THOMAS GUY AND HIS HOSPITAL.
One day the rich Matthew Vassar stood before the great London hospital founded by Thomas Guy, and read these words on the pedestal of the bronze statue:—
THOMAS GUY,
SOLE FOUNDER OF THIS HOSPITAL IN HIS LIFETIME
A.D. MDCCXXI.
The last three words made a deep impression. Matthew Vassar had no children. He wished to leave his fortune where it would be of permanent value; and lest something might happen to thwart his plan, he had to do it in his lifetime.
Sir Isaac Newton said, "They who give nothing till they die, never give at all." Several years before his death, Matthew Vassar built Vassar College near Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; for he said, "There is not in our country, there is not in the world so far as known, a single fully endowed institution for the education of women. It is my hope to be the instrument, in the hands of Providence, of founding and perpetuating an institution which shall accomplish for young women what our colleges are accomplishing for young men."
To this end he gave a million dollars, and was happy in the results. His birthday is celebrated each year as "Founder's Day." On one of these occasions he said, "This is almost more happiness than I can bear. This one day more than repays me for all I have done."
And what of Thomas Guy, whose example led to Matthew Vassar's noble gift while the latter was alive? He was an economical, self-made bookbinder and bookseller, who became the "greatest philanthropist of his day."