The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-04-28

: IF you. had annually 81 600, 900 or; so
to spare and wanted to balance your
account with the world by giving it
away, how would you go about the
task? + =
OF the many hundred men and
women4in the United States whose
fortunes aspire toward seven, eight
and nine figures, several notable ones
have put this question seriously to
themselves, and. have answered it by
going as gravely about the business
of giving away money wisely as they
went a bout it's: accumulation, And "a,
mighty business it has become, this
business of philanthropy, when it is
remembered that I'M America-the do
main of the dollar no more than of
the helping hand-upward of $S0,000,-
900. a year. is given away, of which
shining Niagara $4Q,000;000 rise H.
New York and: empty thence into the
overwhelming sea Of want. =. j..
Spacious as are these figures, it is
prophesied by the Charity Organiza-
tion; Society that the mighty stream
will be swollens beyond the average
this year, seQuential to several cloud
bursting donations made by individual
persons. But how, to repeat, do our
men of millions. give = away their
money? z? s:>F hand led and las. the
mood strikes 1them,, or methodically?
Methodically,.* I: in word, and with
such painstaking care that many call
but few are chosen as objects of
wholesale charity. =.
Miss. Helen Gould, with the intelli-
gent assistance of Miss Elizabeth Alt
man, annually disburses $500,000 in
charity. Probably Miss Gould sup
ports directly and indirectly more
charities than any person living. This
is conceded by the. Charity Organiza~
tion Society: While it does not mean
that she gives away such sums as are
recorded of the Rockefeller and Car
negie charities, on the best authority
her donations annually reach five hun
dred or more beneficiaries, very few
Of whom are aware of even the 'exis-
tence ;of Miss Altman. Yet to- her
most of them may return thanks.
Miss Altman probably receives &c.
900" a year.. and, considering her re-
sppnsibility and the amount Of work
she manages to. accomplish, she earns
her salary. For Miss Altman is the
examining and directing energy Of
nearly all the endowments and dona-
tions made by Miss Gould. She it is
who reads the thousands of begging
letters directed to her employer, only
one in a hundred of which ever passes
beyond the secretary. Consequently
the fate of nearly every applicant may
be said to rest with Miss Altman. A
favorable word from her means gener-
ally, the granting of an appeal and
very often her disapproval of the feas->
ibility Of proposed beneyolence is
it's death warrant so far: as aid from
this source is concerned: .~>. -.
e. Miss: Altman is a Vassar graduate,
and first met her present employer
some seven years ago when Miss
Gould, was, visiting the college Since
then she. has been an active agent in
giving away nearly $4,000,000.: Every,
check signed BY Miss Gould is made,
out by her secretary NJ = y; ~ =S=y g.: *:,s<
/? Some days an average OF two hun
dred begging letters are received and
read by this busy aim oner, and: an as
tonishing sameness ! characterizes,
most Of them. Were she given; to
talking you: might believe with her
that there are only a few primal tales
Of woe In the world 4 and upon those
the changes are rung over and over
again$in the same key BY thousands of.
charity applicants. - view 81 which,
It IS by, no means surprising: that "a:
large percentage OF such { letters are.
consigned sto} the: ample waste baskets
awaiting their reception On both sides:
Of her desk During one week recent
~ Miss Could Of raj her her ssecreary
eceived sappli cat ions. for sums Il Of
money aggregat ating nearly $2,000,000.= i
!. IA Ii: the n case Of Russell Sage aims
and. the man seem Widely divergent
He us the last person II to whom one.
wo,lld look for anE#5 Ell. not nomin mated.
iii the bond But t his wife f5is & Sdiligent.
in doing good she isI anI n I Give mem: