Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-11
PUBLISHERS ANNOUNCEMENT
MEMPHIS APPEAL
The VALUE OF USEFUL LIVES.

The VALUE OF USEFUL LIVES.
The American youth, in selecting models
for imitation, should study the lives OF
such men as Alexander II. Stephens and
Peter Cooper. The former died a week ago,
and his death was regarded az a national
calamity. The American people, relentless
as they are called in the pursuit OF wealth.
stopped at the threshold of his grave and,
with uncovered head, paid reverence TO the
memory Of a citizen whose useful life had
won universal esteem. The worlds criticism
OF him as a politician was swallowed up in
its regard for him az a man. The State of
Georgia was profoundly grieved. Nearly
every family felt that it had lost cherished
idol. The people hocked to the capital of
the State to attend the funeral ceremonies.
This feeling of love and affection
was inspired by the value of the
useful life which Alexander II. Stephens led.
He had ample opportunities for becoming
immensely rich, but he contributed his earn
ings TO charitable purposes and died COM
paratiVely poor. 1t is said that he has
educated 122 poor boys and girls during the
past thirty years. Peter Cooper is still liv-
ing, but when he takes up his abode in the
silent land of the sleepers, the American peo-
pie will also honor his memory. He worked
in his early youth to accumulate money; ;
but the motive which nerved his arm and
gave activity to his brain was in the hope
that by labor he might accomplish good and
Tighten the burdens of others who, like
himself, had to commence an unequal
conflict with the world. With the
years he worked to the goal of his
lofty ambition. until full fruitien came.
Now, in almost every State in this Union,
there are meu and women made happier be-
cause Peter Cooper lived. Because of these
benefsctions, it was proposed to erect a
that the venerable philanthropist can see.
while living, the honors that are to be
paid his memory when dead. But the good
man would not permit ii. He has no fear
as to bis fame. He knows that his name
will never die; that he has so used his
wealth that posterity will do justice TO his
memory. Cooper has faith in the gratitude
of his countrymen, and in this he is not mis-
taken. for come good genius lowered over his
rude cradle, and, all unconscious to him,
pressed the signet of Immortality upon his
brow, and his name will live long after
the Cooper Institute shall have erumbled
into its original nothingness. For fifty
years he has been .molding living statues
in his honor that are imperishable. His
body will soon be in ruins; but his name
aud fame will grow brighter as the years
roll on. On the other hand, contrast the
wasted lives of the rich men of the present
day with the useful careers Of Stephens and
Cooper, 1t is said that there are dozen
rich men in the United State whose sggre-
gate wealth will amount TO 81 600 100000.
But what are these millionaires doing to
alleviate the sufferings of humanity? Alb
solutely nothing. The only posthumus fame
the will leave behind them will be the rat
Ting of the clods that fall upon their
collins, Think of a man with mil
lions Of dollars resting his enjoyment in this
world and his memory after death upon
having a fine house, a choice stud OF horses,
AID costly paintings which are valued be,
cause the world extols theml Not word
these rich men ever uttered will lovingly
survive them. Their few acts OF charity
will be remembered only to perpetuate their
niggardly parsimony. They never gladden.
the hearts of the poor, never lift up the arms
Of bright boys and girls, never build school
houses, hospitals and churches. There is
nothing before them but the grave and
oblivion. A foreign telegram in the AP-
PEAL of yesterday announced that the
remains of John Howard Payne had
started for home. Somewhere on this beau
tiful Sabbath morning, out on the stormy
Atlantic, ship is plunging over the wild
waves within which there is q casket hold.
ing the dust of one who died thirty years
ago, and which is being brought home to
receive honored burial in the soil of his ma
tive land. He WAS 30 poor that he first
found sepulture through the charity of low
irg friends. Now his bones are being re-
turned to his own country, and when thou
sand wears shall have advanced and receded
he will still be lovingly remembered, be-
cause once in his loneliness and tenderness
he set bis thoughts to words, and those
words are now being sung by men and
women in every nation on earth, and always
will be. The rich men of America, with
all their money, cannot buy for themselves
the sacredness which cliugs to the molding
bones of the man who wrote "Home, Sweet
Home" They cannot achieve Immortality
by worshiping at the muses. shrine, but
their names will live in song and story, il,
like Alexander Stephens and Peter Cooper,
they will use their opportunities in ale
WAITING the sufferings of humanity.