Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-01-08
The Year 1896.
Its bright and SeRmy Sides, illustrate
ed by Figures Complied by II Chicago
Newspaper.

Its Bright and Seamy sides, ILLUSTRATE
ed by Figures Compiled by Il Chicago
Newspaper.
| According to the compilations prepared
and published by the Chicago Tribune, the
sums represented by the embellishments,
defacations, forgeries and bank wrecking
of the past year in the United States
amounted to S0,40j,0 ,021, an average OF
about S7SS,S2 per month. The losses in
flicted in this way upon the confidence OF
the public were not as great as they were
in 1895. and fail far below the figures of
1S94-S25, 234, 112-when these forms of
rascality wrought most destructively in the
history of the country. The nearest ap-
proach to the record of 1894 was that of
1884, when the public were victimzed to
the extent of $22, lj4 900. The figures re-
lating to the operations of embezzlers.
forgers, etc, vary, of course, greatly from
| year to year, so that it is difficult to de-
termine from a record of this character
whether the world is growing better or
worse. The record by states shows that
New York occupies first place, with New
Hampshire second and PENNSYLVANIA a
close third. The losses are distributed az
follows: Stolen from banks, 50. 1896, $40:
by city and county officials, 81 1893, 975: by
agents, 81 ,O45, 600; by forgeries, S34l, 500:
from loan associations, S479,5s7; misce-
laneous stealings, -, 100000.
The suicide record OF the country since
1890 indicates a steady progression in the
number Of those unfortunates who find
life unbearable The list of suicides seems
to grow with increase Of population, but
the business depression OF the past few
years may account for the growing figures
to some extent. The suicide record since
1890 stands as follows 1890, 2O4O; 1891
3j3l; 1892, $3.50; 1893, 443G: 1894, 1912:
1895, $50; 1896 6520. OF this last num-
Der jO7S were men and l442 women, and
this proportion of about 4 to l has been
almost uniformly maintained from year to
year.
From this unpleasant, repellant exhibit
it is refreshing to turn TO a brighter page
of humanity. During the past year the
magnificent sum of $53, go, l20 was given
to charities, churches, colleges, scientific
and art museums, libraries, etc, by will,
or donated during the life Of the donors.
The amount named includes only gifts ex-
ceedng $1,000, so that it is by no means
for year. In 1894 the charity record
reached $40, ,967, ll6; in 1895, SIS, ,9i3, ,j49.
The largest single contribution to charity
during the year came from Anna X. As
pinwall of Plttsburg, Pa, who bequeathed
$1,000, 900 to various institutions, and char
table agencies.
1t is interesting to note that nearly
score of large donations and legacies were
given or bequeathed during the year for
various educational and charitable pur-
poses by unknown philanthropists. Yale
university was aided by some unknown
friend of the institution to the extent of
$4,000. Princeton received $400, 900
and Harvard 500, 900 from persons whose
names were not made public. The Uni
versity of Pennsylvania and other institu-
tions were also remembered by generous
benefactors whose names were withheld
from publicity. The sum of Sl,4l0,000
was given to charities in the country at
large by secret contributors.