Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-26
W o. CHI " eeded
Christmas GIFTS
For Our Colleges
BV BiShODW. A. CandIer

Money is worth nothing until II Is
exchanged for something better than
money. To hoard it is simply to
store away an article which cannot
be used for food, or raiment or
any other serviceable purpose
HOarded money is dead money. 1t
is worse than useless money; for it
hardens him who boards it.
A running stream, although it loses
some of its current by evaporation by
the air and ABSORPTION by the soil on the
way, is life-giving current. But a
stagnant pool becomes a putrid peril to
everything around it. Such is the case
with boarded money. 1t exhales death
dealing atmosphere.
If these observations be truce, and
| no reasonable person will doubt them, it
is as important for a man to know how
| to use money as it is for him to know
| how to make money. But there are hun
| dreds of men who can maxi money who
| have no sort of capacity rUr wisely using
| it.
Some men waste 1t upon hurtful luxu-
ries. This use of 1t is scarcely better
than the selfish boarding of it. Extrav-
agance demoralizes the person who in
| dulges II and tempts others to commit
the same sin. The extravagant expendi-
lures of many rich people have created
men to defalcations and dishonesty In
order to keep step with the wasteful
habits of their more opulent neighbors
Many rich employers, If a true account
be taken of moral values, are directly
responsible for the dishonesty of book
keepers and cashiers. They set an ex-
ample which could not fail to lead ito
such disgraceful results, and they ought
to blame themselves quite as much as
fhaxv hn In vic cd n
temptation put before them.
1t becomes people of large means to
set an example of simplicity of life. They
can promote frugality and thrift and
happiness throughout the whole commu-
nifty, or they can impart tendencies which
lead to wasteful folly and downright dis
honesty The style of living to which
some people of wealth are given is moth
ing less than disgusting and demoraliz-
ing vulgarity. People of real intelli-
gence and genuine refinement, do not
give themselves to coarse display ana
pompous parade of their possessions.
Some men of means do not indulge in
exravagance, but a dominating selfish
ness penetrates all their business trans
actions. They drive hard trades. they
take advantage of their neighbors who
may be in financial straits, and therebey
secure property from them at less than
it is worth. They do nothing to stimu-
late industry or promote prosperity in
the communities in which they live. They
are really parasites on the social, indus
trial and commercial life of the country.
Only few in our country have learn
ed what is the highest and best use of
money. These are the elect persons,
who neither hoard their money, nor
waste it nor use it to pinch their fell
lowmen; but who employ it for the bet
terment of mankind, and the improve
ment of the world. These are they who
make those wise investments which
continue to yield dividends Of good
from generation to generation. They
are not many, but it is not too much to
say that the progress of the human
race is almost wholly dependent upon
them. BY them hospitals are founded
for the healing of the sick, educational
institutions are planted for the enlight-
eminent of the ignorant, churches are
established for a saving of the sinful,
and all sorts of beneficent enterprises
are promoted, the blessed influence Of
which is felt all around the world.
1t is to be hoped with the increased
wealth which has come to our country
during the last two years there may be
an increased number of these elect
souls among us. In the south especially
there is great need of a greater number
of men and women who will devote their
means largely to the upbuilding of our
educational institutions.
Our section is far behind all other
sections of the United States in this I'M
portant matter. AS a matter of fact the
south can scarcely claim to have yet
even one really great University.
In the United StSes there are seven
universities the endowments of each OF
which exceed five millions Of dollars,
but not one of them is in the South.
In one of the Northern States is
University which alone owns more prop
erty than do all the colleges and univer-
stiles in the South.
Massachusetts, which has an area no
more than one-seventh of that of Geor-
gia. and with a population exceeding
that of Georgia by only few hundred
thousands, has educational institutions
whose financial holdings exceed a hun
bred millions Of dollars.
These facts should stir the soul of
every man, woman, and child In the
South. These humiliating conditions
should be remedied, and that speedily.
Our people are able to do it, and If they
fail to do it. they must suffer financial
ly as we'll as in matters more lmpof Iaht
than material things.
For Lack of great institutions of learn
ing. richly endow ed. the South has lost,
ana must continue to lose. many of its
strongest educators TO Northern and
Western institutions. A few may be
mentioned: Georgia lost. from the Uni
yersity of Georgia at Athens. the great
LeConte brothers, who went to CalIfor-
mia; w. A. Keener. a graduate of En-
ory College, who served for many years
as a professor in Harvard University
and subsequently was the Dean OF the
Law School of Columbia University;
South Carolina lost Charles Foster
Smith, who now fills the chair of Greek
in the University of Wisconsin; Virgin
ia lost the distinguished English schol-
ar. DR.. Thomas Price. who went from
Randolph Macon College to Columbia
University. Many others might be men
toned If space allowed.
Our lack of great educational institu-
lions causes the educated people of other
lands to depreciate the South. They look
uuon us as less civilized and less Gull
tured than other sections Of our coun-
try. whereas, If we had in the South
a few really great Universities, this
reproach would be removed and many
pupils would come to these institutions
from the warm countries of Latin-Amer-
lea, and also from Southern Japan and
Southern China This would be a vast
advantage to US commercially, and 1t
would tend also to enlighten and evan
gelize other lands.
A most prosperous year for the South