The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-12-08
MuNuFICENT DONATIONS.


a state or country becomes then one ofthe
chief agencies in the civilization of Il al
state, is among the iorerunners of material
development, the growth of law and order
aud general prosperity. In new countries,
of course, the struggle in the interest of
Q lucation is necessarily long and arduous
one, and in the United States the posSibili-
ties, particularly for higher education, have
been heretofore extremely limited, and our
students in consequence have had to resort
to the old and famous universities Of Eu'
rope for the most thorough education. IL
is true that Yale and Harvard and the Uni
versity Of Virginia have become
wealthy and well-known, but even
they do not compare with the great
seats oflearning in Great Britain, Germany
and France. 1t takes an immense amount
of money TO place college or university up
on high and famous plane, allording the
rarest and most comprehensive and
thorough training and not until within the
past ten years has there been disposition
ON the part of our wealthy to endow schools
and professorships and render them CON-,
plete and independent. 1t is gratifying to
those interested particularly in education
and to all who feel an interest in a matter
so directly affecting the glory and intellec-
tual development ofth country to get hold
of some figures which indicate pretty
strongly that sentiment with reference to
the subject is awakening and grow
ing wonderfully. Some magnifi-
cent gifts in the direction
have been made since 1871, and the
rich men of the land are leaving their prop
erty of late more than ever before to nour-
ish great seats of learning in the country
rather than to keep in idleness lot ofpoor
and hungry relations. The figures show
that within the last decade some $70,OO0,0 600
have been generously donated by private
individuals for educational purposes. In
1871 over SIS, 900 900 were given; over $9,000,-
600 in 1872; over $ll,000,000 in 1873; over
SO, 0OO, 600 in 1874; over 100000 in 1875;
over $5,0O0,00 in 1876, over S30O0,00O in
1877; the same in 1873; in 1879 over $5.000,-
900 again, and the same amount in 1850.
Since then number of great men, citizens
who are wise enough to see the necessity
for such action, and rich and gener-
Gus enough to contribute literally
to the cause have stepped forward and en-
dowed certain colleges and prolessorships
throughout the country in the most mu-
niticent manner. AS these endowments
become more frequent and extensive, so
will the excellence of the institution be-
come more marked through the ability of
its managers to introduce, in greater profu.
sion, the constantly improving instruments
and machinery for the study of the SCI
ences, more comprehensive library for
historical and literary pursuits, and ensure
men of greatest erudition and ability in
the various chairs. The figures given are,
as before suggested, extremely gratifying,
and point to doubtless far more generous
action in the same direction in the
future. II men of vast wealth
would only stop long enough in the accu-
mutation thereof to reflect, and determine
to place many OF their thousands
where they could do the most good as did
PEABODY, GIRARD, VANDERBILT and many
other well-known names, they would not
so much as formerly suffer their souls to
become possessed with the idea that they
must place sons and daughters in luxurious
! but idle and entirely ornamental situations
in society. Better endow them with the
most thorough education, give them a good
start and fertilize and develop, bless aud
improve society around them with the bulk
of their fortune remaining. In such course
there is both fame and honor
and incalculable good. In view
OF the fact that we are soon
to have n grand university in Texas, it is to
be hoped that, regardless of what the state
may do forit, it will suggest itself to many
of our men ct large wealth in the future
that they could not more certainly gather
unto themselves honors or do the state a
greater service than by endowing its chief
seat of learning or departments or chairs
therein with sums of money which will add
annually to the thoroughness, broadness
and practical character of the education TO
be obtained by theyouth of Texas. Wealth
can only bring its fortunate possessor fame
by being placed and used where it can do
the state and society some lasting good.