Connecticut western news., 1883-05-23

Peter Cooper. We determined then tC also call attention at an early date to the philanthropy of William E. Dodge. Each week since then events have trans pired which seemed to demand passing notice in our columns, and thus the subject has been deferred from week to week. The Century magazine for June, has an article entitled "Two RICH MEN" It coincides with our views and expresses them perhaps better than We could, therefore we have decided to publish the article without making any changes in it
 1.-Two men have lately passed away from life among us whom we should have been glad to make immortal. William B. Dodge and Peter Cooper were conspicuous examples of men of wealth using their wealth to promote the wealth of others. They, in their own manner of living, solved the prob lem of capital and labor, If all rich men followed their system, and found riches to be only means of doing good, all envy, jealousy and hatred of the rich would fade from the hearts of the poor, and society would be freed from one of its most vexatious annoyances and most threatening dangers. But where one man appreciates the true use of wealth, hundred regard it as only an instru- ment for luxurious indulgence and vul- gar display, or for miserly and mean ingless hoarding. It is this false use of wealth that loosens all the joints of so- ciety and makes our future uncertain The reason why the two men we have mentioned were fountains of blessing, is to be found not in demagogism, by which 8 Tweed gives coal to the poor as 8 means to secure votes, but in be- nevolence which seeks the welfare of others as its end. Dodge and Cooper sought no office or worldly honors. They were too noble to be receivers. They lived on the higher plain of giving. They understood the Masters words: ''It is more blessed to give than to re- ceiye." They had an exquisite delight (such as the miser or spendthrift never knew) in an economy of beneyolence, and made it the business of their lives to minister to the wants of men. What to the mass of men would be self-denial was to them the healthful out flow of 8 generous spirit. To have these streams dried up is calamity not only to those who were immediately benefited, but to the whole city, which 1ooses the force of these living examples of virtue.
 The great, greedy crowd of money getters were rebuked and bewildered when they saw the venerable man of four score and ten still planning how best to help the deserving poor. The weak creatures who make up fashiona- ble society could not but get a glimpse of an idea that there were higher prizes than dog carts and yachts, and all the paraphernalia of social distinction.
 Peter Cooper was the antipo- dal energy to that of certain other rich men in our community, dead and living. The one came from heaven, the other from very different place. The one infuses health into the community; the other poisons every thing it touches. The one energy is modest and loving the other is brass-browed as Saten, and stirs up the fires of hell in the human breast.
 To the youth of our city and country the two benevolent lives to which we have referred have been useful lesson. How many of these may have been brought over to the practice of virtue by these honored names? How many young men, ready to start in the selfish life of the multi. tude, may have been checked by the discovery In these examples of true1 happiness to be pursued by holiel road?
 The best sermon that can be preached on the subject of riches and their use is to point to these noble lives. They are facts and not theories. They cannot bt doubted or denied. They lived among us and left the truth established con cretely for the examination and admira ton of all. They have made nor glowing and striking the contrast be tween the pure joys of benefcence ano the feverish settlements, jealonsies trickeries, dishonesties, and cruelties o the grasp for gain. Many ,theoretic nos trums are recommended for diseased so ciety, but lives like those of Dodge ant Cooper give health wherever their infu ence extends"
 THE Managers of the American Bibl society have just presented their 67tl annual report.
 The receipts for the year for genera purposes were s598, ,64191. Of thi amount, $2S3, ,999.55 were received fo books and on purchase account; s184, 1920 from legacies; $6O, ,367. B in do nations from auxiliary societies, church es and individuals S32, ,394. AZ from ren tals, and the balance from interest an, other sources. Besides which $53,OOO have been added to tn trust fund, the interest of which alon is applicable for general purposes.
 The disbursements for manufacturin, and for all other general purposes wer S599, ,206, 80. For the foreign work o the society, to be expended during tn coming year, the amount of s164, 1886, 8 has been appropriated.
 The number of copies of the script ures issued during the year is 1,676, ,232
 Tho isauea of the aoeiety durin1 sixty