The Columbus journal., 1881-06-01
An American PhiIanihrOpi.t.

A few days ago Peter Cooper, the
New York philanthropist, celebrat-
ed the ninetieth anniversary of his
birth. The pupils of the Cooper
Union tree schools called upon him
at his house and presented him with
a set OF engrossed resolutions, and
in the evening he was the subject Of
a lecture in the great hall. Here in
fine and spacious building which
he erected there have been for
twenty.three years, during eight
months of the year, free day and
evening schools of science and art at
a cost of SS50,OO0, the present annu-
al outlay being $4,000. The free
reading room and library attached
are used day and evening by thou
sands of people, and the founder has
just given $4,000 to enlarge them.
In the class rooms there are free
lectures for students, and in the
great hall for the public. Soon there
are to be more facilities for night
instruction, and select library and
art museum. There is already a
free school of telegrsphy for women
and woman's art school. Aud all
this the work of one man, who not
only knew how to make money, but
how to spend it. He has not spent
it "like a prince" for princes sell
dom do such things as he has done /;
but he has spent it like nobleman-
one Of natures own noblemen. Talk
about monuments! What is all the
monumental stone and metal in the
world compared with the Cooper
Union? The pyramids, Prince AL
bert's gorgeous memorial, the fun
ereal marble and brass i'm all the
temples i'm and out of Christendom
will sooner or later be swallowed up
in the insa.iate nav of time; but
this benefactor of his race has set i'm
motion influences for good that will
live through eternity. His body
will be speedily given back to the
dust from whence it sprang, but his
deeds are IA immortal as the intel
lects they have cultivated, the souls
they have lifted from darkness to
light. Ii his name could perish his
work could not. That will survive
"Ihe rock ribbed and everlasting
hills" Generation after generation
will "rise up and call him blessed"
aud in the grand chorus of praise
which posterity is preparing for him
there will not be a single discord-
ant note.
Strange that the few, whom for
tune has favored with superabund-
ant wealth should not initiate Peter
COoper's example Oftener than they
do. What is the pleasure to be de-
rived from elegant mansions, splen-
did pictures, superb equipages, rich
apparel, and all the pomp and show
which dazzle the eyes of the multi
tude, i'm comparison with the pleas
ure which this old man enjoys as he
looks upon the boys and girls, the
men and women, to whom he has
given opportunities, advantages, ca
pacities they could not otherwise |
have had? What supreme satisfac-
ion must he feel in contemplating
his investment. What almost heav-
enly Joy must fill his heart when he !
sees the harvest coming from the |
seed he has planted. With what |
delightful anticipation must he thro'
he vision of faith, look forward to |
hat harvest as it broadens and |
leepens hereafter, enriching the ma
lions and the world. With what |
,almness can he approach death, in
he consciousness, the full assurance,
hat he has done something which
Heath cannot destroy; something
hat will live on and on in eternal
youth and freshness and beauty.
He has not "builded wiser than he
<new," he knew the wisdom of his
)uilding-knew that the structure
ne reared would mock the ages;
vas of the stuff which neither NAL
ce domestic nor foreign levy" can
ouch. Wise old man! If your
wisdom were infectious what a glo-
'ious future would open before
weary and struggling humanity
Missouri Republican.