Evening star., 1932-01-07
A Great American.

Julius Rosenwald's name will be
enShrined, as long as philanthropy re-
mains one of mankind's cardinal virtues,
with those of the greatest benefactors
of all times. His bounty knew no creed,
no color, no frontiers. A sturdy Amer
ican in every fiber, he distributed his
vast fortune in the spirit of citizen
of the world. No worthy cause, however
remote, knocked in vain at his opulent
door. Charity, with julius RoSenwald,
began at home, but did not end there.
One has TO tabulate the monumental
endowments created by the Carnegies,
the Sages and the Rockefellers to find
classification expressive of the bene-
factions of julius Rosenwald The
fund which las financed the innumer-
able projects which he either launched
or supported was started in 1917 In
1928, by gift Of an additional So 900, 900,
Mr.. RosenwaId brought his total contri-
buttons to it to $20,0O0,00O and found
that it had appreciated to $35,00O,O0
But this more or less permanent endow-
ment by no means exhausts the stcry
of his almost fabulous munificence. It
does not include, for example, the
100000 Rosenwald Industrial Museum
now rising in Chicago, the $6,OO0,000
for Jewish colonization work in Russia.
the 100000 presented to the Univer-
sity Of Chicago or sum of $4,000 900
set aside to build model apartments for
Negroes in Chicago similar to the ones
erected in Harlem by John D. Rookie
feller, jr.
julius Rosenwald, to whom riches
came suddenly and copiously, recog-
nized the obligation incumbent upon
the upper ten thousand to minister to
the needs of the myriads less fortu-
nate than themselves. From the stand
point of 10th social morality and busi-
ness efficiency" he once said, "I hold
that the fortunes which men have
made in this day and age should be
employed by them in the support of
such educational, benevolent or hu-
manitarian enterprises rs will benef1.
their contemporaries-them and their
children, no more. Interitances ex
tended to the third and fourth gen
Grafton have proved handicap rather
than an incentive"
1t was in the spirit of this practical
creed that Julius Rosenwald conducted
his benefactory activities. He was born
in Springfield, Ill, within the shadow
Of Lincoln's home. His friends always
ascribed Mr.. Rosenwald's unfagging
interest in Negro welfare to the cir
cumstance that the Great Emancipator
remained through life one of his ideals.
Tuskegee Institute and Negro Young
Mems Christian Associations through
out the country, as well various other
institutions and causes associated with
the advancement Of the colored race,
were recipients of Rosenwald aid on an
unceasing scale.
No tribute to this great American
would be complete without testimonial
/ to his eminence as a business man.
Yet money for its sheer possession, or
even as badge of commercial sue
cess, meant conspicuously little to Julius
Rosenwald. He came to acquire merely
in order that he might have more TO
distribute. He belied gloriouSly the
taunt that Americans are dollar chasers.
| One Of the richest men Of his time, a
self-efacing modeSty remained to the
end his distinguishing characteristic.
His proudest achievements were new
mercies rendered.
The American people-people every
where who venerate charity as the
! noblest of human attributes-Will
mourn the loss Of Julius Rosenwald.
1t was characteristic Of the man that
thoughts OF his humanitarian works
preoccupied his last conscious moments.
| The children of such father show him
a shining tribute in determining to per-
petuate the Rosenwald Fund, that 1t
may live and thrive to his eternal men,
ory and as an inspiration to Americans
. Of great wealth who come after him
A grateful country stands at the bier Of
Julius Rosenwald proud TO have num-
bered him amcng the first citizens OF
! the Republic.
I -s-s~%-