The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-08-28
Pining fora Theological Seminary.

The following conversation between Mr..
Belcher and his factor, is from DIR. Hollands
"Story of Sevenoaks," Scribner for September.
''Toll, look here The General wants to place
little money where it will bring him some
reputation with the highly respectable old
dons,-our spiritual fathers, you know-and the
brethren. Understand"
general, you are deep you'll have to ex-
plain"
''Well, all our sort of fellows patronize some
thing or other. They cheat man out of his
eye-teeth one day, and the next you hear of
them endowing something or other, or making
a speech to band of old women, or figuring on
lofty list of directors. That's the kind
thing want"
paying for it. All they want is money; they
don't care where it comes from"
"Toll, shut up. l behold a vision. Close
your eyes now, and let me paint it for you l
see General Robert Belcher, the millionaire
in the aspect of great public bsnefactor. He
is dressed in black, and sits upon platform,
10 the midst of lot of seedy men in white
chokers. They hand him programme
There is speech making going on, and every
speech makes an allusion to our 'benefactor,
and the brethren and sisters cheer. The Gen
eral bows. High old doctors of divinity press
up to be introduced. They are all after more.
They fatter the General; they coddle him.
They pretend to respect him. They defend
him from all ISLANDERS. They are proud of the
General. He is their man. look into the re-
ligious newspapers, and in one column behold
d curse on the stock-jobbing of Wall street, and
in the next the praise of the benehcence OF
General Robert Belcher. l see the General
passing down Wall street the next day. see
him laughing out of the corner of his left eye,
while his friends punch him in the ribs. Oh,
Toll it's delicious Where are your feelings,
IN Y boy? Why don't you cry? ?"
Charming picture, General! Charming! but
my handkerchief is fresh, and must save it.
may have a cold before night"
"Well, now, Toll, what's the thing to be
done?"
"What do you say to soup kitchens for the
poor? They don't cost so very much, and you
get your name in the papers,"
"Soup- kitchens be hanged That's Mrs. Bel
cheers Job. Besides, | don't want to get up a
reputation for helping the poor. They're a
troublesome lot and full Of bother; don't be-
lisve in them. They don't associate you with
anybody but themselves. What want is to
be in the right sort of crowd"
"Have you thought of a hospital 2"
eyes. I've thought of a hospital, but don't
seem to banker after it. To tell the truth, the
hospitals are pretty we'll taken up already. |
might work into a board of directors by paying
enough, suppose, but it's too much the regu-
lar thing. What want is ministers some
thing religious, you know"
"You might run a church-choir," suggested
Talbot, cor buy a church, and turn the crank. 3"
eyes, but they are not quite large enough. |
tell you what it is, Toll, | believe I'm piuing
for theological seminary. Alb, my heart my
heart If l could only tell you, Toll, how 1T
ycarns over the American people! Can't you
see, my boy, that the hope of the nation is in
educated and devoted young men? Don't you
see that we are going to the devil with our
thirst for filthy lucre? Don't you understand
how noble thing it would be for one Of for
tunes favorites to found an institution with his
wealth, that would bear down its blessings to
unborn millions? What if that institution
should bear his name2 What if that name
should be forever associated with that which is
most hallowed in cur national history ?
Wouldn't it pay? Eth, Toll2"