Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-01-15
LIBRARY DEDICATED.
Carnegie's Great Gift to Washing
ton Opened to Public.
ONE OF EIGHT HUNDRED BUILDINGS.
Great Philanthropists Desire to Eliminate
the Misery and Crime which Darkenb
Human Society-President Roosevelt
Ono of the Principal Speakers.

7; Washington, Jan. ga throng Of
persons of note assembled Wednes.
day afternoon to attend the ceremo.
MES incident to the dedication of the
Washington public library. The cere-
; monies took place in the auditorium
OF the new library. The participants
, in the exercises included the presi-
dent of the United States, Mr.. An
drew Carnegie, the donor of the
building, and the presidents of the
building commission and the board
of library trustees. Among those
who attended the ceremonies were
members of the cabinet, of the SEN
ate and house of representatives and
people prominent in civil life
throughout the United States. The
library building is a beautiful white
marble structure, occupying the CEN
ter of Mount Vernon square, in the
very heart of Washington. For its
construction Mr.. Carnegie donated
$35O,OOO. ..
The dedication exercises lasted
scarcely an hour. After the bishop
Of Washington, Right Rev. DR.. Sat-
terlee, had pronounced prayer Presi-
dent Roosevelt was introduced and
spoke in part as follows:
II count myself fortunate in be-
ing able to come here to-day, not
only for my private individual sake,
but as in some sort representing the
people Of all the country, to express
my profound appreciation of what is
emphatically gift Of wisdom, gift
to do the utmost possible benefit
to all the people of this country,
from you, Mr.. Carnegie. It seems
to me that the man has right to
call himself thrice blessed who COM
bines the power and the purpose to
use his wealth for the benefit of our
people at large in way that shall
do them real benefit; and in no way
can more benefit be done than
through the gift of libraries such as
this-a free library, where each man.
each woman, has chance to get for
him of herself the training that he
or she has the desire to.
"L am not here to make a speech.
| have come because I feel that the
movement for securing better facili
ties for self-training, better facili-
ties for education in it's widest and
broadcast and deepest sense, is one of
such prime Importance that the presi-
dent of the United States could no
where more appropriately come than
to this building, Mr.. Carnegie, at this
time, to thank you for the gift that
you have made to the people of the
national capital"
When the applause had subsidized
President Roosevelt left the audito-
rum, the audience rising as he passed
out and the marine band playing
America"
In brief address Mr.. Fl. B. F. Mac
Farland, one of the commissioners Of
the District of Columbia, turned the
building over to the board of library
trustees.
Mr.. Carnegie next was introduced.
He was given an ovation by the great
audience. He said in part:
"The free library, maintained by
all the people, for all the people,
knows neither rank nor birth within
Its walls. Even he who honors us
to-day by his august presence, the
honor of the highest position upon
earth, the elected of the majority of
The English-speaking race, a position
with which all inherited
positions sink into insignifcance,
within these walls has no privileges
which is not the right of his poorest
md humblest fellow-citizen.
Free libraries maintained by the
people are cradles of democracy and
heir spread can never fail to ex-
end and strengthen the democratic ,
dea. equality Of the citizen, royalty /,
# man.
Theodore Roosevelt, the author, .
'efore he was president had, Caesar =
Ike, not only caused his fellows to
mark him and write his speeches in
heir books, but had made books for r
imself. | doubt not that of the :
ooks taken from this library his will
ank high in the list. We hail him
o-day, therefore, in the dual capa-
ity, of president and author, posi- e
ions unsurpassed in their several Il
pheres, rare and wonderful in COM o
II
Mr.. Carnegie said that he had e.
iven, chiefly within the past two j
ears, 100 library buildings. During Al
he month of July last 276 applica- Il
ons for library buildings were re- q
lived by him from all parts Of the :"
nglish-speakng world. When he ar al
we'd at New York last month from
urope he found awaiting him appl-
ltions for $50 additional buildings. n
o-day he has on hand 1855 new ap- !.
ications, making in all under con- =,
deration now more than 800, "the =