Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-29
A YEARS BENEFACTIONS.
Possession of Great Wealth a Possible
ity of Great Good

1ty OF Great Good.
From the Toledo Times.
The accumulations Of large fortunes
makes the problem Of their surplus in
come distribution one Of considerable So
Geological Importance. There are generally
speaking. three ways in which our multi
millionaires dispose of their surplus earn
ings. The first, and perhaps the most COM
mon way, IS to put them at work amassing
new gains, though in rate not at all
seometr1c. For a millionaire is exceeding
ly fortunate now II. out of varied line of
investments, he gets per cent net return,
and usually the larger the sum of the in
vestments, the smaller the rate. Other men
spend their vast earnings In personal graft
hcatlon. display and extravagances. From
false standpoint of political economy,
these men have in the past been commend
ed for the fallaciouS reason that they keep
money moving" Such vulgar displays as
the Brad,ey-Martin ball. and other vagaries
Of the New York freak 4OO are now recog-
nized by sensible people economically
wrong and socially pernicious. since they
set the seal of approval upon what cannot
be profitably or properly initiated by the
ing stables and other similar luxuries. is
even looked at asaSant by the rigid econo-
mists Of the present day.
The possession Of great wealth is a pos
sibility of great good, and men Of CON-
science. intellect and good taste who. from
scrupIe and inclination, alike revolt from
mere vulgar ostentation and qualification,
are finding in various fields of phianthro-
Ply outlet for their surplus resources
well a field of surpa ssing promise for
the exercise of the highest qualities Of head
and heart. Statistics just compiled show
that during the year now almost past,
contributions to educational, religious and
charitable objects and institutions have
amounted to almost s61,OO0000
This Is about s1S.00o,00O less than last
year. but is away above the average for
the past ten years. In this summary dona-
tons of less than 81 900 not considered.
SO that the estimate would be immensely
sWe,led if all the lesser gifts could be
counted. This showing seems to indicate
that there Is growing disposition to make
philanthropy partner OF prosperity, a
tendency to give helpfully instead of pau
perzing men by benefactions. Large CIV
ing by men of wealth to educational char
liable and religious institutions is consider
ed now not as much an act OF charity as ,
the discharge of sacred trust. The press,
pulpit and people apply the lash of scorn
and disapproval to the vapid vulgarities OF
a Castel.ane. while they have the most
profound respect for the type Of which
Helen Gould is such an illustrious ex-
ample.
The conspicuous and somewhat fantastic
declaration Of Andrew Carnegie that 1t IS
a disgrace to die rich. voices sentiment
which the world is rapidly schooling Itself
to utter and to morally support. With all
the vast sums given in aid of Humanitarian
and religious effort there Is a record OF
frugality and result on their part that Is
most inspiring. There are new fields yet
all undeveloped. while the old ones stlil
call loudly for more tilling. series OF
strongly endowed, well edited and power
fully independent newspapers is one Of the
most attractive, but uncertain, projects OF
present interest for this spirit of giving.
while church and school. library and mu-
scum, are all fruitful with promise.
Wealth, in any event, Is not in the future,
with popular approval. to be used to help
men, but to help them to help themselves.
This is the true spirit of benefaction, and
its proper development and application
offers as attractive and difficult problem
as any policy Of finance or commerce y
higher school Of political economy shall
teach the twentieth century that 1t is more
Wasteful to permit the loss or dissipation
of human activity through ignorance or
crime than to suffer loss in any other. or
indeed all other kinds of energy. These
philanthropic ideals Of ours will become
axioms to a more refined and practical age.