The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-08


exercises of the Carnegie library yes
tcrday. Proof sheets of Mr.. Noyez'
Interesting speech reached The Times
yesterday after its hour of publication.
The Times today publishes me speech
In fun with pleasure Mr.. Noyes said
with d profound realization %. the
significance OF this event. the public d.
Lrary of the District of Columbia re-
ceives and enters its new home. this
spacious and beautiful building. pro-
claimed by the Inscription carved in
the enduring marble of its front. a
Gift Of Andrew Carnegie
''WashinEton-s grateful appreciation of
the benedcence of the donor is height
ened by consideration Of the nature OF
the gftt- Enjoyment of the donated
structure was conditional upon supply
by The public of a site and upon adequate
municipal maintenance of the building.
and of the library. already created Joy
the people. to be housed therein. Public
spirit and local pride are stirred. Some
shouIderinE Of burdens by The taxpayers
and some degree OF community scIf-sac-
rifce are required This gift is no
charity which pauperizes. deadeninE in
diyiduaI effort and aspiration. On The
contrary, It's tendency Is 10 promote and
compel "a self-helping and seIL-respect-
ing spirit.
In our modern american mythology
Santa Carnegie IS the patron saint Of
public Libraries who. like the fairy god
mother of our childhood tales. converts
at touch the ugly and commonplace
into the beautiful and glorious. who. for
instance. transforms by a word or touch
OF The pen a cramped. crowded mokezhift
OF a library building into the marble
library palace IN which We are as
sembIed TODAY.
santa Carnegie's special ana charac-
teristic function aH patron Of libraries is
10 soIsmnize. endow and bless the mar
rage Of private capital TO municipal
progressiveness- with seIt-respecJ as
best man. under the auspices Of indi-
vidual and community enterprise and
public spirit. with a resulting family
Of enrolling thoughts and aspirations.
widely difusing knowledge and Conspic-
u0usly benefting the community.
The Carnegie benefacti0ns are pecu-
liarly OF the class Of gifts that bless him
who gives as well as him who takes. To
die rich-that Is. to die burdeued down
10 the dust Of the earth with an undis-
tributed surplus Of accumulated and ac-
cumulating moneys in Mr.. Carnegic's
opinion to die disgTaced- To the extent
OF more than s50, 000 900 Mr. Caruegie's
gifts OF library buildings have relieved
him from this dfshonor-t threatening bur
den and have enabled him to meet fully
his own high conception Of The obliga-
1ion of the man who rapidly amasses
wealth. And on this NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
occasion Mr. Carnegie himself is doubt
less reeiprocaIIy grateful for so pleas
ing an opportunity as that which Wash
ington's library needs have supplied to
reduce his chances Of suffering many
years hence even q minimum Of this
suggested disgrace
Benefits of Carnegie Donations.
The obvious results of Mr.. CareGfe.s
library donations are, first. to promote
public appreciation of The usefulness o.
books, and second. to create or foster
the Intelligent public spirit which rem
ders a community willing to contribute
In taxes TO library maintenance
In the case of Washington full recoe-
milton OF the value of books and "a pub
Hc-spiritcd readiness TO support tax
sustained library mad already developed
and crystaIlized IN acts. Here unmis-
taEably 5Ir- Carnegie helped those who
had shown the desire and intent TO help
themselves
y series OF vigorous efforts to support
subscript ton sustained libraries for pub
lie use, beginning early in Washingtou's
history and covering in the aggregate
many years OF the citT's life. bore on
Jinuoas testimony 40 the strength and
psEzjstcncy Of the cap ais I5rsry as2i-
rations.
In January. 1871 z va s5ington news
paper, commenting ca Sir. CarueEie'5
Edinburgh ll}rary dQ5stion. said. Wash
ington now has the pittsburgh conditions
OF y9st ana rich secEnuIations OF read
ing matter. Unavailable TO the mass or
the people. NeF + needs Carnegie. a
free library act. or both
1.-The community at once began a cam
paign Tor public library actor The
privilege of taxing itself for a contri-
button toward such an institution
maintenance. ana in the end il mas
not only secured a tax-sustaiued library
Is the result of several years of struggle.
but it has also later gained not "a
Carnegie. but the Carnegie himself. with
the consequences of this feIfcitous com
binaJion that are visible here today
IN March, 1888. the Board Of Trade
Of this city unanimously adopted the re-
port Of its public library committee
which pictured the library necessities OF
that date. and which committed the
Board aud Washington 10 d policy Of tho
meeting and satisfying that need. which
has been persistenrIy followed n
June. 1886. Congress created The public
library. and IN June. 1898. it made the
first appropriation for The institution
maintenance.
TO the library thus created. erz-
tanned by Washington taxpayers. local
and national. and pledged q permanent