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

st:ll 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
When the rich were by no means SO
many or SO wealthy as now, they
founded all sorts of charitable institu-
tionS-schools, colleges, chantr hos
pitals- At present they subscribe 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 a 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 at
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
emissaries beg in the streets They
work through the directory, and write
to each householder. Their boxes stand
in every public place. OF late they
have addressed worlkingmen. Bnt 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 its legs for
good and never feel the sacrifice, thou
sands who could do the like without re-
ducing an item of expen nditure. 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
attends 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
that of relieving distress, may be over
looked by busy men-and all million
aires are busy somehow. But it may b.,
said that each of them cherisheS some
: ,Iu,,,. - f-~"v-art or archaeology, sci
ence in one or other torn, ' 'o" ".@ uu.l.
ure, or sport at least. But very rev
are they who use their opportunity
even here. Many work hard-but only
in the same groove with men who la Dor
at the identical task for their livels
hood. Take the easiest and commonese
of such tastes The millionaire whO
devoted a hundred thousand pounds t..
horse-breeding, consulting men of sci
ence as well as experts, might do ena-
less good, with continual delight for
himself, and found at least new strait,
of thoroug hbreds But millionaircs dos
not show enthusiasm for sport COM
monty. Some, as is known to the Sc
1ect, apply themselves to science, and
spend money which would represent
fabulous sum to the bulk of savant.
but to them must be a triflc, in cxpcr:s
ments and researches We have heard.
indeed, of a bold and costly undertake
ing which an 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 intention to charge
this giganti object without witnesses,
so as to enjoy the unparalleled result
in selfish solitude Happily, a great
authority called as the moment, and
received an invitation to assist
face paled. Neither he nor any
one else could foretell what would
happen if that twenty-foot magnet
were set to work; but it was proba ble
at least, that the house would fall.
The thing still remains uncharged-or
corded that this gentleman has devised
any such scheme since he came in 20 his
patrimony.
Mil1ionaires of culture must be inter
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 uncov-
ering Uriconium. Poor men did what
was done mostly, and now that won
derful city is reburicd- Silchestcr is
another instance of our own day. But,
after all, British archaeology is a cone
horse" pursuit. The remains of Italy
and Greece appeal to the imagination
in very different degree; and not to
our English millionaircs alone, but 30
those of the civilized world. Which of
them at any time has responded to that |
appeal beyond here or there Offering a |
little check, such as poor authors and
professors rival?-London Saturday Re- |
view.
Black One Year and White tho Next. |
A woman appeared on the streets of |
Canton, Mich. recently who attracted |
much attention. She has perfectly |
white face and hands and short lSinlSy |
hair, with the features of a negro. The |
woman said that she was born black |
IND remained so until she was fifteen |
7ears old, when she suddenly turned |
white, remaining SO for one year, when |
he turned black again. Since that |
ime she is alternately white and black |
lot only in SpOtS but cbapoeS color an. |