The evening world., 1900-05-03
MILLIONS FOR LEARNING.
N his Just published remarks on the close 81
another season OF the free lectures for the
people. given under the direction Of the
Board Of Education. Or. ieipriger says:

Board OF Education. Dr.. i~eipfiger says:
i Let me say iha, the lecture oours. give,
IN the adult a new hope. II has taught the truth
that nothing Ia too late M the tired near, shall
cease to p~alpitats" II has given 20 poor people
larger visions and loi,ier ideals II IA. pa, men and
women IN touch with noble souls Il, has brought
beauty into many a humble home and has con
tribu,ed thus 10 the happiness Of thousands
Figures are eloquent as showing how the lee
ture scheme Is increasingly growing In popular
favor and educational value. In 1890 lectures
were given In six places, ls6 lectures, To a total
attendance OF about 1900. During the season
which has Just closed lectures we're provided In
forty eight places; 1850 lectures were given. and
the attendance. was about $4,000.
The Evening World has q very pleasant lndi-
vidual interest In this free texture system and
Its glowing success. The scheme was conceived.
advocated and finally established by this paper.
and while the enterprise has expanded wonder
fully beyond It's original scope It has not out
grown its place in the care and consideration
Of Its founders.
At the annual dinner. on the occasion Of the
lecture seasons close, Commissioner Keller. OF
The Charities Department, delivered an address
on Education. the Ideal Charity" This simple
title carries a happy thought regarding the fres
lecture system. as a matter OF immediate note,
and also applying broadly 20 the promotion Of
educational work and Institutions throughon
the land.
While city and State endeavor to do their gen
erous utmost Tor the masses OF younger and
older knowledge-seekers within their limits. there
10 al~ays a wide and widening field for the erer-
else OF the liberality Oi the individual. How
well this field is improved Il indicated In the
figures collected for the Appleton Encyclopedia.
showing the gifts and requests for educational
purposes during the year 1899. In America. The
total OF the sums presented is SCI i5O. OOO. Only
those Gifts are included which amount to $1,000
or more. Il Is estimated that small donations
were made sufficient TO raise the grand tota, to
$50. 1000 600.
No country on earth ever made surh a record
- this for one year Of individual giving. The
nearest American approach to Il is So, down
for 1897, when the total Of contributors uas
100000 In 1895 the figures fell to ,3s. 900 900.
How large a part prosperity plays In the in.
creased ~hberalI;y Of last year Is Indicated by the
great proportion D! gifts by living men and
women. Rockefeller and Carnegie we're the mos,
liberal giyers. but they we're by no means alone
In the conviction tina, the time for one to b.,,os
most wisely is when he has power 10 personally
direct bis own benehcence. Mrs. Emmnns Bl,in.
sx-Mayor Hewitt. Edward Cooper. Helen Gould
e~h Low, Coils p. Huntington. J. ?. Morgan
Mrs. Leland Stanford and DR.. D X. Pearson
tchieagoD are Others who PERM, their good
works TO live with instead o, after them.
OF course, these gifts by living people NAV b.
ssgarded also as showing an Increased regard for
sas general cause which they promote. Tn. reflex
value Of educl.ion Is recognized a. never be,.i.
u benefits no, only It's direct recipients bu, Al,
ehe people and interests coming into association
Win them. So the living promoters OF education
md returns coming TO them. even as bread once
est upon waters.
Yer . conclusion. there are figures full of hope