The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-21

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which can be helpfully given to individ-#
uals is, he recognizes, limited by the
number of individuals one man can know
personally SO as to know that he is>11elp-$
ing and not pauperizing by his gifts: but
the number of public purposes to which
wealth can be given so as to make the
recipients more self-reliant. self-respect-a
: ing and ambitious for the higher life OF
the community is, in his view. far great
8 er than the means of all the public-spirlt-
ed rich can exhaust. He narrates bit
of personal experience which led him to
believe that the founding of libraries in
communities willing to maintain them
was one of the best uses of wealth:
When was a working-boy in PittsburS
Colonel Anderson, of Allegheny-a name
I can never speak without feelings OF
devotional gratitude-opened his little IL
brary of four hundred books to boys
Every Saturday afternoon he was in at
tendance at his house to exchange books.
No one but he who has felt it can ever
know the intense longing with which the
arrival of Saturday was awaited, that
a new book might be had. My brother
and Mr.. Phipps, who have been my prin-
cipal business partners through life, Shar-
ed with me Colonel Anderson's precious
generosity; and it was when reyeling IN
the treasures which he opened to US that
I resolved, if ever wealth came to me,
that it should be used to establish free
libraries, that other poor boys might re-
ceive opportunities similar to those for
which we were intebted to that noble
man
Even this teaching, however, as to how
rich men should give is, if anything, less
remarkable than what Mr.. Carnegie says
as to how q rich man should live He
sensibly does not attempt to fix an abso-E
lutte test of extravaganza applicable TO
all times and all people. He recognizes
that the test to be applied here is as I'M
definable as the tests of good taste or
good breeding. but he points out that
it is just as important. Whatever he
thinks makes one conspicuous offends
the canon. If any family be chiefly known
for display for extravaganza in home.
table or equipaSe, for enormous sums os-
tentatiously spent in any form upon It
self-if these be it's chief distinctions we
have no difficulty in estimating its nature
or culture. /" The community will
surely Judge, and it's judgments will not
often be wrong To live plainly, ne urges
quoting one of Mr.. Clevelands messages.
affords the surest way to laid integrity
and promote thrift and prosperity" and
not only does it secure these pubic ends.
but it also secures blessings to the fam
ilv which thus lives. There is. indeed,
nothing in Mr.. Carnegies volume winch
so touches the hearts of its readers a s his
insistence upon the mental and moral
advantage of being brought up IN the
homes of plain people. A single citation
will illustrate what he has to say upon
this subject:
at doubt not that Mr. Gladstones career
has been as strongly and noby in
tluenced by his knowledge or recollectlons
of the poor and virtuous lives lived by
his forefathers as that of any hereditary
monarch or noble who ever lived could
be by thoughts of his ancestors; and OF
one thing I am absolutely sure-he mas
reason to be prouder of his lineage than
MOBILES or nonarchs in general can pos
sibly be of theirs. Among many advant-
ages arising, not from the Transmission
of hereditary wealth and position. but
from the transmission of hereditary 'pov-
ertv and health there is one which. to
nv mind. overweiShs all the others COM
,,ined. It is not permitted the children
of king millionaire or noble to have IA
Their and mother in the close and realizing
sense Of these sacred terms. The name
of father. and the holier name of mother.
are but names to the child of the rich
and the noble. To the poor boy these
are the words he centuries with-hls
guides, the anchors of his soul, the OBJ
want sovernesS, nor tutor has come be-
tween him and his parents. In his father
he has had tutor, companion, counselor
and Judge. 1t is not given to the born
millionaire, noble or prince TO dwell upon
such a heritage as is his who has had IN
his mother nurse. seamstress teacher,
irsnirer saint-his all in ALL
Here again Mr.. Carnegie's gospel is
simply that which Christ taught so for
chilly by deed as well as word. The true
ennoblement of men and of families
comes not from being served but from
serving and the humblest services are
often the most ennoblng. In all ages
this truth has been recognized by the
prosecuted prophets who have founded
religious movements: but it has as reg
ularly been forgotten by the popular
priest who have welded ecclesiastical
power. re have it proclaimed by man
able to command for his family the. entire
services of thousands is an event of signal
moral interest.-The Outlook.