The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-08
CARNEGIE, THE GIVER
HE HAS PRESENTED 73O LIBRARY
BUILDINGS.
NOW HAS 800 APPLICATIONS.
GREAT MAJORITY, HE SAYS, WILL
BE GRANTED.

Carnegie's Public Library in WASH
ingtOn Dedicnted-Turned over TO
the Library COmmissiOn-Mr. Car
negie Made an Address-Distin-
Ruished Men Attended the Cere-
mOny-Address Made by the Presi-
dent, who Thanked MIR. Carnegie
for the Gift.
Washington, Jan. IA concourse of
notable personages assembled this aft
ernoon to attend the ceremonies Incl
dent to the dedication of the Washing
ton public library. In the auditorium
of the new 1ibrary-a handsome white
marble structure located on Mount
Vernon Square and donated to the peo-
pie of Washington by Andrew Carne-
gie-the dedication ceremonies were
held.
The participants in the exercises In
cluded President Roosevelt, Mr. Car
negie and the presidents of the building
commission and the board of library
trustees.
Among those who attended the cere-
monies were members Of the Senate
and House of Representative, members
of the cabinet. and people prominent In
civil and political life throughout the
United States.
When the building was formally
turned over to the library commission,
Mr.. Carnegie made an address. Mr..
Carnegie said that he had given,
chiefly within the past two years, 40
library buildings. During the month Of
July, last 276 applications for library
buildings were received by him from
all parts of the English speaking
world. When he arrived in New York
las. month from Europe he found
awaiting him applications for $50 adj
d.titnal buildings. To-day he has on
hand 1856 new applications making in
all under consideration now more than
800 the great majority of whici'," he
said. will no doubt, be given.
After prayer by Bishop Satteriee.
President Roosevelt was introduced.
He said that he counted himself for
tunate in attending the library dedi-
cation ceremonies. in some respects as
representing the people of the United
States. to express his grateful appre-
citation OF the wisdom Of Mr. Carnegie
in presenting a magnificent free pub
lie library to Washington He be-
lieved that a man ought to consider
himself as thrice blessed who might
use his wealth for the benefit OF the
whole people. The common school
system, of course. lay at the founda-
ton of education, but it was only the
foundation. The enormous majority
OF American citizens must, of necessity,
ne said. educate themselves.
Such a library as that donated by
Mr.. Carnegie would be helpful. be-
cause II presented a way by following
which the people might educate them
selves. No philanthropic work was
really valuable except such as en-
abled the individual to help himself.
Every man needed heIp--needed the
chance to show the stuff that was In
him. The free library afforded men
the opportunity to equalize opportuni-
ties and left it to each one to show
whether he would take advantage Of
those that were offered to him. The
opportunity offered by this free library
was equally far from the two prime
vices OF human nature-hardness or
heart and softness of head.
He said that he had attended the
exercises because he felt that to Sc
cure self-training was of such import-
ance that the President of the United
States could not be present on an oc-
casion of greater moment He con-
cluded with an expression of his thanks
to Mr.. Carnegie for his splendid gift
to the national capital.