The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-08
REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC USES.


The defeat Of Mr.. Tilden's wishes in reearc
70 great public library. a. expressed in hi
will. has been made the occasion Of a gooC
deal Of sound advice being given to men Of
large fortunes who are suspected OF enter
tanning the purpose Of leaving handsome be
quests 70 public uses under the provisions Of
their last testaments They are solemnly en-.
joined TO make the proposed donations in
their lifetime. and, indeed. in the light OF
the overthrow OF so many wills in which the
public at large was remembered. this adj
monition seems 10 have much wisdom to sup
port il.
We are. however. disposed TO think that the
advice will not be received with much favor
by those for whom il is designed. The Pratts
the Corcorans, the Peabodies are far rarer than
the men who wait until death has eItin-
gused their power of enjoying their wealth
before they turn it over TO benevolent OBJ
| jects. Still 10 leave great fortune for the
| establishment of hospital, an art gallery or
an university. il grand act, whatever may be
the motive that suggests it. Personal vanity
takes truly sublime form when il seeks 10
| perpetuate memory in magnificent struc-
| lures Of brick and marble. in which allevia-
| ton is afforded TO the pangs of desease, or
exalted pleasure 10 the most innocent of the
senses or education 10 minds that are eager
for instruction.
II there Is o human weakness which is easily
forgiven it is vanity which records itself in a
beneiaction which confers lasting benefits
upon men. nor should the gratitude which
such benefaction is calculated D. excite be
lessened by the fact that il was only created
when the ability TO enjoy the fortune which
was the basis of it has passed from the bene-
factor
As rule large gifts in the lifetime Of the
giver are considered as having truer philan-
thropy at their back than gifts to take effect
after death. If a man in making such gifts is
actuated by desire for applause, if he wishes
to enjoy while alive the praises that would
otherwise be layished upon him when dead.
he is yet prepared to make what is consid-
cred by the general run Of men 10 be the
greatest of sacrifces-the voluntary relin-
punishment of his money 10 very large sums
IN order TO promote the welfare Of those
around him. The generosity that takes this
form is honored, no matter what the motive
may be- because it contributes TO tho comfort, |
pleasure or advancement of so many.
The noblsst exempars Of this kind Of gene |
rosity which we have had in the United States |
were Mr.. Corcoran and Mr.. Peabody, who |
contributed 30 lavishly from their private for |
tunes to so many public uses and who |
erected in their lifetime many monuments to
their philanthropy which will perpetuate !
their names to the remotest ages No one
can justly charge these truly great men with
vanity in their exhibition OF generous spirit
on so vast scale The magnifcence of their
liberaity lifts their motives far above every
suggestion Of pettiness or meanness.
Few men who have lived in tue South will
have more enduring memory than Johns
Hopkins. who in the university and hospital
bearing his name raised monument to him
self greater physically than any with which
the names of Peabody or Corcoran is ascot
ated, and yet 1t was not until his death that
ais benefits took effect. Unlike Peabody or
Corcoran he felt no prompting 20 give when
10 give signifed personal sacrifice. On the
)ther hand his failure 10 give to the public
n his lifetime may have been due to an OBJ
ection or his part to the fame which he
would thus have won rather than TO parsI-
nony.
After all. the course which has been pur-
ued by Mr.. Pratt Of Baltimore and Senator
stanford of California seems TO be the one
hat is most reasonable. Both have in their
lfetime laid the foundations of great public
enefsctions and have sannounced their in
entions Of Leaving to the institutions which
hey have established the larger part Of their
ortunes. Thus they have been able TO give
heir personal attention to the objects of their ,
enerosity, have secured the proper DISPOSE
ion of the money which they have already
iven, have enforced their wishes in the be- Z
inning and made every preparation for the 7
eyelopment which is to follow hereafter ,
nder the influence of the requests to be re-
eiyod from them after their deaths. =