New-York tribune., 1907-10-07
ENGLISH MILLI0NiIRES.
Why Their Benefactions .Ars
Cramped- They Are Staged.
London. September %

torial homilies. The MOseIey commission has
already laid stress upon the modernness OF spirfs
of educational processes in the New World and
consequently his illustrations, drawn from sta
tistics of the secondary schools of the truth ths.
practical subjects we're the most popular among
the student class were seized upon by English
commentators as significant data for criticism
OF their own schools as lacking the adaptability
required for promoting the liberal education OF
the industrial classes. This moral is drawn
whenever a comparison is made between Eng
lish and either German American schools
Another of the ambassadors points has at
tracted even more sympathetic comment than
his exhibit OF the preference for algebra over
Greek. This is his declaration that the chief
element in securing the widespread diffusion OF
higher education in America is contributed by
the munihcence of individuals. Leader writers
are impressed by the fact that three men have
supplied f1jOO0O00 for the maintenance Of
five universities and that gifts minor scale
amount to a stupendous aggregate The
Morning Post" with characteristic candor. re-
marks: 1T may be said at once that We have
very few rich men in this country whose CON-
mand of ready money would enable them to
emulate such generosity toward the public
vice The comparatively meagre response mads
to the appeals put forward on behalf OF the uni
versties of Oxford and Cambridge would seem
to show that such is the case, and even the
Rhodes bequest splendid though it was.
made rather In the interests of imperialism
than of education
Why are wealthy Englishmen less liberal to
schools and universities than American mill
ionaires? That is the question raised by the re-
viewer whom I have quoted; and the answer
given by him is that the English millionaire. be-
ing a sensible observer is convinced that the
Of tt,a *
ed on the best possible lines. and hence he with
holds from II the practical expression OF his
sympathy and support. This is an effective
method of binding together comments on two OF
the ambassadors main points-the modern
spirit of the American system and the munid-'
cence of individual support. Yet il IS hardly an
adequate explanation of the meagre contribu-
tlons made by English millionaires to universe
ties and secondary schools. The surplus wealth
is here. as Is shown by the produce Of income
taxation and death and estate duties but It Is
systematically used for state purposes. and
there Is a beggarly remnant for public bene-
factions. Direct taxation has been carried to
an extreme point, where the gospel Of wealth
loses it's touch OF inspiration The millionaires
income during life is shared with the state
a graduated scale of cumulative force. and when
he dies large percentage of the principal is
lures Why should he be moved 10 make gen.
erous provision for universities in his will? Is
not such surplus wealth as he has the main re-
source OF the Chancellor of the Exchequer in
balancing the national budget and financing So
cial reforms? Neither the will nor the money
remains for such benehcence as Is known in
America, where the educational system is sup
ported with prodigal generosity. Realized
wealth is regarded in England mich COW
that can be steadily drained for purposes OF cur
rent taxation and the result is that the univer-
stiles and schools go begging, and there is cadg-
ing from beginning TO end of the year for hospi-
tails, charities and philanthropic and religious
enterprises of all kinds NiiIronaires are hu-
man. If they are forced to be spendthrift tax
payers they are not likely to become almoners
of surplus wealth to the universities
The millionaire is as prominent on the modern
stage as in the columns Of fashionable inteui-
gence. In farce he is caricatured as a vulgar
creature, who is shooting folly as il flies; and
in comedy he is portrayed a sadly bored per-
sonase. weary OF the publicity. marriage in
trigues. social attentions and tmportunate beg
ging To which his money exposes him From
the box office point of view he is a good draw
ing property. because stalls. galleries and pit
are constantly thinking and talking about him;
ana it is better business 10 represent him as
dscontented with his lot than as reconciled to
1t and in full enjoyment OF great possessions
because the audience retires in a pleasanter
mood. convinced that wealth IS not the sub
starce of everything to be hoped for. Brew
ste-s Millions has been a prolonged success
and the new manager OF the Court Theatre
opens his season with an equally eccentric mtl-
ionaire on exhibition. Barry Doyle's Rest cure
is stage made play written by two actors.
Mr.. Gayer Mayer and Mr.. Robert Ord. and Il
presents the millionaire not as Re is known in
life, but as popular audience finds recreation IN
thinking Of him. His fortune has come TO him
from that stage convenience. a deceased uncle.
when he was roughing it in Australia with
Congenial companion. Jack Harverson. and the
pair OF adventures are occupied in Park Lane
with managing the estate and facing the temp
tations Of smart society. Doyle is so hOpeessy
bored with matrimonial intrigues and mer-
ceCary companions that he insists upon retiring
to a Highland shooting box and changing name
and state with his private secretary. This stage
worn device enables him 10 take his rest cure
of responsibility after kady Hazel Pearce-
Warrener. responsive 10 her mothers match
making. has accepted his suit. but has blurted
out the truth that she secretly prefers Jack
Harverson without the money. In real life
millionaires do not attempt masquerades OF this
SOFT any more than heiresses court the idyllic
adventures recounted in Under the Greenwood
Tree: but vagaries Of mistaken identity help
to entertain audiences. and this is a play writ
ten for actors with a talent for Disgusting their
styles.
When the scene is shifted 20 Scotland charac-
ters and habitations become even more unreal.
The Earl and Countess OF Strathesk are so pow
erty stricken I'm their castle that they are
duced to the shift of opening museum OF spur