Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-04
PHILADELPHIA. ,
OUR sATURDAY LETTER.

The Philadelphia Library Cass-How the Law
vers Circumvented DR.. Rush-He is Told What
he Ought to Have Done-C -Charlemagns Tower
Tho Great Political Conundrum-Philadel-
phia's New Morning Paper, That's to be-Our
Ricketty Bridgea-New Years-The Streets, Etc
Special Correspondence ofRe Commercial.
| PHILADEPHIA, Jan. 8.
The decision in the Rush Bequest to the Phil
adelphia Library, proves one fact more strongly
than all others-that wealthy people, having a
mind to benefit their fellows, should see that
their designs are carried out, and not leave the
doing to an Indifferent posterity. How is it
that 30 evident q truth connot be learned ?
Peabody, Peter Cooper and A. 7. Stewart, are
almost the only leading examples (the late John
A. Brown who died here last week may be men
toned as another) of the men who saw the good
they intended done in their life time. In the
vast majority of cases the task is left to others.
and left to be but half done in any case and pro-
badly contrary to tile wishes of the donor. IL Il
becanse men hate to face the idea of death, that
they are content that the world should eniov
their wealth after they have passed away
but that they cannot bring themselves to
take part in what has an ante fnortem air2 Yet
what is there other than the fullest life in such
practical charities those instituted by the men
named? There is nothing death-like about them,
and 30 far from making the donor narvotis
about his latter end they should greatly hep him
to forget it. Not only 30, but the men whose souls
are big enough to devise great charities are st-
perior to any fear of death DIR. Rush, for ip-
stance had no such childish dreAd; he was a
christian and philosopher. The reason must be
sought elsewhere. Ii cannot be Indifference,
for the attention of years is often given to the
mateuring OF plans, as in the case of Mr.. For
rests recent bequest, which for want Of the con-
trolling spirit OF the benefactor is certain to fail
in n great measure il it does not fail entirely
Why did not Forrest establish his Home" wears
ago, and have the comfort and satisfaction of
seeing it an accomplished fact, exactly what he
intended it to be- before he had done with
the things Of earth 7 There is nothing novel in
this the story is as old as the hills but the de-
cision in the Rush case gives it fresh emphasis
or the questions involved in that matter YOU
have been sufficiently informed. It only remains
to state that the Supreme Court on Tuesday de-
cidod that the death-bed request of DR.. Rush
relative to the site for the new library should
not be regarded, but that the will made some
time previous should be strictly adhered to-. A
learned judge has spoken on this matter, but for
all that the average run of people have narrowed
the thing down TO a simple truth, that man may
or rather should be enabled, to do as he likes
with his own. MIR. Williams was left executor
by the will, to choose site according to his dis
erection, and DIR. Rush afterward bound him by
solemn promise to purchase lot at Broad and
Christian streets. The opinion is general that
such choice was an absurd one,-but whether
it was or not is not the question. 1t was DIR.
Rush'B wish that it should be Bought and that
WAS enough. The library on its part, need
not have accepted unless it chose, but, its
obligation il it did accept was clear,-in every
thing but the written word. 1t is not pleasant
thing to reflect upon. The library wanted this
fortune, but it did not want to be saddled with |
the conditions-and it has managed to eyade |
them. Not altogether with honor however,
and despite the conclusion OF our highest Court, |
III matter of pure principle like this every man
is good enough lawyer unto himself. 1t DOESN'T |
amount to anything practical to say t" told |
you So to dead man, but DR., Rush's long ex-
perience might have taught him that in the |
course he chose, he was but adding another to |
the long list OF badly administered posthumous
bequests.
Did you ever hear of Charlemagne Tower? |
Ali the papers have had long articles on the sub
ject which look suspiciously like paid ADVERTISE
ments. When the imposing title of these articles
first struck the public it was thought to refer to
some historical building or monument. Iremem-
Der how an ingenious remark made in COMPANY
when one Of Dickens later works was first an |
nounced, excited the risbles of those who heard |
it. "Our Mutual Friendl"-was the exclamation
"why, it sounds like Toast y And so almost |
everybody in rolling over mentally the sonoroua
syllables of Charlemagne Tower thought they |
had come upon some interesting piece Of descrp- |
tion similar to the accounts of the leaning tow er
at Pisa, or the tomb ofthe great Charles himself |
Very soon however, the reader grew undeceived, |
and realized that there was something immedi- |
ately personal in the essay, conviction that was
speedily followed by the hint have given above |
that there was more in the apparently simple |
statement of facts than appeared on the surface |
Charlemagne Tower is 8 man,-a rich man. |
and he ia trying to beat Simon Cameron as U. 8. |
Senator from Pennsylvania. It is a very pretty |
peice of news indeed. His name alone ought to |
elect him, ana as for money his friends proudly |
claim that he can spend. more on this election |
than Wigwag possesses all told, and yet be |
Tower--a millionaire. Thus il is-that old Simon
has educated elderly gentlemen up to the point |
of realizing, at least OF believing, that money |
can do much in ono direction as another. |
But can it-without the wit? d, -,tEss-y ffn1
1t is not alone Oameron's money that stands |
him in such good stead, as anyone, however
rich, who measures swords with him is likely to /
find out. IL does not appear that Charlemagne /
Tower (magniticent, isn't it something like
a name for aSenator SO ditferentf from Johnsong
or Nye or Doolittle) il does not appear that
Oharlemagne Tower has ever done anything /
particularly to warrant lin in applying for 80
eminent place, but he has studied latter-day /
politics and cannot see but that he has much /
right to aspire as any one else. Apart from the /
biographical sketches (with nothing in them) |
published with 30 lavish hand, very singular
silence prevails on the subject. There are no
Editorial comments ;-each paper appears to be
waiting for some one else to begin. By way Of
starting things have begun 10 myself. But is it |
in the wood to beat Cameron,-n he goes into
the fight with will o. Charlemsgne had better
keep hold Of the money his friends are spending
for him in ADVANCE II will only be wasted.
There was another rumor this week of the new
morning paper, which some of these days ia to
flash on the astonished eyes OF Philadelphians
to show them what great newspaper is really
like. The story in its last shape was that Mr..
Brigham-of the Pittsburg Commercial had sold
out that paper for the purpose of establish
ing morning paper here. That he has closed
business in Pittsburg seems the fact, but tho
llUA 49, -. 4