aim has been, and is, to improve
substantially and permanently the condition
of the English poor, without encouraging pau
perism. Everybody who has taken any practi-
cal part in such undertaking must have
learned how difficult it is to attempt
good without causing evil. The Berk-
shire philanthropist, as the first step,
advertised largely through the public
press, requesting that information and sug-
gestions be sent to a certain address Carefully
concealing his IDENTIFY in aid and further
ance of his scheme. In the beginning the
anonymous advertisements were regarded with
some suspicion (nothing John Bull more alb
bors than to be "donen OF "taken in y but
they were soon discovered to be genuine and
from conscientious source. From the torrent
of communications flowing in, Mr.. Holloway
learned that one of the great needs of the
Kingdom was the establishment of lunatic
asylum for the middle classes. Before putting
up building, he decided to visit the princi-
pal asylums Throughout Great Britain, to
talk with persons who had had expert
ence of tue insane, and to procure all
! possbe information on the subject. Having
done so, he obtained the plans of the
best architects, and began the erection of a
spacious structure on his own grounds in
Berkshire, near the famous Virginia Water
The Asylum, not yet completed. will cost
SJo0,000, and be model of its kind. Insanity
being much more common in Great Britain
than in this country, deeper interest is felt
in it, and in the treatment of patients In Mr.
| Holloways institution all known defects will
| be remeded. and it is believed that the i'm
provements made must be of great benefit to
the unfortunate occupants tThe model estab-
lishment has attracted the attention of the
| Government and the humane generally, and
will be the means of introducing various re-
forms both into the public and private
Asylums.
This is good example of the generous
gentleman's mode of management. He has
numerous other plans, which he is slowly,
though surely, carrying out His private
charities are said to be numberless; but as he
never speaks of them. their extent and char0c-
ter can only be surmised. He is represented
aS entirely free from Osientalion: shrinking