Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-05
GIFTS FOR PUBLIC USES
Modern of Generosity Conn
pared with Gifts of the
AncientS.

The founding Of a hero fund in Great
similar to his American foundation
brings Andrew Carnegie's gifts to public
uses up to about $3.50, 900, 900. Nothing to
this munificence in amount is known
in the history Of the human race. But the
accumulatlons OF wealth that make such
possible are only known to modern
times. The fabulous treasures of antiquity
are dwarfed by comparison. The name Of
Croesus has become proverbial for great
riches. but Croesus had but a modest for
tune in comparison with the holdings OF a
Rockefeller or a carnegie-less than $40, Co.,
900 of our money, according to the latest
estimates. 1t is a curious circumstance that
in the ancient world the Roman republic
was the scene OF the greatest Accommodations
of wealth. while in the modern world our
own republic has produced the greatest in
dividual fortunes.
But II private donation 10 public institu-
lions is on an ~unexemplified scale in our
own times. the spirit of munificence prompt
ing 1t is not at all unexampled, but is a
manifestation of a tendency that was
strongly marked in the ancient world. Her
odes Atticus, a citizen of Athens in the
first century of the Christian era, was ia
nous for the greatness and variety OF his
klilb. LlhG AnOTeN CdIleBle, lie SStHiS 10
have had an objection to dying rich, and he
certainly expended in the service of the
public the greatest part of the enormous
fortune he inherited. AS a specimen of his
way of doing things, 1t is recorded that on
visiting the town Of Troas, in Asia Minor,
he observed that the citizens were in trou-
BILE about shortage Of water supply, and
he gave them a sum equal to $500, 900 in
our money to build a new a%queduct. In
the execution OF the work the charge
amounted to double the amount, and when
he heard OF it he took upon himself the
additional expense. Whine many cities are
reported to have experienced his munifi-
cnce, Athens benefited by It to an excep-
Ntionsl degree. The theater, which he dedi-
Gated to the memory of his wife. Regilla,
was scarcely to be paralelled in the empire.
1t is said that no wood except cedar, curl
ously carved, was employed in its construc-
ton. Remains OF the stadium which he
gave to the Athenians are still In existence
to testify to its original magnificence. 1t
was 600 feet long, built entirely of white
marble. and was calculated to accommodate
the whole body OF the people who might
turn out at any one time on a public oc-
CASTOR.
These details which have been extracted
AASAA oADbb ~ " NANSiNAohAA III ~
character. Herodes Atticus was but one
among an immense throng OF public ,bene-
factors. Since Gibbons time archaeological
research and minute studies of inscriptions
have accumulated additional facts showing
how pervasive was the spirit CT generous
giving for public purposes. The latest worI
devoted to this period OF history is Dill
Roman Society" and in II a great ARA,
Of facts are given illustrative of this ten,
dency. Docks, warehouses. aqueducts
baths. roads. temples, markets and public
physicians supported by endowment wer,
among the gifts that came to cities Of tn,
empire from private generosity. A private
citizen bore the cost OF an aqueduct 70
Bordeaux, at an expenditure OF $4,000
Another benefactor, one Crinas, spent abou
$4,000 on the walls Of Marseilles. Plinl
was not rated as a rich man, but durinl
his lifetime he gave away for public pur
poses sums a~ggregating over 100000, tn,
gifts being OF a thoroughly practical kind