Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-13
The Sage Foundation.

Ever since Russell Sage died and left his
vast fortune to his widow without restric-
lions there has been constant speculation
as to the manner in which she would pro-
coed to dispose of the millions at her dis
posal. Her personal inclination toward
philanthropy was we'll known, and there
was no doubt that she would employ her
means to a good, end. She was of course
besieged by begging-letter writers and di-
rect applicants for aims. They received
little encouragement, and this fact led to
the belief that Mrs. Sage was planning a
comprehensive work which would be insti-
tutional in character. This belief now
proves to have been justified. Mrs. Sage
has announced the endowment of "foun-
dalton" in the sum of $1O.OOO,0oO, to be
devoted to a research into the causes of
poverty and suffering, and the establish
ment of means of curing those causes.
This is the best form of charitable enter
prise, and from it should flow results of
lasting benefit to the millions of people in
this country who are now suffering from
the results Of ignorance, evil habits and
misfortunes. No enterprise. of course, how
ever well endowed, however wisely man
aged, can abolish poverty. No charitable
endeavor can avail wholly to eliminate
vicious tendencies, to educate the entire
mass of the people to a high standard Of
right living and right thinking. Such result
is reserved for the millennium. But much
can be done to lessen the evils of ignorant
poverty, to teach the members of the lower
strata of society how to avoid those evils,
how to conserve their energies. and, if not
to attain to aff1uence, to learn the ways of
moral, clean living and to appreciate the
blessings of wholesome surroundings.
Much. indeed. has been done in many quar-
tiers by local organizations. Here in tins
city, for instance, the Associated Charities
has worked with a gratifying measure of
success to the end Of curing the causes of
local suffering by treating them directly
instead of merely allaying the results.
Mrs Sage's benefaction is munificent in
its own proportions. but compared with the
gigantic problem to which it is addressed
it must be regarded, from the national
point of view. as merely suggestive and in
spirational. To be sure, the fund she pro-
vides will suffice for an exhaustive research
work, to lay bare the evils themselves and
to expose the causes. But whether it will
enable those in charge of the work to go
far in the actual cure of causal conditions
may be questioned. Ten millions will not
answer to create many institutions to put
into execution the principles established by
research. Indeed, Mrs. Sage herself recog-
mixes the vital Importance of so founding
the practical agencies of relief that they
shall be self-supporting, thereby strength
ening the principle which must sustain
the entire undertaking of truly curative en-
deavor. She has also been far-sighted in
stipulating that this enterprise shall be ma
tional in it's scope, while it may naturally
tho ,i,f fold nfr rcio
and application will be New York, where
the social problem presents a wide range of
aspects and where the need of reform is as
keen as anywhere, if not keener.
In choosing the trustees to conduct lnis
work Mrs. Sage has given evidence of
thorough understanding of the situation.
The men and women named are all now
identified with constructive charitable en-
deavors and their presence in charge of this
benefaction is guarantee of wise admins
tration.