Gifts, American. The amount of American wealth disposed of by gift and bequest is increasing rapidly. Early in 1909 the Chicago Tribune compiled a list of donations for the year 1908. The total exceeded $90,000,000. It is believed that the benefactions for the year reached twice that sum. Of the amount named by the Tribune, educational institutions received somewhat less than $37,000,000; charities, about $40,000,000; churches, $4,500,000; public amusements, $9,500,000; libraries, $800,000. Several donors were millionaire givers. Among the best known are Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Lydia M. Bradley, Mrs. Quincy Adams Shaw, Mrs. Russell Sage, and Senator Vilas. The largest giver was Mr. Carnegie, whose donations reached a total for the year of $7,457,000. There were over 700 gifts exceeding $5,000 each. It seems natural to praise the liberality of those who give large gifts. There are many who believe that a social system which permits the accumulation of large private fortunes is fundamentally wrong. The Socialists as a body believe that all public utilities should be managed by the government for the benefit of the public. The adoption of this doctrine would, in itself, prevent the amassing of private wealth in connection with iron, oil, gas, lumber, or any of the great necessities of life. I know of no monster so dangerous to the life of a republic, as one who can in a moment throw bewildering millions in one direction or the other, especially when those millions grow out of abnormal conditions that should not exist. The omnipotent dispenser may throw his millions in a good direction today, but it is sure to be in a bad one tomorrow. But most and worst of all he is an imagebreaker, he is an iconoclast who shatters the ideals upon which the nation's life was founded. There was a time when our young men thought it worth while to strive to be like Marshall, Webster, Emerson and Washington Irving. But how long will those illusions last under the teachings of the new gospel which proclaims that nothing is really worth while except the brute force wielded by masses of money. If this thing goes on we can soon close all departments of our universities, except those that apply the principles of physical science to the production of material wealth or its equivalent.--Hannis Taylor.