New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-16
JAMES P1LMERS REQUEST.

James Palmer, druggist, whose will was
admitted to probate in Philadelphia recently,
had word to say to pOsterity worth the hear
ing. His property is to be invested in that
city, and part of the interest devoted to the
support of his wife and father during their
lives; another share is to be appropriated to
buying coal for the poor during the Winter
months, and the remainder $50 per cent? added
each year to the capital. When this capital
shall reach the sum of 100000, 40
per cent of tho interest shall be given
to the coal fund; when the capital shall
reach the sum of $1,OOO,OOO, the whole of
the interest shall be expended in that charity.
At this period, and not before, he wishes ga
"plain stone erected over his unmarked grave,
cor over the dust that was once SO industrl-
"ous," to teach lesson to others to be in
dustrlous and frugal, and to live for their
fellOw-men rather than themselves.
Shrewd people will say that James Palmer
builds too securely on posterity. They assert
that, judging by the ordinary fate OF benevo-
lent requests and their testatOrs, long before
his money will have swelled into the desired
million no human being will know where his
industrious dust is buried in its unmarked
grave, and his gift of, coal will be very
likely merged into gas or crude oil company
drawing enormous dividends-fOr the trustees.
There is not town which has not its story to
tell of some whimsical or benevolent citizen,
long ago, who spent years devising means by
which his money should serve to keep his
memory green when he was dead, and of how,
ninety times in the hundred, dishonest trus-
tees, or the law, or common sense inter-
-I1I hnn
into the ordinary currents of trade. The prac-
teal man of business will ask us
what, even if the Palmer Coal Charity
should be miraculOusly defended from fraud,
will the man who saved the money day after
day among his pills and pellets be to the shiv-
ering paupers gathered about the firesf Moth
ing, according to everyday experience, but
name-the coolest of far-off ghosts. 1t is o
curious fact that as soon as any mode OF aims
giving is legaized and made permanent, it is
received by those whom it benefits as a right,
and the sentiment of gratitude disappears from
the matter
Yet in spite of all these hard facts and
rational encouragement, there is something
which strikes us as thoroughly genuine and
true in this mans fancy of the remembrance
A tomb of granite and marble only saddens
and chils the air for years, to crumble away
and mingle with the forgotten dust of the
body below; endow college or school and
in ten years just such ideas will be taught in
it as you would least approve; endow an
asylum, and just such hobbies will be carried
out in it as you detest; found library, and
half the books molder on the shelves !;
pictures will fade, and houses fall out
of repair. But there can be no
mistake about roaring fires kindled
every year on the cold hearths of the widow
and orphan. 1t matters very little whether
stone, plain or otherwise, be erected half q
century from now to testify to the virtues Of
James Palmer, if he can write his name in
such letters of fire on the years to come. If
spirits ever come back to earth, James Palm
er's hospitable soul will visit on Winter nights
many warm freside where his name is
spoken as that of the best of friends, and in
some vOiceless unseen way take hearty share
in all the comfort and frolic and good cheer
which he has brought to the widow and the
orphan. Death itself, we fancy, did not meet
such q man with his usual chilly greeting, but
held out warm hand to him, and babe him
90 on his own bOuDtiful way.