The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-28
SWELL. rue literary FUND.

have begun The labor OF love. and OF
most commedabIe public spirit, In under
taking to raise the funds for the purchase
Of site for the large and handsome public
library building which Andrew Carnegie
proposes to donate to this community on
two conditions: First. that the community
itself shall furnish the site; and, recondly,
that the city government shall pledge IT.
self to the permanent maintenance az the
institution.
Such conditions are but right and proper.
They are the wise precautions o: pracu-
cal philanthropist who wants to test the
public spirit and degree Of appreciation OF
such gift of those to whom the donation
is to be made. Mr.. Carnegie does NOT
throw away his money. and he fully under
stands that II the people to whom he Is
disposed to extend assistance do not ar
pear to value his aid by meeting him half
way in furtherance OF the object in view.
4. would be but reckless waste and mis-
placed philanthropy on his part to let his
money go.
Certainly II a stranger. unidentified with
our people, not socially or financially in
terested in our progress, but simply from
broad gagged recognition of the public
utility OF public libraries, those sranarles
of mental food. so to speak, OF the masses
| is willing to contribute thousands TO sup
| ply our want In the direction Indicted, we
would betray depressing absence o. both
! enterprise, public spirit and Intelligence
did we fail to do something for ourselves
| in the premises, and even equally as much
as the stranger!
/ 1t Is. creditable to the American renlle
that In no case yet have they allowed these
donations for public libraries by Mr.. Car
negie to go begging, as it were. by reason
4 OF the failure TO comply with the condi-
lions of the gift. Such benefactons have
been numerous but the public appreciation
in every instance has met the great J hi
lanthropists expectations.
1 II would he humiliating beyond es''Ina-
ton and most serious and hurtell re-
Election upon the citizens of Houston wore
they to lose Mr., Carnegie's offered money
for a useful public institution through in
difference or the display of close and
narrow sririt in money affairs.
often have the people here contributed
thousands for less worthy objects, and The
Post onn not believe that all the conditions
1 precedent to the acquisition OF this dona-
t ton for n library Will not be generously
and promptly performed.
TIE State of Texas a1d the country at
, large would lose confidence in the great
ness of Houston and the libs.ality of her
public spirit II we churlishly rejected Mr..
carnegie's offer.
The library proposed would be one of
the most attractive as well MS one OF the
most useful institutions in the. city. Ii
would bo the property OF all and open tc
all. The poor as well as the rich would
be enriched by access to Its well filled
shelves. 1t would be an ornament as well
as source of pride to the city. aud under
municipal management would be free from
any sectarian, class, or clique exclusive
ness.
In word, the enterprlsing organiZa-
lions that are now undertaking to ,nteres
the entire public In the work o. securing
suitable site for this library are engag
, ling In great public movement which Il
entitled to the generous encouragement o
: every family and OF every citizen of Hous
ton. Do not spare your dollar o. you
dollars when appealed to In this good
cause--every contributor will reccis
4 ten-fold return In the pleasure and III,
!, instruction which the use OF such 6 min
: of literary wealth will afford to hlmsel
. or to his family!
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