Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1893 — CHICAGO’S BIG GIVERS. [ARTICLE]

CHICAGO’S BIG GIVERS.

From Harper’s Weekly. The immediate future of Chicago is an interesting study for observers. AU eyes have been centered upon her now for six months, and in a less degree for nearly two years. Her purposes and her methods of carrying them out have been matters of national moment. It is hardly too much to say that she has been the most important city in the land, and of course she has felt her importance. What will become of her now? Will she drop gracefully down to hardpan, and become once more a comparatively commonplace big Western town, or will she keep right on, and strive by tremendous hustling to maintain the central and commanding position which was lent to her by the fair ? Of course that remains to be seen, but she has given Some evidence already that she does not intend to drop an inch farther than she can help. Mr. Marshall Field’s subscription of a million dollars to found a museum of natural history may be accepted as an indication of her sentiments. It is proposed to make the museum a memorial of the fair, and perhaps to house it

in the Art Building at Jackson Park. Mr. Pullman follows Mr. Field’s subscription with one of a hundred thousand dollars, and doubtless before this reaches the reader’s eye the entire sum of two millions called for will be made up. What extraordinary givers those Chicago men are I It is exhilarating evenjat this distance to see the superb confidence with which they back up their town. Other cities get bequests now and then, but Chicago’s rich men have not had time to die, and neither she nor they can wait for that. They want to see that investment in actual being. If any Eastern listener is holding his ear to the ground to catch the thud of Chicago’s collapse, he might as well get on his legs again and go about his business. There isn’t going to be much of a thud. Those amazing hustlers are still at it, and though their tide may ebb a little for a time, it is bound to flow again in due season.

All parties knowing themselves to be indebted to the firm of R. Fendig are requested to call on the undersigned and make settlement immediately, as the books must be closed. B. F. Fen dig, Assignee.