The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-03
HON SRE Won /
Marion Rock Tells How Mrs,
Douglas Interested Carnegie.
WROTE A WOMAN'S LETTER
And the Good Scotch Name
Signed Thereto Worked
WROTE A WOMAN'S LETTER

Oklahoma City, o. T, Dec. ALI Ok
lahoma will be interested in the copy of
abe following letter:
Sldbo Castle, Ardgay, Scotland,
October q, 1889.
AIRS. Selwyn Douglas,
q Fifth street. Oklahoma City.
Madam: If the city council will agree
L. spend $1,000 a year maintaining the
library and furnish a site. I will pay the
expense of the building to the extent of
$4,000 Very truly yours,
ANDREW CARNEGIE.
Andrew Carnegie and Mrs. Selwyn
Douglas are the two people that have
been most-talked about IN Oklahoma City
during the past two weeks-the one for
his munIfcent generosity, the other for
her perseverance and great success IN
Seaching the heart of the millionaire
Bcotchman.
When the contents of the above terse
letter were nOised about, the city was all
agog; messengers were sent to and fro,
zhere was a scurrying of many feet and
IN the tWinkling of an eye the city coun-
eli was in session extraordinary and back
over the wires to the great iron king was
flashed the acceptance and its conditions.
Then the city took a long breath and
discussed the meaning of the good for
tune that had so Unexpectedly fallen upon
It. The founding of a free library for
which this generous gift provides, means
many things to young, ambitious and
Growing town 1t means greater intellec-
tual development; a higher and purer
Standard Of morals; an influx of reading
people who appreciate intellectual envir-
onments: the establishing of advanced
educational NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., conser-
Natories of music and art, with all the
ennobling results that follow in their
train. 1t means that the expansion OF
Oklahoma City, Intellectually and com
mercially. will keep even pace-a condi-
lion which rarely exists in these rushing
western towns.
And let it be written in letters Of gold,
for the benefit of the brilliant ingalls,,
that a woman brought this great gift to
Ehe people Of Oklahoma City; woman S
Faith and earnestness; a woman's pathe-
t;c appeal for greater knowledge; a wo-
mans strong desire for the betterment OF
her home and the home Of her nelghbor
e. some way were more potent in open
ing the heart and the cheque book OF
Andrew Carnegie than the many appeals
which had preceded it.
And this is the way the story runs.
f'Will you tell me" 1 asked the famous
club woman. as we took passage together
one morning and sailed TRANQUILITY toward
the heart Of the city-it had rained seven
days and seven nights and great iemorse-
full tears were still falling. "how you
secured this gift-what first suggested tc
YOU the idea Of appealing to Mr.. Carne-
E,e?"
Really, there Is not much TO tell re-
enonded Mrs. Douglas "I had known for
lome time that an effort was being made
t. secure help for our library. Last Sep
tember Mr.. T. P. Mellon. whose family
IRE friends of the Scotch manufacturer
suggested that if 1 would appeal to An
drew Carnegie 1t might bring the desired
result. and so I wrote him. 1 was several
days preparing the letter. / gave him
+ history Of our library assOCiation-how
after months of hard work, we had sue
rceded IN getting together few books
but had no building and no money where
with to erect one. 1 wrote of our needs
hnd the condition of our people. 1 SEM
him official statistics. showing com
parison of the iIliteracy between some OF
the New England states and the new ter
titory of Oklahoma, which were largely
n favor of the latter. I told him I knew
Of no place where such a gift would q
more good or bring better results, thar
Oklahoma City Judge Douglas said i
was a woman's letter and doubted tht
tesults. but I sent it, however; then,
matted for the answer. Mr.. Mellon tolt
me might have to write several letter!
and possibly make personal visit. Wher
] received the answer I was almost afrait
40 open It, so strongly had I built my
hopes upon a favorable response.
How do I account for my success wheI
others failed? Wei. some one has saiC
g. was because I wrote Of the two white
haired Scotch women in our club bu
President Scott Of the Saltwater Colleg,
declares Il was because of the good OLE
Scotch name at the bottom of the letter
While Mrs. Douglas disclaims any spe
riaI credit for securing the gift, the fac
remains that it was her letter whicl
claimed the attention Of the great iro1
manufacturer.
Mrs Selwyn Douglas Is known all owe
the two territories and among club wo
men everywhere. for her superior intellec
tual endowments. She is an acknowl
edged leader OF women. Educated A
Vassar. trained by years of service as al
educator. resourceful, diplomatic. wit
ready tact and practical Judgment to ali
her, she brings into her club work all tn
essential elements necessary for the ulti
mate success Of whatever she undertakes
She is president Of the Federation O
Clubs for Oklahoma and the Indian Terri
tory and has been appointed one of
committee Of fifteen state presidents
which meets in Philadelphia next Febru
Bry 20 revise the constitution Of the Gen
eral Federation Of Womens Clubs. bein
the only member Of the committee select
I'd west Of the Mississippi
Though an ardent club woman. Mrs
Douglas believes woman's paramount
duty at all times and under all circum
stances, IS TO her home.
She is opposed n woman suffrage hold
ing the opinion that the ballot box an
The political arena are not the safest an
surest methods FOR the advancement an
Retirement Of women.
Sire likes a woman 70 be feminine
all the attributes and graces of bea,l.is,
wamanhood. seeking always the high.
development Of her intellectual facuit.s.
And what an ideal woman this make.
10 be sure MARION ROC X.