The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-19
HELPING DENIsoN.

1t is almost an axiom that newspaper u en- are
poor. Perhaps il is because as rule they are poor
business men. perhaps it is because few people
really appreciate and ready to pay for the work
the printer does for them. Be that as it may, the
fact remains that often the only way in which the
editor can assist in public enterprises is by the free
use OF his columns to promote the common good
This was the case in the library subscriptions
fortunately none OF the newspaper men of Denlson
could afford to join the wealthy OF the city in
their generous donations, but they could do every
thing within their power to promote the 1t
ought t. be potent to every that large and
we'll selected public library will be a wonderful
blessing to all the people Of Denson 1t ought to
be conceded by all that the man, who without any
interest IN our town save the desire to do good
wherever possible, who would Voluntarily offer one
thousand dollars for such purpose is philan-
thropst of the highest order. The conditions
asked were reasonable and for the best of the pro
|ject Even, SO it is said, 1.-The Lord helps them
who helps themselves" 1t was but just and rea-
sonable that the donor should ask that Denison
show its interest in helping itself by the addition
of sum to make the library success and it was
just and reasonable that the donor should say that
if the community did not care to do its share, he
could better afford to give his money to some more
IsPPreclatlve community. This was the spirit mani
tested by the majority of the prominent citizens ct
Denlson They appreciated the gt they felt that
1t would be a grand thing for the youth of benson
and for the people generally. The who inter
ested themselves those who need public
library the least OF any, persons in town. They
were for the most part who could amply afford
to purchase books for their homes an for their
families Nevertheless it difficult at first TO
raise so large Wealthy citizens not only
gave their money! but their time to the project, and
they asked of the newspaper men of Denson only
that they aid in every possible way to pub
lie opinion on the subject and present the case
SO that the men who could afford to give should see
its importance Last Monday perhaps the
crucial day in the history Of the subscription. it
was then if ever, that it was feared Denison would
lose the generous gift. At such time what
enlargement did they receive from a newspaper
that receives its support from the reading people of
benson, paper that from every standpoint of
honor and self respect and even Of selfnteres
should support every movement for the up building
of Denison, both materially and intellectually?
This the Bulletins contribution:
'.lhere is a big question about philanthropy of
donors who can afford to give thousands but who
give hundreds on condition. that others who cannot
dHOIu 10 give at all give thousands.
With its customary frankness and candor the
Bulletin mentions names AS the library prop
osltion in the minds of every resident of Den
lson it may be fairly assumed that the Bulletin had
heard of it and that this was the occasion of the
item above quoted.
Laying aside the ingratitude of ':loolling a gift
horse in the mouth, the Bulletins proposition is
not when applied to the for which it was
undoubtedly meant. The donor gave one thous-
and dollars and asked that the three thousand peo-
pie of Denison give an aggregate of $4,000. In
truth more than twenty-five men gave the amount.
making an erage of less than hundred dollars
each. They gave literally, they rose to the
gency grandly, Denson owes them deep debt of
gratitude; but instead of the first donor giving hun
dreds others thousands he actually gives dollars
to dimes in comparison with the average donation
to the fund. We do not say this in dlsparagement
of any Denison giver; seldom have any set of men
responded more generously, more promptly and
with less urging, but say this in justice to a
pure hearted and noble philanthropist, who with
out any local incentive, without any personal in
terest, with modesty which has denied to us even
the privilege of using his name in public print has
given city of strangers only the generous
gift, but the opportunity and the incentive to ac-
complish great deed. Had the majority OF our
wealthy and generous people taken the Bulletin S
view of the the project would have fallen
through the offer would have been refused to the
everl sting shame and disgrace of Denison it
would have been known the only town in the
United States that had refused SO liberal and dis
interested benefaction, and the opportunity for
having a splendid free public library that will be a
tremendous factor in the uplifting of the commun-