St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-19
MINNEAPOLIS.
a BENEVOLENT MAN.

You are benevolent man." re-
marked an admiring friend to we'll
known gentleman at the Nicollet yes
telday.
"Wait minute, please" interrupted
the other. who had been addressed in
patronizing way. II have very pro-
nounced ideas concerning your benevo-
lent men, and it is exceedingly annoy
ing to me to be styled as such. You
may believe | am eccentric, but l must
say that | think differently"
''iad | the MEANS" exclaimed the
first gentleman, with his brow arched
in establishment, Il should aspire TO
that distinction, and feel proud Of it
when it had been generally accorded
me-
Il see our definitions of the word are
at great variance. There is Mr.. Blank,
To illustrate my assumption. Now, he
is commonly designated as a benevolent
man. What do you think of him?"
"Oh! he's too pharisalcal. But you
employ extremes. You must confess
there are great many benevolent men
in Minneapolis who should be emulated,
and who are enVied."
True; but that fact doesn't diSprove
the correctness of my theory. I'll not
Offel speciOuS arguments TO convince
you that l am right. The word 'benev-
olent,' when used in connection with
the people you have in mind, is misap-
piled. 1t is misnomer, as it were.
Why not say generous instead?'
~
''Tell me your definition of benevo-
lence," urged the other in surprise.
"Ah, but yOu are running off on
tangent now. said nothing against the
noun, but confined my criticism to the
adjective. I'll explain. My experience
with your benevolent man has been
anything but agreeable. He is a dis
sembler and he discriminates in way
that is unchristianlike TO be sue, he
gives lGvishly now and then, but you
will find that every gift is bestowed
where he will reap the greatest benefit
from it. In other words, lie seeks notO-
riety and fame, and he adopts the be-
nevolent dodge to encompass his end.
Every time he makes a contribution or
4 gift, you will read long personal
eulogy in the papers, When he comes
to private business matters, he IS
misery in his eXactiOnS. He would
squeeze the last dollar from an
unfortunate who is out of employ
ment, if the poor fellow happened
to owe it, and never distress his mind
about the want and misery the unfOrt-
innate mans family suffers for that dol
lar. These dollars gathered III this way
make gJodly sum in the aggregate,
and they are bestowed upon some char
liable institution of renown. and the
next day he gloats over the reputation
lie has acquired as benevolent man.
Oh! we have scores of Just such people
in Minneapolis. Every city has them;
but how few are there who 90 about
the world aiding the needy without os-
tentation-who give secretly where help
will do the most good? | dare say
dozen in this big city of 100000 souls,
with its wealth and plenty
II
81 begin to comprehend you. 1t is a
new idea to me. this distinction between
The benevolent and the generous man.
l believe your position is the right
one''
Il knew you would. I've given the
thing great deal of thought. l read
often OF munIticent gifts made to t0ler-
ably wealthy institutions, when it
makes my heart ache to know that there
are hundreds of poor people in Mime
apolis suffering for bread and for the
most common clothing toprotect them"