Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

to have been to get together books for use
and pleasure, without much reference to
bindings. There are, of course, all the
standard works, and various editions of
Shakespeare and of Mr.. Carnegie's favorite
poet, Burns.
Botany Nj Carnegie has made study,
and he has many technical works relating
to the subject. There are many German
books, but few French ones; Mr.. Carnegie
understands the former language, but does
not read French. The sacred books OF the
East, edited by Max Muller, have con-
spicuous place, and there are the works of
John Morley, who is a personal friend of
Mr.. Carnegie The furnishings of the room
are of oak and old gold plush, with leather
chairs and easy chairs in abundance. Upon
one is painted the kindly invitation, "Rest
awhile"
He Is True to Scotland.
The master Of the house, while the stanch-
est American, is at the same time true son
of Scotland, and reminders OF the land of
his birth greet one upon all Sides bit of
heather, pine pillow, with its tartan plaid
of dull blues and greens with a thread OF
gold, and chair drapery with the beloved
thistle painted across one corner. 1t is not
necessary to ask Mr.. Carnegie to name his
favorite flower; glance about the
room shows you that the Scotch thistle,
among plants, claims his first thoughts 1t
is painted upon the frieze, on an old gold
ground, while here and there are punches of
thistles, with various notices between.
Over the mantel is the one from The
Tempest My library, dukedom large
enough" upon either side, "The superior
man is centered in himself and THE King
dom of Heaven is within you;" upon the
opposite wall the immortal lines from Ham
let ITO thine own self be true" etc; upon
the third side, "The present moment is our
aim; the next we never see.
High upon the frieze, in conspicuous
place between the two windows, is Mr.. Car
negie's coat of arms, curiosity in itself
The crest is q good exponent of his demo-
cratic principles-a crown reversed and sur
mounted bv a cap of liberty; npon the
escutcheon are weaver's shuttle and a
shoemaker's knife; the supporters, the
American and Scotch flags, with the legend
beneath all, ''Desth to Privilege"
Some Favorite Quotations.
The heavy mantel of carved oak has the
following lines just above the open fire.
lplsee:
Our hearth our altar,
Its flame our sacred IRE
Over the muntel, supported by . shell, Is
a representation of book carved in oak.
with this quotation upon the open page:
He that cannot reason is a fool,
He that will not bigot,
He that dares not slave.
Of particular interest are three trowels,
which are counted among the treasures Of
the library. One, a massive one of silver
gilt with oak handle, was used bv Mr.. Car
negie in laving the foundation stone of the
public library presented bv him to the city
OF Edinburgh, July 9, 1887. The trowel
bears the following inscription:
This trowel was used by
Andrew Carnegie, Esquire,
On the occasion of laying the
Foundation stone
OF the
Public Library presented by him to the
CITY of Edinburgh,
9th July, 1887.
Upon the reverse side is engraved the
coat-of-arms of Edinburgh. The second
trowel is a smaller one of silver with an
ivory handle, with the following engraved
words:
Presented by the Library Committee to
Mrs. Carnegie on the occasion of her laying
the memorial stone of the Carnegie Free
Library, the gift OF her son, Andrew Car
negle. Esq, to his native city OF Dunferm-
line, 27th July, 1881.
The third trowel is also of silver and very
dainty in its make. 1t was used May 80,
1899, by Mrs. Carnegie at the laying of the
corner stone of the new Music Hall. the
gift of her husband to the city OF New
York
Freedom of the City OF Edinburgh
Another object of interest is the small
oak and silver caSket in which the freedom
of the city of Edinburgh was presented to
Mr. Carnegie on the occasion of his gift to
that city of S25O,OO to found a library. A
silver plate upon the casket bears the in
scription:
This box is made of oak from the house of
Sir Thomas Hope, Kings Advocate of Scot
land 1876 As, who ably upheld the cause of
civil and religious liberty in Covenant
times.
Presented by the corporation of Edinburgh
along with the Burgess ticket comforting
the freedom OF the city on Andrew Carnegie,
Esq, [. s. A, Sth July, 1857.
Surrounding the casket are silver thistles
The sides are inlaid with representations
also in silver, one of the site of the library
and the other the library as it appeared
when completed, with silver lions and uni
corns in relief at each corner. The box is
about u inches long by inches wide. An
other cas- ket of silver gilt was given to Mr.
Carnegie by the citizens of Dunfermline
containing the ticket cOnterring the free
dom OF the town with the inscription:
To Andrew Carnegie. Esquire. a distfn-
gUIshed citizen of the United States, n man
of the widest sympathy with every move
ment.
The workingmen of Edinburgh in 1887
gave him an address which is still preserved
in the silver tube in which it was pre-
sented.
The Instrument Mr.. Carnegie Plays.
Mr. Carnegie is devoted to music, and an
especially interesting object in his library
is the one instrument that he plays, a unique
affair which is called musical tubes" 1t
consists of eight tubes in all, OF graduated
lengths, hung from a rather high brass
frame. The performer makes music by
hammering the tubes with a little mallet.
The tunes which Mr. Carnegie plays most
frequently are old Scotch airs-''Ye Bonnie
Banks and Braes, ""Annie Laurie, ""Robin
Adair THE Blue Bells of Scotland and
Aud Lang Syne." Through the title of
one bit OF music, God Save the Queen"
Mr.. Carnegie had drawn his pencil and
written above, "My Country 'Tis of Thee
There Is another curious musical instru-
ment IN the room-Japanese bells; three
hollow globes Of metal suspended from
dragon-like arrangement. These bells are
also played by means of little felt-covered
malet.
Standing guard over this musical corner
are bronze busts of Wagner and Beethoven,