The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-16
Rare Deed of Self-Sacri6ce.

A member Of the British parliament naza1
Austin Hopkinson has presented the local gov
erning council Of the town Of Hyde his $4,000
mansion and 20 other houses and has gone to
live in an old barn on what was once part
of his estate Mr.. Hopkinson says he has taken
this action because he believes that mani
festation of the spirit OF self-sacrifice on the
part of public servants will serve to avert any
danger of a revolution in England. He has
disposed OF his furniture to friends and to
the needy, partly by sale at bargain prices
and partly by free gift. His automobile went
to his chauffeur. who has started in business
with it, Mr.. Hopkinson being oae Of his best
customers.
This eccentric but high minded gentleman
declares that he intends to live the life Of a
simple working man and to help others as
much as possible. In his own workshops he
has introduced proft-sharing system that is
entirely without precedent for the reason that
the higher the yield the less he receives. and
after certain sum is reached he is to have
nothing at all. To show the temper Of the
man let it be said that during the World war
he was an officer who, when he was discharged
as unfit. rejoined the army as private.
Many conservative Englshmen land most
Englishmen are Conservative and many con-
sentative Americans too, for that matter, will
look upon Mr. Hopkinson much as they do
| upon people who have become mentally un-
| balanced. No one. however. can question for
| moment the mans sincerity. Doubtless if a
| considerable number of Englands wealthy men
! would follow this altruistic example it would
not be without influence upon the submerged
who are presumably plotting revolution. But
! the action of one lone man 1--WE have heard OF
no others who are following in his steps) by
its very rarity will serve to impress the pro-
letariat with the fact that no one but Mr. Hop
| kinson cares enough for them to do as he did
Mr.. Hopkinson will have the approval OF
his own conscience, and will incite feelings OF
gratitude in the hearts Of those whom his
benefactions reach He will be pointed out as
a man who loves his country and his fellow
men, and red" orators will refer to LIN in
support of their contention that the poor are
exploited by the rich and that at least one
rich man saw the error of his ways and re-
-pented. Will the influence Of his deed reach
further than that! We doubt it.
Indeed, such actions as his may even serve
to promote the cause whose progress he hoped
to avert. We greatly admire Mr.. Hopkinson
We are sure he is man of noble heart Blu
we do not believe, first, that an English revo
luton worthy of the name-Qike the French
revolution when reign Of terror was set vi
and blood flowed in torrents-is impending
And secondly, even were it impending, MIR. Hop
kinson's act could not avert it. His generous
deeds will help others. however, and he him
self is the better for what he has done
We hope that unlike others who have bee,
helpers of humanity, he will never want TO
the necessaries of life, should he, by an,
chance give too much away and come t
adversely.