The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-21
Varied Views on Wise diving.

/
a NorirstoWn to restrain the
local authorities from ac
c"pting gift from Andrew Carnegie
for the erection OF a library build
ing and the beginning of library
| caused tho Philadelphia Times to in
stitute an inquiry into the way Mr.
'arncgio's library gifts are looked at
| In some other towns. Mr.. Carnegie s
| gifts. as now perfectly well under
stood, arc conditioned upon the towns
accepting them pledging themselves Ia
| appropriate yearly ten per cent of the
| amount of his donation. to keep up the
library.
The Times a few days ago published
replies to its question from nine
| municipalities in this state. OF these,
Reading is the only one from whence
| in" reply comes that public officials
and people would welcome the gift
with its conditions. This. although
the city all cady has one free library.
Wilkes Barre says no; the Ostcrhout
free library is all it wants, but it
would "be glad to accept a donation
from Mr.. Carnegie. or some other
wealthy man, for the Boys Industrial
| association
Altoona says it has a free library
established some years ago by the
Pennsylvania railroad and maintained
by it. which fuliills all the require
ments of the average Carnegie library
and does not cost the city a penny"
Allentown says no. as to Il library.
If Mr.. Carnegie would give 500. 900
to Muhlenberg college there, condi-
toned on citizens and others raising
an equal sum. the mayor says that
would be acceptable. Lancaster, West
Chester, Williamsport, Chester ana
chambersburg say no. The public
funds are wanted in each far more
FOR other public improvements than
for putting into yearly library appro-
priations rs conditioned by Mr.. Car
ncgie.
Across the Atlantic. as the world
is aware from the pothcr made over
Mr.. CarneGie's Scottish universities
gift, he has chosen another line than
library founding for his donations
Now, according to information cabled
over from London. the Eift has stirred
up intense jealousy for the sake OF
some OF England's higher institutions.
notably London university, with
which both parliament and the
wealthy sons of the founders of the
institution are charged as dealing
with degree of illiberality amount
ing to intense mcanness.
One London educational paper is
quoted by the correspondent as look
ing farther abroad than Mr. Carne-
gie's Scottish contribution. 1t notes
American mems gifts to education.
Such benefactons as, for instance,
Mr.. Rocketellers to the University of
Chicago, it says "arc glorious" 1t
asks, reviewing the London univor-
sitys situation: "ls there no wealthy
late his example? Is there any eX-
ratriated British millionaire in the
United States who will come to the
rescue of institutions whose founders
We're in their day very advanced cdu-
cational rcformcrs, the men who first
suggested that science them deemed
an upstart and intruder, had a claim
to recognition in the curriculum"
The correspondent closes his account
of English feeling and published COM
monts by saying: at is literally true
that Mr.. CarneGie's Gift has done moro
to open the eyes of Britons to the
real source of Americas swift ad-
vance to the foremost place among |
the nations than Mr.. Clcvcland's |
Venezuelan message, which they sus- |
pected of being Il bluff. and Mr.. Nor
san's organization Of the steel trust, |
which is the most serious menace that |
ever hung over their industrial sys- |
tenn"
"That,' as Rudyard KiplinG used 10 |
say, 'is another story" but it is one
most closely related in sequence to
the story of library giving and uni
versity endowments.