The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-21


"when? whatT'
'I suppose
Gordon interrupted. not with excite
ment, but calmly:
"This is your life opportunity, Mr..
Marsh. Tell me frankly, IL you were
70 donate to Hope House outright the
property where No. 81 stood for park
purposes would IL seriously cripple
your buslnessY
mo, don't thiuk it would cripple
me-"
Then, will you give us that muchr
Gordon asked boldly and almost blunt
ly. But he was not in any mood to
wait or coax.
"Do you know how much that prop
erty is WORTH
mo"
ut cost me $4,000 to buy the lots
and put up the tenement" Mr.. Marsh
said imperlously.
John Gordon was silent.
$50 that you practically ask me to
donate $4,000 to Hope House"
minus the insurance on No. o."
said John Gordon quietly.
ut was insured for $60000," Mr..
Marsh said. while his face grow lit
tie red.
Gordon made no remark, and Mr.
Marsh fidgeted I'm hts chair and drum
med with his fingers on the edge of the
table.
"Why would It not be better TO put
up model tenement on the lotsf'
"a park would do more good"
"But the people who were burned
OUT
"They must be cared for, that Is
true. The interest excited by the ca.
lamity may lead 10 the tearing down
Of other areas and the building of good
tenements, But a park the size of the
whole burned area would be Of more
value to Hope House than even such
model tenement as you might put up
In place of No. 91.'
There was silence again Mr.. Marsh
got up and went into the bank. He
was gone several minutes Gordon
never moved. When Marsh came back.
he brought some papers.
"Pll have the property made over TO
Hope House." he said briefly.
THANK you." Gordon answered sim
ply. and again there was a silence.
81 want to make some atonement,"
Marsh spoke slowly, "Do you think
this viii be so regarded"
Yes; II will be great help TO u.s."
Gordon rose. and Marsh held out his
hand.
"T'n have the business attended TO
at once, and-and-I be down to Hope
House some time this week"
"Thank you. We shall be glad TO
see You" Gordon spoke gravely, and
after sinking hands he went out As
he went down the stairs he had a mo-
mentary tinge of remorse at the thought
of having done Marsh some injustice
or OF having accepted the gift Of the
property churlshly and In an ungra-
cious spirit.
But as he came back 10 the scene OF
the fire he said to himself: "Is II case
for effusiye thanks that this rich man
takes fraction OF the wealth that be-
longs 10 God and reluctantly lets hu-
manity get some pleasure out OF ~
He broke dozen distinct ordinances
relating to tenement house construc-
tlon when he ordered No. 81 built. He
put up a deathtrap and received money
for It's use He cowardly absented
himself from a knowledge OF the hui
man misery that his building housed.
and when a disaster fell directly trace
able to his criminal. greed he ran away
eN. f.I. IL
hand was responsible. Was IL, there
fore, in order that he, John Gordon,
and Hope House and the public should
fall down at the feet Of this man with
effusive and extrayagant praise for
atoning IN a small degree for a ire
mendOus wrOngl
Yet that 10 what the public, through
press and pulpit. did when 1t was
known what Mr., Marsh had done. His
act was lauded as "a most noble ex-
hibition Of philanthropy" "a splendid
example to others" "fne gift outright
10 Hope House-Mr. Philo II. Marsh
donates $4,000 worth OF valuable
property" Mr.. Marsh's minister men
toned the gift from the pulpit and
took occasion to use the incident TO
illustrate the growing habit on the part
Of rich men TO give sums OF money for
philanthropic causes. At what time
had that pulpit ever spoken out against
the lawless greed which characterized
this philanthropist when be allowed
his business methods 10 sink TO the
level OF barter in flesh and blood be
cause other men did the same and the
breaking Of ordinances was counted a
trivial thing simply because everybody
did it7 Is II not time that the pulpit
said something In condemnation OF
wicked and un-Christian ways OF max
ing money before II says much more
In praise OF those who give what they
have never rightly earnedl A philan-
thropist is not one who gives money 70
humanity that he has obtained By
wroAging humanity. Such a man Is
simply a hlghwayman giving up part
OF the plunder be has inlquitOusly stol-