Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07

which. to my mind. equals the free library
| maintained by the people as field for the
| wise distribution of surplus wealth. / think
| 1t fruitful in the extreme, because the
| library gives nothing for nothing, because
| it helps only those that help themselves.
| manly independence, because it does not
pauperiZe, because 1t stretches a hand to
the aspiring and places a ladder upon
| which they can only ascend by doing the
| climbing themselves You cannot boost
man up ladder! This Is not charity, this
| is not philanthropy; it is the people them
selves helping themselves by taxing them
selves. They owe no man anything OF mo-
ment.
l have more than once referred to my
article upon wealth in the North American
Review. The then editor, Mr.. Thorndike
Rice. came to me with the manuscript and
said he would like to hear the author read
1t. You remember what Mrs. Browning
says, ladies and gentlemen, The poets
never read their lines to their own worth;
but did read this prose to him, and when
came to the statement that of every thou
sand dollars given in so-called charity nine
| hundred had better be thrown into the
sea, Mr.. Rice exclaimed Make that nine
hundred and fifty and did so and so it
reads 1 am more profoundly impressed
with the wisdom of Mr.. Rice's correction
today than when I wrote it. While appreci-
ating the good motives which lead people
to devote time and money to many causes,
l see in most of our efforts a mere pruning
Of the branches Of the upas tree, which
grows stronger by pruning. We must get at
the roots of the poverty. the misery and
the crime which still darken human society,
but which, let us gratefully remember. be-
come less and less under the great law of
evolution, which enables US to take a wide
survey of all things and pronounce with
deep satisfaction, All is WELL since all
grows better
The Submerged Tenth.
The submerged tenth, which in the census
we designate delinquents, do not appear
to be properly the objects of private benefi-
cence. These should be the care of the
state The habitual criminal. drinker,
loafer, needing the necessaries of human
life, should be cared for, being human, by
the state, town or community as a whole,
and, some day when we have gone further
in the path of genuine civilization, though
these will still be clothed, fed. housed,
possible, they will be Isolated from their
fellows, as unworthy to wear the revered
name of father or mother.
Some of us see it more and more as we
gain knowledge of life to be clearly our
duty in our day and generation to labor to
prevent wishing others godspeed who see IL
their duty to labor in the direction of cure
Every worker to his own department, and
let us never forget how much is gained by
the giver or worker for himself who tries
to benefit human society as whole or any
part thereof. in any way which comments
itself to him. The end in view sanctities
the means. I rejoice for my part that L
have found a field which still occupies my
thought and my time. and keeps me, al
though retired from business, as busy
man. I think, 1 ever was in business,
which always was more of recreation
than burden. 1t was easy compared with
the life row lead, mere holiday making n
compariSon-verily, the way of the dis
tributor is hard-I now realize in all its
hitherto unknown intensity the strenuous
life. 1t has a new meaning to me since l
retired, but l dread still more the coming
of the day when I shall have to look OUT
for new fields for distribution, for we have
now, so to say, stereotyped library giving.
1t will be a great plunge. Between four
hundred and five hundred letters day now
reach my secretaries. and most of them
also promptly reach the waste basket. For
tunately, many are written in languages
which my secretaries cannot understand.
These are favorably received because they
give no trouble All conceivable and incor-
ceivable suggestions are made. some If
which they show me now and then which
bring to mind that the humorist has well
said one thing which wealth does which
nothing else could do as WELL 1t develops
the fools. man who has surplus wealth
and escapes making a fool of himself once
a week or so, in view Of all the temptations
he has to resist. and all the foolish things
he Is urged to do. should be considered at
least above the average in wisdom.
Mr. Chairman Of the library committee.
ladies and gentlemen. although nv wish
was that I should not be here today yet
am bound to say that. being here I am
glad that the commission insisted upon nv
presence. It goes without saving that ]
must be deeply grateful to the kind fates
which have ven me the privilege of doing
something for the CAPITAL Of nv country.
Various cities have various claims but the
capital is part Of every Americans life and
bride It is a source Of great satisfa ction
to me. therefore. todav to feel after seeing
this building. upon which I warmly con-
graduate the architects. that It will not
@iscredit the public buildings Of Washing
ton famed throughout the world as these
are. To hear that there are PROMPTLY to be
close to this lhrarv two manual training
schools. one Of these for the colored people.
and also business high school. making
this an educational center with the library
that here heyond Doubt IL a wise use Of sur
MUS wealth. and that 10 reward enough
That the President himself has seen fit to
testify by his presence the importance he
attac hes to the Free library: that so MANY
public officials of highest rank from the
bench and the cabinet are here and also
members who rule over us in Congress is
most impressive. ard I congra tuate YOU.
gentlemen OF the commission. that such an
public service nohlv rendered. and to show
their cordial apnroval Of and interest in the
Free I,ihrarv the f~ri+ Of VOW 'ahors
The New Library Building.
The new public library buildine which
was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies
today, is an imposing structure Of white