The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-04
THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1911.
Is Happy
In Giving.

In this day of commercialism the
deeds Of good men are oftentfmes over
looked and we know little of what is
going on in the way of giving to hu-
mainly by the wealthy Of the country.
An example may be taken from the
I life Of DR.. Daniel K. Pearsons, Of Chi
cago, who recently celebrated his
ninety first birthday by giving three
hundred thousand dollars as his last
contribution for public benefaction.
During the last twenty-tw years
this good man has given away many
millions of dollars to colleges, schools
and missions. He has given freely to
forty eight colleges in the United
States as well as a dozen smaller
schools and he has aided foreign mis-
sions in a work that has established a
belt of education around the world.
One OF the colleges which has received
contributions from this great philan-
thropist is Rollins College of this state.
and the good work of this institution
Is known to Floridians.
At the celebration Of his birthday
many gathered to do honor to DR..
Persons and hundreds of letters and
kilograms were sent him at this time.
DR.. Pearsons has now given all Of his
substance to charity. For twenty two
years he has done systematic giving
until 1t is all gone now, except enough
to provide for himself for the remain
ing years of his life.
These twenty two years, he says.
have been among the happiest Of his
life and giving with him has been a
pleasure He is sorry that he has not
more to give. In speaking to those
present he said. in part:
Il have long looked forward to my
ninety-i1rst birthday as my time of re-
tirement from public life. / had plan
ned to do this a year ago but there
were some outstanding pledges, and
wanted to round out my giving with
another gift to the colleges of the
American board, and another 100000
TO Berea College, KY. These and
smaller gifts have now been made, and
am through. 1 have no more money
for benevolences. have enough left
/ to take care of me and do some things
which l want to do. but every dollar
now have is fully provided for. I
now retire to private life.
I express my sincere thanks to the
friends who have Joined in such hearty
congratulations, and to the many with
whom 1 have been associated in pleas
ant relationship during these years.
For twenty two years have made 1t
my sole business to give away money.
Few men have spent twenty-five hap
pier years. The newspapers have AL
ways been my friends. They have
helped advertise and encourage the
colleges to which l was making my
gifts; some of them could never have
met their conditions without the gen.
erous help Of the press.
my interest in the colleges remains
undated. and I shall love them as
long as live. While 1 have not given
30 much to churches. / have counted
them and their ministers among my
best friends.
II hope to live other years. I still
enjoy life, and my mind is young
Only in my body am an old man; in
my mind and heart / feel all the thrill
OF youth. I say this farewell not as
one who is about to die, but as one
who has earned a little quiet space al
the end of an active life. BY the bless
ing Of God have lived these years
and the time that still remains viii
have pleasant recollections, sincere
friendships and continued interest i:
the work I have loved. But please &c
not look for any more money. My ca
reer as a giver is ended. I have done
the work / promised to do, and my LIE
has been spared to complete it."
DR.. Pearsons's life has been one o
good and unselfish deeds. He IA.
given all and has wanted nothing y
return, and while he is nearing the enc
Of his life. the work he planned and
made possible will live on forever and
bless the generations to come. There
are many such as DIR. Pearsons who ar,