The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-09
PEORIA WOMAN'S GIFT
DEDICATION OF THE BRADLEY
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.
Endowed with $2,5OO,OOO by Mrs. Ly.
dia Bradley-Address by Secretary
of the Treasury Gage.

PEORIA, ILL.,, Oct. S.-ThiS afternoon oc-
Cured the exercises dedicatory of the Brad
ley Polytechnic Institute, to which a
wealthy Peoria woman, Mrs. Lydia Brad
ley, has given $2,5OOOOO. The building is a
very handsome and spacious one of white
stone and near by is another edfice of the
same material which will be occupied by
an Neurological Institute under the control
of the same board of trustees. A number of
prominent educators from abroad, fnclud-
ing college presidents, were in attendance.
The most notable feature on the programme
was the dedicatory address by Hon. Lyman
j. Gage, secretary of the treasury. Mr..
Gage said in part:
THE common phenomena of the sun lift
ing by its invisible power the waters of
the seas into the higher atmosphere, the
drifting winds pushing their burden of
moisture to the high mountains and lofty
hills; the falling rains, the renewed rivulets
and streams, the fertilizing meadows and
fields through which they run back again to
their resting place in the sea-these phe-
nomena rise in my mind as fairly typical
of the series of phenomena which receive
their visible expression here to-day. This
magnificent institution to-day dedicated to
posterity, is not the result of an accident.
Back of it somewhere in the years may be
read the story of self-denying effort, of in
dustry and enterprise cooperating with
natural forces, in gathering up the elements
of wealth. Here and now this gathered
force has broken in rich blessing on our
land. Fortified by it's benign influence,
mental life will here be quickened, new
powers of production will be brought into
existence. These again, uniting the powers
Rg1fI II
forces, will become new producers of wealth
and so, wisely used, the benign round of
gathering and of distribution may so on
forever. Compare this movement working
in true harmony with that law of ascend
ing spirals, which Mr.. Emerson graphically
described with another and more familiar
movement beginning in poverty and ending
in waste and shame. 1t is thus described by
a quondam, yet observant philosopher:
dustry creates wealth, wealth induces lux
ury, luxury breeds etfeminacy etfeminacy
ends in poverty and so the eternal round
is accomplished.
1.-The noble endowment to-day, dedicated
not TO ease and self-indulgence, not TO lux
ury and it's facilitating consequences, but
dedicated to higher ends and uses, TO the
education of the mind the skill of the hand,
to the formation of character, is lifted up
in sublime contrast to the lower and self
conferred round just described. Further than
this, it is an eloquent protest against the
acquisition of great wealth, for the narrow
and Improbable use of it in personal
this. With other noble endowments coming
more and more into view, as the moral
responsibility of accumulated fortune is
more fully realized, it constitutes q
good promise of a happier future,
wealth gives, will be joyfully rec
ognized, not in comforting benefits a
narrow group, bearing the same family
name, but will be exercised in comforting
benefits on all who, by virtue of common
ancestry, springing up, it may be, far back
in the hills of Cod are yet members one
of another, in the great family of man."
At the close of Mr.. Cages address the
institute was presented to the trustees by
the founder, Mrs. Bradley and accepted in
their behalf by their president, Oliver j.
Bailey. An address IN behalf of the faculty
was delivered by w. r. Harper, president
Of the University of Chicago, who is also
president of faculty of the Bradley insti-
tute. Mrs. Gage accompanied Mr.. Gage to
the city and was given lunch at the resi-
dence of J. B. Greenhut, president Of the
old Distilers' and Cattle-feeders Company
Mr. Gage was rendered a brief reception
at the National Hotel. After the exercises
Mr. and Mrs Gage departed for Nashville,