The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-01

still take interest in the question, what
ever it be- But somehow his mind can
no longer grasp the obvious fact that
he himself might settle it, once for all,
by applying no great proportion OF the
money which lies idle at his bank.
1t is clear, also, that this malady
grows more common, and intensifies-
When the rich were by no means SO
mary or SO wealthy as now, they
founded all sorts of charitable institu-
tions-schoois, colleges, chan tries hos
pitfalls At present they su bscrfbe just
like anybody else, and their contribu-
ton often enough is not more liberal
than that of men whose capital is no
greater than their income In the
building Of churches alone do few of
them make show of rivaling their fore
fathers munificence. But those sub
scriptions acknowledge the obligation.
A millionaire who fatty refused to do
anything for his fellow creatures could
not be charged with inconsistency a
least But he who gives a hundred
guineas or SO, when piling up hundreds
of thousands for probate, admits in eff
feet that he ought to do what he can
But if he chose, what could he not do?
Our hospitals, for instance, make des-
pairing appeals year by year. Their
enissaries beg in the streets They
to each householder. Their boxes stand
in every public place. OF late they
have addressed worlkingmen. But all
the while there are hundreds of capital
ists-not less kind-hearted nor less in
telligent than other people-who could
set the largest of them on it's legs for
good and never feel the sacrifice. thou
sands who could do the like without re-
ducing an item of expenditure The
action would be pleasant, one might
think, and certainly it would honor.
Why do none of them perform it? Be
cause, we apPrehend, their perception
is dulled by the strange malady which
attic nds great wealth.
The diagnosis becomes more reason
able yet if we look beyond the calls of
philanthropy to personal interests Du-
ties which are shared by ALL such as
that of relieving distress, may be over
looked by busy men-and all million
aires are busy somehow. But it may be-,
said that each of them cherisheS som~
private fancy-art or archaeology, sell
ence in one or other form, horticult
urc, sport at least. But very few
are they who use their opportunity
even here. Many work hard-but only
in the same groove with men who a Dor
at the identical task for their livclia
hood Take the easiest and commoncss
of such tastes. The millionaire who
devoted a hundred thousand pounds t.
horse-breeding, consulting men of SCI
encc as well experts, might do end
less good, with continual delight for
himself, and found at least a new strain
of thorough breds. but millionaires du
not show enthusiasm for sport COM
monty. Some, is known to the Sc
lect apply themselves to science, and
snendi <'1..::aney which would represent
fabulous sum to tie 'b6R 6t 81 So" NJ.
but to them must be trific, in cxpcr:.
indeed, of bold and costly undertake
ing which eminent parsonage, still;
living, projected in his youth. He
caused magnet to be built of such
size and power as had not yet been i'm
agined. 1t was his in tention to charge
this gigantic object without witnesses.
SO as to enjoy the unparalleled result
in selfish solitude. Happily, great
called at the moment, and
received invitation to assist.
When he saw the reparations, his
face palcd. Neither he any
one else could forctell what would
happen if that twenty-foot magnet
were set to work; but it was proba bic,
at least, that the house would fall
The thing still remains uuchargcd-or
did a few years ago. But it is not re-
corded that this gentleman has devised
any such scheme since he came in 90 his
ested in antiquarian researches which
throw light upon the past They com
monty subscribe, indeed, when an en-
terprise of the side is launched. But
how much does English archaeology
owe to them? We believe that twenty
pounds was the largest contri button
Thomas Wright could persuade any
rich patron to advance towards unrov-
ering Uriconium. Poor men did what
was done mostly. and now that Won
derful city is reburied. Silchester is
another instance of our own day. But,
after all, British archaeology is n ''onc-
horse pursuit. The remains of Italy
and Greece appeal to the ina gination
i'll a very different degree; and not to
our English millionaircs alone, but to
those of the civilized world. Which of
them a any time has responded to that
a ppcal beyond here or there offering a
little check, such poor authors and
professors rival?-London Saturday Re-
view.
Hack Ono Year and White tho Next.
A woman appeared On the streets of
Canton, Mich, recently who attracted
white face and hands and short kinky
!.air, with the feature of n negro. The
woman said that she was born black
nd remained so until she vas fifteen
years old. when she suddenly turned
white, remaining SO for one yea, when
she turned black again. Since that
time she is alter aately white and black,
q OF only in spots, but changes color en-