New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27
A MILLIONAIRE'S MILLIONS.
Copyright. 1885.

~ ,,rosapt nurnose very little Peter had inherited
= million or two from his father he had specu-
lated he had built a railroad; he had made for
tuuote investments in real estate hc had DOughI
and sold sagaciousy and prof ably EVerythine
in his hands had turned to gold, and the lowest
calculations of his friends and neighbors piaceu HIS
wealth at least at a hundred millions.
Strange to say, Peter Goodbond had conscieuce
Tn the midst of his greatest triumphs and all the
cclat of success he had asked himself at times
whether it was right that one man should com
mand SO much wealth while Others had scarcely
food for their mouths. lie had not, he truly be-
Iieved. acquired any of his vast fortune by DIS
honest means 10 had bought ami sold. speculated
and invested according to tho accepted methods Oh
the civilized world and he said to himself that MS
conscience was clear. But IN truth it was not clear.
4 lurking something kept whispering that he had
mol created his wealth, nor earned IT, bat lad SIM
ply accumulated 1T that so much wealth conId nO1
fall to one mans lot without injustice somehow 10
otaers that his great good fortune was possible
Only in n community governed by law. ana ny the
consent of its members This thought grew upon
him "a his years III reased and his wealth multi
Piled.
Peter was man of intelligence. He had read a
little: observed good deal; possessed no ltte
natural sagacty, and with all this there existed
latent sense Of Justice. Hence the result OF this
thinking and brooding was that in his hlty-iith
wear ho determined to withdraw from further
money-inaking and devote the rest of his llle 10
enjoying sud distributing his millions lie was
man of family and had many connections; but he
believed that ffty of his hundred millions would be
ample for his heirs. ana cndow his relatives
literally He determined therefore, !hat fifty
millions should be devoted in some form to the good
OF the public.
Fifty millions for the public good! That was
great deal of money even if only half OF his
splendid fortune. what man of wealth had ever
given so mucha as it not possible hc asked
himself, ito do great deal of good with fifty
miIlions2 do not want" he added " to do good in
n small way or by small means. / want to dc some
thing monumental something that Will be recog-
niled rs a lifting result of great wealth wisely
expended"
Peter was not without vanity. nor above making
"a reputation from his beneiiceucc. lo rather liked
the idea of ccat and applause for what he might
do Human motives are mixed We neod not
inquire too closely into all the secret purposes Of our
beucicent glyer IL is sufficient that If not wholly
disintercstol. ut bottom he was animated by on
honest purpose to render the people some signal
service.
Bnt howl What should he DO with his fifty
milliousl How coud he most eiiectrally employ
this great wealth for the permanent advantage oi
the community
He supposed ut first that it would be easy to
determine what to do with his money. but when II
became necessary TO act there ar0s" questions, and
doubts and uncertainties, and difficulties. Having
a conscience as | have said, he wished to give
wisely Had notoriety been his sole purpose, 1t
would have been cis, o. make ostcntatons gifts to
the right aud left. The question, then. that daily
grew npon him in Importance and magnitude, was
What shall do with M fifty millions"
"Gye % the poor great many sad to him.
Beng as / nave ntimltel, an intelligent man.
and having a habit of thinking. he unused long
upon the ri -ht means of giving to the poor.
How can l." ho asked himself, render any
genuine or permanent good TO tho poor by
distributing aims among them Supppsing those
aims 10 fall into the yht hands assuming that
they are used wisely and not in sef-indulgencc. viii
not NY whole fifty millions disappear like a shower
into the SEA. and leave not sign behind No; |
am afraid that II my wealth and the wealth Of the
Astors and the Naudcrbilts combined was distrlb-
uted among the poor the poor would four five
years after ward be simply the poorer in conse-
qucncc Nothing is more hurtfnl than to encourage
/ reliance upon others nothing more injurious than
TO lead people to depend on anything but them
selves. There was Gerrit smiths experience. lie
gave 80 literally and unrcservedly that his
| townsproplc were simply converted into a
/ con munity of bcggars There IL the incident told
| by Herbert Spencer OF bcqucst to an English
village. the people of which became so demorazed
! in consequence that Parliament had to be invoked
to cancel the gft. Is it not notorious tina. as the
poor rates IN England increase pauperism increases
! mo. no. Peter resumed alter pause; " me re
| giving won't dot Is the worst pandcea ever
| devised. Men must be encouraged.to he frugal TO
! be selfreliant, to he Industrious and ambitious, to
! I rpt1. ftv
millions so rs to BRING about a better condition
among them without weakening these necessary
/ uualitiesf Their wages are often wretchcdy low.
/ Can ! with my fifty millions remedy this evil TO
any degree Shall set up new mills and factories,
start now industries in ordcr TO pay better wages
! But could better wages be maintained except at a
! loss II not, should simply be supporting small
! group Of people ut my cxpense-makng chem but
little better than respectable pSupers. This Guild
| be doing harm, not good. And then the mills are
now many of them silent prices are ruinously low,
and people talk OF ovcrproducion 1t is certain st
least that our warehouses aud granares full.
There is, moreover, capital in abundance ready Tor
investments of this kind. | wish to do some perma-
nent good not to enter into competitive business.
How shall do it ~
"There are the hospitals and tho organized
charities"
Peter had habit of discussing all subjects
with himself There was another voice, rs it were,
that suggested, that roplicd, that contested that
established a dual action in his mind. 1t vas this
other voice that raised the question of the hospitals
and charities
ayes" muttered Peter. " there are many of them.
Some of them well endowed Others langnIsh no
doubt for money Some confer real good others |
am afraid, only operate as all other means for mere
giving operate as only temporary amelioration
of want Still others fear are OrganiI cd To give
Interested officials good berths. Shall build new
hospitals Hospitals certainly relieve Distress and
they are useful. when partially or fully self
supporting. Money to n moderate extent is not
likely 81 be misplaced here l must build a
hospital, set already existing on firm ground.