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THE
MUSIC TIRADE
V O L . LVIL N o . 18 Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, Nov. 1, 1913
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HILE now and then there are evidences of narrowness of spirit on the part of those
who have become the temporary possessors of great fortunes, yet on the whole it must
be admitted that American millionaires have given vast sums for educational, scientific
and humanitarian purposes.
That is the true American spirit—the spirit of helpfulness, for American business men are
ever willing to perform their share in the betterment of those things which tend to higher develop-
ment—in the enlargement of opportunity for all—for the boy on the threshold of his life work—for
the man with only the labor of his hands to sell—for all sorts and conditions of people, and yet
we hear now and then the howl of the demagogues who are endeavoring to foment trouble between
the successful rich and the honest poor.
This is wrong, for so long as there are inequalities of brains there will also be inequalities of
wealth, and that is precisely as it should be, and a great merchant who recently passed away in this
city left behind him a testamentary document which was a credit to the man, and should help to lessen
the uncharitableness manifested towards men of wealth.
Benjamin Altman, the man to whom I refer, w T as an industrious accumulator. In life he seemed
wholly engrossed in his work, in indulging his art fancies and in heaping up golden dollars.
While he worked hard along the pathway of material success, he had formulated a plan in
which recognition was extended to his associates and to his fellow workers in the great enterprise
which bears his name, and it seems that practically his entire wealth was left to his employes and
to the general public—the greater part to the public which aided him in creating the wealth of which
he evidently deemed himself the trustee.
The men who were associated with him in the business, which will be conducted under the name
of the founder, are shareholders in the enterprise. In other words, this merchant viewed his asso-
ciates in business, and the public as well, as silent partners. He made them beneficiaries under his
will, for his great collection of paintings goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York,
and his other bequests to his employes and to charitable institutions were most generous.
And so this great Jewish merchant, who was frequently termed a merchant prince, was indeed
a prince of men—princely in his treatment of humanity. Such a man was Benjamin Altman, whose
deeds help to turn away the weapons of the mischief makers of all classes, because they reveal a
character which is deep and broad and embraces all humanity.
Such men, by their acts, preach a doctrine that all mankind is related, and that riches do not
altogether destroy the soul.
This country has developed the best type of rich men in the world, just as it has developed the
highest mental and moral stature among the masses of its people.
It is becoming more and more recognized among the great thinkers that while there is glory
in making money there is also greater glory in giving it away, and such examples as men like Ben-
jamin Altman set will be followed by others.
They do much to do away entirely with class hatred. They encourage and aid the true broth-
erhood of man, and many a visitor who feasts upon the Altman collection in this city will, in his
W
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