New-York tribune., 1874-07-17
THE WORD PHILANTHROPY

by COL. T. w. HHGGINsON OF NEWPORT, II. I.
Some writer on philoOgy has said that there
Is more to be learned from language itself than from all
that has been written by its aid 1t possible to recon
sruct part OF the moral attitude OF race through
word of Its language This paper may illustrate such
a process.
When word comes INTO existence its meaning is
carved the language which holds II. If yOl mud the
name OF certain virtue In tongue, the race tha
framed that language knew that virtue. Inc wofu
Philanthropy is modern word In the English LANGUAGE
The Pilgrim Fathers may have practIced what me
word meant, but few among them had heard the word
perhaps none had used IT, II Is not, not IN mn. tne
writings OF Csaucer or Spencer or enakeSpearrr'
even in the English Bible nrst pun
lshed in 1911 the CORE spoudng word occurring
three times. being translated by cireumpcuton IL
Mnshens Guide 10 the Tongues, first published in i6lI
nor In the Spanish Dictionary OF the same Mln-
ond edition Of the Guide to the Tongues, 1t appears
as follows among the new words disnS ~ @ Vy
then follow the Greek ana Latin words as sources
This is It's first appearance, Col HgglhsVD believes, as
an English word But Lord Bacon; PUBLISHING IN the
year his essay Goodness and GOOihess o heart
,t o So. in G se,e the Affecting Of the Of
Greean, call PhIatsropa ani tue Sod Humanity las
asell little too light TO express IT, ., 10 roo -or
In his Holy Dying he translates the Greek word
phanhr0pos lover OF mankind; Dut IN MS Serons'
published year later. though perhaps preached earlier
he uses 1t as q true English word. the phrase beng
"that godike exceency philanthropy ana love 10 al
mankind" and again, 1.-The philanthropy OF God" Inc
word TOOK root slowly Nearly years after Its appear
ance in Minshen's Dictionary, Dryden used II with an
apology thus: "This philanthropy, which we have not
"a proper word in English 10 express"
Three leading writers OF their century-BacOn, Taylor
Drydenfurnish miestOnes that marx the entry OF
the word philanthropy into our language. Doubtless
the OF its use is correctly stated by DRYDEN II was
needed Men do not take trouble TO borrow word,
umbrella If tney have one that VIII answer the
purpose. ,,-, ~, .
The Greek original of the word philanthropy was the
OF the greatest drama preserved TO US ana also
the submesJ life OF Greece--that OF Socrates III
seems have been first used 10y Epicharmus about $40
B G. Its first important was In the Promethens
Bound of Hschyus probably represented about AGO b.
&. The OF Zsus fell upon Prometheus fUr ms
love of man. he Is 10 be bound to tue desert rock
for his phanthrOphy. In the most magnificent solo-
guy ancient Literature PrOmetheus accepts the charge
aud glores in his ofense he admits that he had con,
veyed the sacred fire Of Zeus To men, and thereby saved
them from destruction. The phanthrOpic man Is eX-
hibed under torment for his devotion, nut refusing 10
regret what has There Is no play III modern
literature which entirely on the word and the
thing philanthropy.
Socrates uses the word thus replying TO an opponent
(JOwetts translatiOnD
dare say that you yourself and not apt to
impar but have benevolent habit (pnhropal
out 10 everybody and would even pay Or hs'e-
! aud | ain afraid the Ahenians know this