The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-18

AN tXCttlGNT IDEA
APPROVED BY BEST LIVING
FRIEND or LIBRARIES.
CORRESPONDENCE SHOWS PROGRESS
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The following correspondence, which
Eexrlains itself. win he read with pleas
IRE by ali who are interested in the
education and betterment Of the condi-
ton of The people;
Seahoard Air Line,
Industrial Department, Circulating Ii
brary Division.
Alddleton Ca. Feb. IL. 1899
| Mr.. t. st John. Y. t. and 6. NJ, Ports
mouth, Va:
/ My Dear Sir: Ny position with the
Seaboard Air Line becomes daily more
interesting and unique. The enclosed
letter Is one of many that | have had
the pleasure of answering. | had 10
idea that nay library work would put
| me iii touch with SO many avenues of
showing my appreciation OF you aud
Your railroad. | am yery glad that this
lis true, and do the work most cheer
fully. for it is truest reciprocity.
! | think il will lac we'll my dear Mr..
ST John, To keep the meeting of the
American Library Association in view.
lettering inducement over the Seah0arl.
The Visitors viii be from all sections,
and the growing interest in the South
will make the attendance unusually
large. | thank you very much for send
ling Mr.. Fowler and his photographer TO
Rose Hill, but unfortunately was moi
iaware of their coming and my libraries
were all ont The interest in the Lii
library Division Of the Seaboard has be-
Icome Widespread and The books aud pa
Ipers sent to this office have Increased 10
lsuch an extent that / am converting my
informing room into distributing office.
| These changes We're being made while
THE gentlemen were here ana no interior
Views could be taken / want you to
know more Of the details Of This work
(which is yielding such satisfying results.
/ / am VERY grateful for your aid. aud
regard Your coming South as Il benetlic-
Ifion 10 our people. Ii has been nearly
a lifelong wish Of Inine to he in a posi-
ton to help the ruraI communities, 10
| brighten the lives and homes OF anr
Econntry farmers. wives. The letters re-
tceived from the women along the line
lassinss me that / have IA last secured the
position where can do what hare 81
i long tried aud hoped Ia do | realize
/ fully that owe this ~ soi, aud am
eorrespondingly grateful.
wish Ia keep the standard high and
/ do not care for old books No doubt
lyon have heard of the iiberaiitY of MRS.
/ Lipsconlhe Principal Of Lucy Cobb In
lstituie. Athens, Ga. The books she do
mated are very choice and will add
greatly 10 the collection. She wrote me
| she wanted you 10 know il gaze her
great pleasure To present these books 70
1.-THE Seab0ard Mir Line, because OF your
Ecourtesies 10 her. We read OF Mr.. An
drew Garnegies great gifts 10 large
fcities, and we praise and thank the Won
| derful philanthropist. but library OF
I ffty-two volumes sent 10 tho little towns
| i'll Virginia North Carolina, South Caro-.
lima and Georgia. becomes Il white
Winged messenger, qIickening the
Thought, eleynting the opinions, broaden-
ling fhe knowledge and widening the
imental horizon If the little town.
/ sincely hope the great work MAY not
Ibe handicapped With best wishes,
Very truly
|. MRS Il. b. HEARD.
seuioard Air Line,
E0ffice of Nice-PreSjdent and General
Manager
Portsmouth. Va. March IL. 1899.
Mr.. Andrews Carnegie. Pittsburg, Pa:
/ My Dear Mr. Carnegie: As General
Manager Of the Chicago. Rock Island
land Pacific Railway, with which fine !
was connected for thirtytwo years, !
have had the pleasure of meeting you
tin Chicago oil several occasions, AT the
Union League Club This simply by
EWay Of introduction.
The Seaboafd Air Line among many
other schemes which IL has entered upon
since my connection with. IL, for the
benefit ef the people along its line. and
llts Immediate vicinity, conceived the
idea Of circulating libraries, and III the
present Time We have some ten Of
these, each containing some one hun
bred or more books Which are moved
from Point ~ point where they are
lpiacrd under the charge ~ an Assistant
Industrial Agent of the Company. peo-
Iule Of the town to which the library
IL sent, are advised that they can obtain
books lherafrom, for period Of ten
days. Wy calling upon the Industrial
Agent, or the Assistant Industrial Agent
~n the first place a gentleman. aud in
tl3c ialtar, q lady well Known I'm the
entnmunity 10 which the library Is sent
We haye found that this II largely ap,
lpeeiited, aud the distribution ~ these
books among the people Il becoming N,
most universal. Tile books are lrinci,
lAlIy those relating 10 good farming and
good house keeping, aud algo containing
instructions as 10 how tie people may
iimpGoYe their surroundings.
The writer ~ the letter which on
! el0se herewith Mrs. Heard, is Lady
i ~ culture wh pse home Ii M Middleton
/ Ga. She IL possessed ~ great energy
I and desire 10 do good. iii her time ta
! aiding The people in her immediate vi
. einiiy, "a III any point wneFe she may
be called npon 10 50 for the purpose u
delgering lesfIWes upon Village Improve
intent switch she ii fully competent II
do etc, etc. and IN this connection has
ellarse - tIle circulating libraries ~
l"ffed ~,
suppose 4 never would have occur