A GIFT WITHOUT A PARALLEL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1746, 21 January 1888, Page 2

A GIFT WITHOUT A PARALLEL

The Feiter Lloyd recently annonnoed that Baron Hirsoh had given 100,000,0001. to be distributed among the Jowlih communities of Europe, and the Jewish oharltlea, m proportions corresponding to their nccassities. The news was contradicted, aad m this form it waa m accurate. Those are the facts : — " About three months ago," cays tha Paris correspondent of the *' Times," " some days before the departnre for Copenhagen of the Emperor of Knsaia, Baron Hlreoh sent a letter to the Czjr, lv whish he offered the sum of £2,000,000 to found m Russia primary schools for the Jews, and £40,000 to be at the disposal of the Czar for works of oharity, The Czar wrote a note on the

letter, and requested the Frisian Minister of the Interior to report verbally upon it on his return to Euasla. The offer thus remained a dead letter for three moatbj* Daring this time those who knew of It aiked if Baron Hirsoh, justly offended by this delay, wonld not withdraw his promise *nd if ouch a delay did not expdhe thfj great and generous idea to the risk of not being realised."

Happily these fears are at an end. On the return of the Czir he heard the verbal report of his Minieter of the Interior, aad signed the acoeptanco of the gift. The £3,000,000 have been or are to be paid into the Bank of England, and Baron Kothaohild and Baron de Worms, who are appointed trustees, and who will be replaced In oase of death, will receive the interest of the sum so deposited. Ie Is estimated that wlih tbe annuftl interest of '.bout £100.000 it will be possible to open 1000 eohoolß, receiving 60,000 children, who will thus be resoued from ignoranoe and a bad example. Never bad euch a munificent gift been made by a rich man m his lifetime to the destitute.