Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-21
DEDICATION COMPLETE.
THE PRESIDENT DECLARES THE
BUILDING OPEN.

An Ovation TO the Chief ExscuiIve-His
Address Received With Loud Applause
What He Saw and Learned in Pitts.
burg and Allegheny City.
President Harrison arose from his chair
in the box and walked to the center of the
platform. As he did SO the auditors sent
up cheer, and every man and woman in
the house arose. The ovation was cordial
one, and President Harrison bowed. When
the people were seated, and quiet was
secured, the President said:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
have spent very instructive day in Allie
gheny county. have seen that which was base
and fit only to be trodden under the feet Of
man transmitted into that which serves the
highest purposes of our material lives. I have
seen that which was of prodigious weight. defy
ing the direct application of the arm of man to
move it, lifted by the skillful invention of his
brain as babe would lift a toy that the mother
places in his hand. [Applause.1 And yet,
great and striking as these transformations
have been, I witness one here tonight.
one that is greater and finer. [Applause.
The dull ore of the mine is trans
muted into those forms that serve the
purposes of our present life, They make the
the commerc Of great nation or hold in
their safe gr asp the power of steam that pro-
pels our great ships upon the sea, to bear every
where throughout. the world that message
which this free Republic sends to our kindred
of all people. [Applause]
Wonderful TransformatIon.
But here tonight we witness the tranetorma-
tion of what we are won't to call the precious
metal into something that blooms for eternity.
[Applause,I We find the suggestion here, in
these instructive volumes that are to crowd the
shelves Of this beautiful library building
we find the impulse, the spark, that
is to touch the slumbering mind of
many stalwart boy and many bright and
ambitious girl into a life that shall make them
be servants Of their fellow men. and fit COM
panions of the Son of Man, who left His glory
to serve the race.
saw to-day in these great works of human
industry young men not yet in middle life, con-
trolling these great mills; and the suggestion
came to my mind how this institution would
promote the goou of the young men of this
great and prosperous town. Because it is the
mind of man that has wrought all these great
achievements. The hand is not cunning in it
self 1t is from the brain that it gets the i'm
to perform the delicate task, and makes
it, the feeble, SO much greater
than Hercules. hope that this institution may
carry with it always, and with every book that
rests upon its shelves, the suggestion to those
who use them: Read and think. Because un-
less thinking accompanies reading there is not
much profit in books. [Applause.l
His Hearty Congratulations.
r have to congratulate you tnat you have
citizen who could conceive work like this 1
am sure that it will be an impulse and an in.
spiration to others who dwell among you, and
that its influence with that of other similar in
stitutions IN many parts Of our country, will
spread until those who have accumulated
wealth will feel that they hold it as trustees
for mankind. [Applause.]
MAY not do what will with mine own?'
is the selfish thought that dedicates to personal
luxury the fruits Of toll How much higher
and nobler such use Of accumulated wealth
have we before us In this magnificent structure!
(Applause.] 1t gives me great pleasure
to be associated with, the Inauguration of
this great enterprise. No one can tell how wide
and deep and strong the stream will be that
shall have its origin here. We cannot follow
it throughout the generations that are to
come; II Is LETT In your charge, citizens Of
Speaking for the generous donor, I declare
this building now to be open to public uses
ISppla1Sel sDd as place S,rr OF SssembiSge iSs
your care of it be jealous and
circumspect, that the highest usefulness may
be reached, and that it may not IN your hands
fall below the high thought which was in the
mind Of him who, out Of his personal meaps,
made this dedication to great and high public
uses. LGreat applause.
Chairman Scott then introduced Mr..
Enoch Pratt of Baltimore, Nd, who spoke
a very few words, saying that he believed
that the benefits to be derived from the free
library would be fully appreciated only by
future generations. *