New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
CARNEGIE'S EARLY DAYS.
EARNED HIS FIRST MONEY AS A bob
BIN BOY" AND TOOK 1T HOME
TO HIS MOTHER

The first money Andrew Carnegie earned was
10 him the greatest prize of his life. Not all the
millions Of dollars he has earned and bestowed
In libraries, books, paintings and charity since
have given him so much pleasure and real salts
faction as the first 81 20 he took home for a
weeks work when twelve years old He lived
with his parents in a humble little dwelling In
Rebecca-st Allegheny City, Penn, which long
snce disappeared, and two sets of buildings
have since occupied the site. He had secured
situation as q "bobbin boy in a cotton factory.
Allegheny City, before the Civil War. was one of
the greatest cotton manufacturing towns in
the country. There were eight-hour work
days and half holidays Saturdays then. The
working people labored from the earliest peep of
dawn until darkness prevented the further use
Of the tallow dips which fickered uncertainty
about the machinery. Being a "bobbin boy
hard work 1t kept young Andrew busily
engaged, and he had no time for play or the
reading Of books. He did not like his employ
nent but he kept his hard working father and
mother from knowing his dissatisfaction. He
said 10 himself: 1t cannot last all the time.
Some day I VIII get a better position. Some day
Will be able TO earn SO month and that VIII
keep father, mother and little brother
For one whole year Andrew persevered as a
-bObbin boy" In the winter mornings he had
to grope his way about the streets going to
work, as there were no lights. The streets were
not paved and the cotton mills were dark and
ongy. Andrews second job was even worse
than his first A Scotchman who knew Andrew s
father and family made bobbins for cotton
mills. and Andrew engaged with him. He got a
little more money, but he was condemned to
feed z boiler in a dark cellar with shavings and
cfnr m kae- g
license, and a sense Of dread hung over him that
the boiler might explode some day and blow up
The whole building. But he never let his parents
know that be was afraid of the boiler, and
worked away helping to maintain the family.
Andrew was small for his age, and at thirteen
ed not appear more than ten, but he steadily
Doked for a broader career. And to all who
work while they wait. the opportunity came to
him. and be left the grimy factory for the open
sir life Of a messenger boy.
The building In which Andrew Carnegie made
NE start in his successful career still stands at
1hird-ave and Wood-st, Pittsburg. The great
IRE which swept over the city in 1S45 burned
he buildings IN this street, and the brick struct-
ore which occupies the corner was one of the
nst erected after the fire. In 1851 Andrew Car
negie applied for work to the O'ReilIy Telegraph
Company, which occupied the lower floor Of the
building. Within few days he knew the name
!" every firm and individual in Wood-st., and
vas able 70 deliver messages promptly. In
hose days there was no city directory that
BUSINESS men could be found promptly, and the
managers depended on the memories of the boys.
ioung Andrew was the most ambitious boy
el all the messenger force. He learned to read
ana write much better by constant practice as
ne mad not had much chance to go to school. By
s'uolous attention he learned to send messages,
sno It Is said that he was the third telegraph
operator IN the United States TO learn to take
messages by sound He soon became a most
pioAclent operator. and while yet a boy he had
POSITIONS OF trust IN the telegraph office But
Ae never spent his earnings foolishy He gave
~ his money to his mother, to help keep the
Iinly His ambition to help his father and
mother and 10 educate his younger brother was
Ile ruling passion with him. He honored his
ulolher while she lived and reveres her memory
" this day. This was one of the main secrets
VI hls success His ambition to earn money and
S great man came from a desire that he
H'sht help those whom he loved.