Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-31

| uOIidT IOr eleS
have no ambition
in the affections OF
distinction they might
Tor the general good something
cannot take with them in death.
seems, however, to be something in the at.
mOsphere about Baltimore, MsIyland, which
generates iberal-hearted men. Hopkins,
Peabody and McDonough builded imperish-
able monuments to their memories by leay-
ing millions of their vast wealth for chafita-
Bile purposes, and now Mr.. EnnJn Pratt
of Baltimore, has contIacted for the erection
OF building at a cost of 1925 900 for a free
circulating library which he proposes to
present to the city of Baltimore. He also
proposes to endow the library with a further
donation OF 100000, provided Baltimore
will appropriate $4,000 year to support
this library after it is completed and sup
piled with books. This is one of the most
munifcent gifts that has been made by any
American citizen, and does great honor to
the donor. 1t lacks but one thing, and that
is in the requirement that the city shall con-
tribute so large a sum to keep the institu-
ton up. Mr.. Pratt evidently has the means
to give or he would not have made the prop
osition he did. The amount he proposes to
give is quite sufficient, if properly expended
and carefully invested, to purchase the
books and keep up mag
nifcent library without requiring the
aid of the city. Mr.. Pratt shows wisdom in
making disposition of his wealth himself,
and not bequeathing it to others to expend
after his death. He deserves to be honored
by the city of Baltimore, whether that city
accepts his splendid gift with its obligations
or not It's acceptance is question for the
Monumental City to determine. 1t might be
that it could do better with $4,000 annually
expended without the obligation that Mr..
Prait's donation requires. If the rich men
of the country would follow the example OF
Mr.. Pratt, suffering and want would soon be
unknown in America. Every man desires
that his name be transmitted TO posterity. II
is this ambition which induces the soldier to
seek fame Mt the cannon's brazen mouth.
The thought of being forgotten invests death
with many of its terrors. Yet rich men have
the option of either immortalizing their
names or burying them with the rafting clods
that hide their collins. Look at George Pea
body and A. T. Stewart After leaving compe-
tency to his relations the former devoted his
colossal fortune to objects of charity and be-
nevolence-not only in America, the land of
his birth, but throughout the world. He
commenced by bestowing upon his native
town, Danvers, Massachusetts,, 500 900 for
the cause of education. To the city of Bal
timore, where he once lived, he donated for
the purpose of education 81 100000. To the
board Of trustees, for the promotion of edu-
cation in the South, he gave S3,500,00O, be-
sides many other magnificent donations
throughout the country. In 1862 he estab
lished board OF trustees for the ameliora-
ton of the condition of the poor in London,
to which he contributed at various times the
amount of s., 100000, having the satisfaction
of seeing his plans in successful operation
before his death. After the death of Mr.. Pea
body, in November, 1859, his remains were, by |
command oil Queen Victoria, temporarily in
TERED in the royal vault in Westminster Alb |
hey and subsequently conveyed with state
by the British ship OF war Monarch, escorted
by an American war steamer to this country,
and were deposited amid imposing manifes-
tations of international respect at Danyers,
which town has changed its
name to Peabody. The name of George
Peabody is imperishable. Men die and are
40 more remembered; fortunes perish under
moth and rust; machines grow crank and OBJ
,oIete; ships rot and sink, and houses crumble
Fl IL Il. = |
heir names pass away like heeting cloud.
But the good work done by George Peabody,
he institutions he created, will be transmit
ed to the remotest posterity. How bright
md beautiful does the name of George Pea
body contrast with that Of A. T. Stewart. The
'emains of the former were only disturbed
o give the people of two Of the greatest ma
ions on earth an opportunity of doing
honor to his memory. The remains OF the
after were dragged about by body-snatchers
who propose to make money by spsitfing
1n the carcass Of the defunct Spectator.
The name of Stewart will soon sink into OBJ
ivion. In a few years to the world his
empty grave will have no more Significance
han the beggar's grave in the potters field.
The fortune he left, instead OF making
others happy by the construction of charita-
Die institutions, has been used by Judge
Hilton in wasteful extravagance and in per-
scouting the Jews of America. The story of
he life OF George Peabody, the schoolhouses
le has built the orphans he has succored,
nave given such sanctity to his grave as TO
protect his remains from even the ghouls
that speculate on dead mems bones.
But Stewart did but little to make
he world better and happier
nothing to magnify the glory of his country
asmit his name to posterity'
feels indignant At the desecration
Of .ve-but the same indignation
would be felt az. spy disturbance of the re-
mains of pauper who, while living, had
lone nothing for mankind. =
II