New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-29
rNuTSE PHILINTHROPT.

II wa, nj first reported that the authorities
Of ~,rlcu>. University Wcr' much dS1ppolnicd
- the absence of any Request iHr the John
Grouse Memorial College for Women in the
will a. the late u. Edgar C,ou,o, of Syracuse.
This in.ttuii II WAS built by Mr. Cr9u,r'>
father rs 4 department Of syracuse nlycr-
III, and "a, he did no, cndoW ii. there seems
10 have been an impress >iol that hi, son would
provide for il, support in his VIII Chancellor
Sims. houcyc,. say, tiat the Trustees Of the
University bad Il, roa>on to cNpcc' such pro-
vision and tia, they are grateful for and >tiS-
fed with what the two gentlemen did for the
Institution during their lives.
or course If the University is satisfied, NJ ono
else has any reason to complain. But while
fully a~lnov lodging the g,.d intent of men
Ike the elder Grouse. il giving their money
- establish NV institution, Of learning or
Philanthropy it is fair 10 ask if they always
a., wisely in 80 doing. Hove. for instance. Is
the John Grouse Memorial College for Women
called into being by 4 most prai>"Worthy de-
sire to promote - education OF women But
for reason, which no enc may presume 10
question. it was not endowed by the men whose
generosity created it, Tie result will be, either
department. will have t, assume the boricn
of il, support, when, perhaps. il is entirely
unprcpar,d 10 assume such i burden. or else
that the general public will have - be asked
for the money Nee saly t. keep il aliy'. IL
effect man who thu, calls an Institution into
being force, a great many other people 10 be
phanhIopic in order t. make hi, good decd
effective. Md there is IN q mcnt of injustice
in this An institution which has grown into
strength anl usciulncsS because it has como
10 supply want in the Immunity has claims
on the community that cannot be, and will
not be. ignored But an institutions however
great lis possibilities Of usefulness which comes
into existence through the 3c; Of one man can
not at hrSt have any constituency to which it
may lawfully appeal for support. Ii may gain
such a constituency by proving that it does
Il ccrt1n work better than any other similar
n.ttuiion. And Ia g proror,i a of the best
institutions Of leaning and philanthropy in
the ult.} exist to-da, because they have done
Ibis Though bat slcndcrly endowed. or not
endowed a all. they 50 evidently met the needs
Of the time that they did not have b call in
VAIN for generous endowment.
If. however. such an institution i not clearly
uCluf a. DHfillS' NlUiI Slilllld' lIN lUt OILS
are already in exist nee. which are effectively
doing what it was established to do. or if its
IcSabli,hm Mt 4. suits in financially cmbaIrlsS-
ing those 10 whose caro- it j. intrustcd tho
wisdom o. establishing it i open II serious
question II is u matter Of fact that many
wcll-mcaat glfts are .clincd by oilica bodies
SIN, Is because of the pccHrary expense they
would entail. The good intent of the civcrS
Is not questioned, but that good intent i, not
allowed to work injury t. the cause, whatever
il may be. which prompted il. The fact j. Il
man who desires t. be philanthropic must he
not only well-mcauing, Blu, wise in Cae @ days
when there are s. many noble monuments OF
phaEthrOpic impul,c already in existence.
Even in giving to existing institutions he may
make mistake, by choosing those that least
need aid and much more he may err by call
ing into being new institution. for which
there is no genuine need. and whose support
will take just 50 much from the strength Of
other institutions already in the field. There
i, homcIy saying iha; fool may sometimes
make money, but that it takes Il wise man to
keep it. 1t might be added with oven greater