SECOND ANNUAL BANQUET. 41 
form the approach to the Taj Mahal, a temple-mausoleum 
whose faultless symmetry and almost celestial beauty com- 
plete the picturesque loveliness of the scene. 
The Indian park was founded by an emperor — the Mis- 
souri Botanical Garden was established by a private citizen. 
The former was dedicated to the memory of an empress — 
the latter was devoted to the refinement of the people. 
The first was reserved, under native sway, for the exclusive 
gratification of the nobility — the second was freely opened 
to the enjoyment of all classes. With the resources of a 
realm at his disposal, the emperor of India lavished four 
million dollars of the public treasure upon the splendid 
memorial of a private sorrow —from the means of a self- 
acquired fortune, our American benefactor gave five mil- 
lion dollars for the elevation of mankind. 
These contrasts illustrate important differences between 
despotic and republican institutions. In all ages, irrespon- 
sible power has developed patrician selfishness, but popular 
government fosters public spirit. 
The benefactor whose memory we to-night revere was 
endowed with a nature which the liberalizing influences of 
free institutions easily disposed to acts of philanthropy. 
Henry Shaw was happy in the gifts of fortune. A ro- 
bust constitution, strong sense, and the incentive of limited 
means assured success. At the early age of nineteen, Mr. 
Shaw began his mercantile career. The business, com- 
menced under the humblest conditions, and conducted 
under the sole management of an inexperienced youth, was 
prosperous from the outset. His success may be taken as 
the measure of the ability by which it was won. In 
twenty years, the thrifty merchant acquired a fortune of a 
quarter of a million. Then, in the very prime of his man- 
hood and at the height of his commercial prosperity, Mr. 
Shaw withdrew from business. This was an instance of 
self-control as rare as it was wise —an example of self- 
restraint which few merchants who have known the 
pleasures of accumulation have been able to imitate. But 
