Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-22
Practical Philanthropy.


Two noble instances of practical philan-
thropy, exhibited by two wealthy citizens
of Vermont, have been made public during
the past week. John p Howard a native
of Burlington, built few years ago in the
city of his birth a splendid opera house.
He has now supplemented this and other
acts of munifcence by bestowing upon the
University OF Vermont $4,000, the income
from which is to be devoted to the endow-
ment of the Howard professorship of natural
history in that institution. Among his other
plans for the adornment of the city is the
erection in the college park of bronze
statue of Lafayette, who laid the corner
stone of the present buildings of the Uni
versity of Vermont. The sculptor is John
Q. A. Ward of New York, and the statue will
be fine work of art. The second instance to
which we refer is the announcement that
Hon. Trenor w. Park of North Bennington
intends to establish and endow in some
town in this state the Park Home" an in
stitution devoted to the maintenance of de.
the view of saving from total or partial
loss much good material for future useful
citizens. Although the main object of the
institution is the care of children, it is said
that limited number of INDECENT old ladies
whose services may be utilized to some ex-
tent in caring for the children will also be
provided for in this proposed Home" Mr..
Park intends to purchase the grounds, erect
suitable buildings, and endow the institu-
ton with 100000 or such sum as shall be
necessary for its proper maintenance. The
Home " will be nonsectarian, race or ma
tionality will not be regarded, and it will
extend its fostering arms to all children
under certain necessary limitations. 1t is
surmised that this munifcent scheme of
practical philanthropy is designed as a sort
Of memorial to the late Mrs. Park, noble
and large-hearted lady who was always seek.
ing occasion for acts of charity and benevo.
lence. The Fairbanks family in 81. Johns
bury, in different yet entirely judicious
ways and with rare munifcence, have, while
living, devoted much of their wealth to the
welfare of their fellow-men. The st. Johns
bury Academy, the great library of varied
and priceless literary treasures, the art
gallery, and the " Atheneum the spacious
building whose solid walls rise around and
guard this mass of garnered wealth-is a
grander and more enduring monument TO a
family name and characteristics than the
most costly and imposing mausoleum OF
finest marble; and bronze or marble could
not so nobly perpetuate their names as the
living works of practical philanthropy con-
ceived by Park and Howard.
The schools, the library, the reading
room, the art gallery, in any community
are influential agents in fighting the demons
which Turk in the dangerous pleasures that
youth will have if its active mind and ener-
gies are not preoccupied by better things,
and led upward from the grosser enjoy
ments OF this life. In proportion as these
institutions multiply, so fast as men like
Park and Howard and Fairbanks come
forward and, while living, devote the wealth
they do not need in this world and cannot
carry with them out of it, TO the ameliora-
ton of the condition of their fellow-men, SO
fast will disappear ignorance and distress
and the crimes aud evils that flourish where
pleasure, selfshness and avarice reign. II
is undoubtedly true that in every large com
munity, Providence has raised up favored
man to whom expectant humanity looks for
some signal act of benevolence that shall
lift his name and their condition to higher
realm, the one of genuine fame the other
OF grateful existence, than monumental
marble or posthumous legacies can ever
accomplish. Happy for that man and his
fellow-men If he feels the prickings of the
philanthropic spirit ere yet the silver core
be loosed or the golden bowl be broken"