New-York tribune., 1901-12-16
THE pERTLs OF PHILANTHROPY.

Tho cvnir who wanted some one to write
hook about the crimes OF philanthropy spoiled
his epigram by using the wrong word. A most
interesting book about the mistakes OF phllan-
thropy might easily be written. y story Is told
of a man in straitened circumstances who had
DISTINGUISHED himself not merely by his gen
erous benefactions, involving much seh-dehiai'
but by his personal service in behalf OF the poor.
in season and out of season he worked lor
Others trying so far as he could to bring
little comfort and happiness TO the downtrodden
and afflicted. Moreover he had Formulated
certain well defined views as to the great posi-
bilitfes of good open TO men OF large wealth.
With unlimited means at his disposal. ne de-
clared he could be of incalculable service 10
large segment of the submerged tenth Ihat OF
itself would be a great thing, but an even
greater result would be that other men OF
wealth would follow his example until hnaly
poverty and suffering would disappear. Such
was his theory. worked out of the experiences
of his own self-denying service for his fellow
men. and so consistent did il seem TO be with
the facts that no flaw could be discovered in it.
The world was simply waiting to he redeemed
by wealth consecrated to high and noble pur-
poses.
But suddenly to this man there came by
strange combination of circumstances an enor-
nous fortune, giving him an income running up
into millions and opening TO him the very door
of opportunity which he had so long desired
He did not for a moment hesitate as to his
course: he would carry out his ideas for the
uplifting of humanity, but he would first go
over his plans again in order to be sure that
he would make no mistake in the matter. In
this way some time passed, and his frlends
who knew Of his intentions began to wonder
lou ,tp1
some of them went to him and inquired why he
delayed. My friends" he replied. when l bad
mo money TO give away the problem of giving
seemed exceedingly simple. All that it in
''volved was to find out where it needed.
"I could not or at least did not, realize that
many indirect consequences follow a benefac-
''tion. and that even when money relieves an
Immediate need. and to that extent does good,
the relief Of that particular need may be the
"cause OF incaculable evils. But l see that
"now, and, seeing it, find myself unable to do
"many of the things that | once thought praise
worthy. For instance, a Christian man I
"would like to help the Church. But how am l
ito know that some specific gift to the Church
might not in years to come prove an evil
through the change Of belief and opinion in
''the Church that would make that gift harm
"ful in its operation? In the Church of Eng
harmful benefactions, diverting large sums of
money to wrong uses by the dead hand The
same is true of every other possible avenue of
'benefaction. Should endow some institution
with millions for the uplifting of humanity,
1.-The rapidly changing conditions of life and
population might easily make it not merely
useless but positively harmful, not to speak of
the fact that my benefaction might discourage
"other rich men from doing their duty, and
would almost certainly discourage its recip-
''ients from helping themselves. Moreover, it
lis well known fact that certain percentage
-'of those who are helped by institutional phi
''lanthropy are just those who are harmed by
the help and certain proportion of those who
would really be helped are not reached and
cannot be reached. For these reasons l am
thus far unable to carry out any Of my large
'plans for public service, I do not want to
have my money turn out to be a curse instead
'of blessing
1t will be said by many. of course. that this
man was hypercritical, the ultimate results
of his philanthropy were no concern of his; but,
waving that point. it might be urged that at
any rate he could employ a large part of his
wealth in relieving individual cases of destitu-
ton and suffering as to which there could be
no doubt But there are difficulties in that pro-
gramme. The girl Sadie Gold. who was ar
rested last week for begging, seemed TO one
| philanthropic young man worthy Of help. But
she turned out to be particularly impudent
| professional beggar, with money in the bank
| Yet this class of beggars excites the sympathy
| of thousands of tender hearted people. and
| many Of them become rich by their nefarious
| trade while the really deserving poor are neg
lected. Begging Is not the easiest thing in the