19 MARCH 1932, Page 2

Mr. George Eastman There was perhaps more than a coincidence

in the fact that, two days after Mr. Kreuger, Mr. George Eastman shot himself in New York. The veteran founder of the Eastman Kodak firm, who made the dry plate and then the film a marketable commodity, and so made photo- graphy easy and the cinematograph possible, was widely respected as a good employer and a most generous philanthropist. He allowed his workpeople to buy his interest in his firm and he lavished millions of pounds on hospitals, universities, 'museums and other good causes both in America and in this country. We are reminded of more than one of Plutarch's heroes by this strenuous old gentleman who, having reached the age of seventy- seven and being stricken with what he regarded as a mortal illness, wrote : " To my friends. My work is done. Why wait ? " And thereupon committed suicide. He had lived a good life, and he claimed the right to end it when he felt the moment for departure had come.

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