| Show TRUE what is wrested from me by the grip of death writes En glands grand old man mr GLADSTONE 1 I can in no sense be said to give and yet we hear of the bounty and munificence of A or B and that such and bach a hospital was founded at the sole cost and charges or C when there is neither bounty nor since nothing can be given which is not also taken away from the giver but nothing is here taken away from any giver by the bequest be makes for it is already gone norare there any costs nor charges in the case for no man can spend his money anymore than he can walk in bond street or hyde park after he is dead only while this pen is in my hand I 1 see in a newspaper of the day paragraphs headed in large type munificent bequests and what do they convey I 1 sketch a case in rude outline A lady dies possessing or I 1 take for granted what is not always the fact that there are no individuals with just claims upon her she frames perhaps with care and labor a list of charitable institutions she assigns 1000 or 2000 or to each of them and departs this world lauded and admired I 1 submit that she has no title to she has given them nothing if as I 1 as bume her whole income was required for her yearly expenditure why did she not provide it by life annuity with a portion of her capi hand over the rest while abe lived as occasion would serve there would then have been gift probably without praise there is now praise without gift the above appears in the nineteenth century and we certainly think it is with principles ot cora mon sense too many fail to nealise realise that while we live then is the time to do good what is bequeathed after death is really no act of the person and it is questionable if it can be termed an act of charity because self denial does not enter into it what best befits a man for honor and a claim on a future reward is the good he does while mingling inthac sphere with bufi ering humanity and I 1 we think the principle so beautifully expressed by mr is well worthy of consideration he is a deep thinker and a pure and logical writer |
