Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-08-09
METHODS OF SELF-HELp.

METHODS OF SElF-HELP.
The Need of Protection for the Property Of
women-How to Secure to Them the
Benefits of Wealth.
Side by side with the greater facili-
ties for making money in this country.
there exists the opportunity for greater
changes and calamities in this direction
than the world ever saw before. This
is seen in the history of almost every
family, but it is still better illustrated
by the career of great institutions, be-
cause these are usually conducted in
peculiarly cautious and conservative
manner, and their funds would seem
safe from all but direct dishonesty. Yet
how unavailing is all human wisdom to
protect them! Some twenty years ago
Boston merchant, Benjamin Bussey,
created in his will certain trusts for the
benefit of Harvard University; leaving
money to the extent of nearly half
million dollars, whose income, after
payment of certain annuities, was to be
used, one-quarter for the Law
School, one-quarter for the Divin-
| ity School, and one-half for an
| agricultural and horticultural school,
now known as the Bussey In
stitution. In his will, Mr.. Bussey stated
in substance that, having long observed
| the fluctuations of real estate in Boston,
he had taken pains to invest his money
in manner approaching absolute GER
tainty, i. e., in improved real estate in
the very heart of Boston. This was all
that could be done for safety, it then
seemed, by the most experienced in
vestor; and after this great stone
building with ample greenhouses, was
erected in 1871, and when the Bussey
Institution went into operation 1t was
believed that it would be independent
of students fees. Then came the great
Boston fire, and swept away the very
buildings which had been chosen as the
one safe investment; when they were
rebuilt, the expense was so much great
err as instantly to cause vast shrinkage
|
come available for the Bussey Institu
ton, which, in 1872 was $16,447. SO, is
now but some four or five Thousand dol
lars, not much more than enough to
cover the salary of a single professor.
Thus difficult is it for the utmost eau
ton and experience to discern what
method will keep wealth together even
when it is obtained. The wheel of for
tune in these days is more disguised
than formerly-covered with gliding.
yelled by roses, but it is the same old
wheel after all.
Others of the great educational insti-
buttons of the country-Harvard College
proper, Johns Hopkins, Boston Uni
versity-have gone through some sim
liar diversities of fortune within the
last twenty years. II now it is thus
hard to preserve the property of a col
lege, how much harder to preserve that
of a woman, from loss or disappearance!
1t is subject to thousand risks, not
merely fires and failures, water in
mines and strikes on railways, but it is
also at the mercy of her own ignorance,
her impulses, her generosities-of UNI
faithful guardians, spendthrift brothers,
mercenary lovers. Every father wishes
to guarantee a life of comfort, or at
least of safety, to his daughter; but
which is the better guarantee, prop
erty invested in what seems the very
safest manner, like that of the Busy
Institution, or the frmer investment of
good health, good abilities and good
education? A young lady was known,
who, having suddenly lost large prop
erty, was utterly broken down by it,
and remained helpless invalid for the
rest of her days A young lady is
known. who, accustomed to all the habs
its of wealth, has seen her expectations
otproperty suddenly vanish, and who.
,, having just completed her college
. course, has already with indomitable
: energy found place in journalism,
: while her spirits and energies seem ut
: terly unimpaired. or course, both
these are individual cases, but they in
= dictate in some degree the difference be-
tween the old days and the new. Wo-
men are outgrowing the old habit Of
!. complete and disgraoeful dependence;
>, they are learning the lesson Of relf-help.
-Harper's Bazaar.