New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-25
THE HODGKIN'S BEQUEST.

IL
Government accepted gift from an English
gentleman TO establish an institution i'll Wash
ihgton for the increase and diffusion of knowl-
edge among men," and to be called after him
the Smithsonian Institution" Never was
money left which realized the intention of the
donor more fully. The wisdom and care of it's
first administrators Professor Henry, soon gained
world wide celebrity for the Institution and for
the man who gave it his name. Passing years
added to it, fame among men and its service to
science 1t was happy in its chief admins
traitors it was fortunate in its Board Of Control
The " Smithsonian Institution as body cor
porate is composed of men who have become
prominent in public life, and by that very
prominence have become members OF the body
for the organic act establishing the institution
provides that the President, icePresident and
the different heads of the Departments, as well
as the Chief Justice, shall be members ex-
officio of the Institution.' Further three Sen
ators and three Representatives are selected,
and TO this body of lawmakers an equal num-
Der of " citizens at large is added. 1t is to the
credit of republican government and to the
good sense of those prominent in the political
world that notwithstanding this political con-
tincent the Institution and its officers have been
probably more free from political influence than
any large corporate body in the world-mOre
so than numerous colleges which are sometimes
not only subject to interference for political rea-
sons but for sectarian reasons as well.
Such a career naturally has attracted admir-
ing attention and various requests have been
from time to time made, yet, with the excep-
tion of few they were cor .ngent on cond
.&,l.l l. NOT
be realized. But now gentleman, still lv-
ing, has given, conditions which the Regents
have accepted, the large sum of 100000 to
commemorate, as a special fund, together with
the name the wisdom and generosity OF the
donor-Thomas HoJgkins, of Setauket, Long
Island. The donation has been accompanied with
only one condition, which will not be onerous,
that the donor shall have the option of giving
another sum of S10O, 900 within the year. 1t is
not at once that the fruits of such benefcence
as Mr.. Hodgkins has displayed appear They
take time Ito ripen, but with the advancing years
the Hodgkins Fund" will become better and
better known and the numerous works which
will bear that name will constitute monument
more enduring than almost anything that could
be devised. One branch of science will especial
ly be forever indebted to the IIodgkinS Fund.
for second condition is that the interest of
500, 600 shall be permanently devoted to
the increase and diffusion of more exact knowl-
edge in regard to the nature and properties OF
atmospheric air."
The Regents may be supposed to have been
influenced in accepting this princely gift by
their appreciation of the broadness of the
benevolent purpose Of the donor, for there is to
be restriction in the application of the benefits
to be derived, to all mankind. What new dis
cOveries may be advanced by the incentives
now offered for research in this direction we
that our knowledge of the importance of pure
air to health and right living, and of the means
of procuring pure atmospheric conditions, will
be increased and result in the benefit of all men,
Such an example as that offered by Mr.. Hodg-
kinS should not be lost. There are many more
capable of giving out of their abundance. There
is room for many more Funds which NAV be
used for the increase of scientific knowledge
and as the Smithsonian Institution has proved
itself to be a wise and faithful guardian aud
administrator of the sums that have been con-
fided to it in the times past, there is no reason
why it should not be trusted in the future A
prosperous Nation is custodian Of its funds: no
embezzlement can diminish that. and no shift
ing policy can Illustrate the purpose of the
testator after his death as long as the Nation
remains true to itself.