The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-08
new LIBRARY
IS DEDICATED.
Gift of Andrew Carnegie to the
City of Washington
is Formally Turned Over to the
Board of Trustees.
ROOSEVELT SPEAKS.
Pays Tribute to Wisdom Of the
Iron Master.
Donor Offers to Give S35O,OOO
More for Branches.
ROOSEVELT SPEAKS.


persons of note assembled to attend
the ceremonies incident to the dedica-
ton of the Washington public library.
The ceremonies took place in the audi
forum of the new library. The partici-
pants in the exercises included the
president OF the United States, Mr.
Andrew Carnegie. the donor of the
building the presidents of the build
ing commission and the board of Ii
brary trustees. Among those who at
tended the ceremonies We're members
Of the cabinet, of the senate and house
of representatives and people prominent
IN civil life throughout the United
States.
The library building is a white mar
bic structure. occupying the center Of
Mount Vernon square. in the very heart
Of Washington. For its construction
MI Carnegie donated $3.50 900. The
ceremonies were merely incidental to
the transfer of the building from the
building commission to the board of
library trustees, of which Mr.. Theodore
w Noyes. associate editor of the
Washington Star, is president Prior
20 the formal exercises the orchestra
OF the Marine band played
The dedication exercises lasted
scarcely an hour. After the bishop of
Washington, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Satter-
lee. had pronounced prayer President
Roosevelt was introduced and spoke as
follows;
81 count myself fortunate in being
able to come here today 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 eTnphatically
a gift of wisdom a gift to do the ut
most possible benefit to all the people
of this country. from yOu,Mr- Carnegie.
(Applause.) 1t seems to me that the
man has q right to call himself thrice
blessed who combines the power and
the purpose to use his wealth for the
benefit of our people at large in a 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 a chance to get for
him or herself the training that he or
she has the desire to.
"Of course, our common school system
lies at the foundation Of our educational
system, but it is the foundation only. or
those who are to stand pre-eminent as
the representatives Of the culture of the
community, the enormous majority must
educate themselves. (Applause,) The
work done by this library is helpful, be
cause it represents one side of the way
in which all healthy work in this com
munity must be done. Mr.. Carnegie.
neither you nor any one else can make
Tuen wise or cultivated. All you can do
own wisdom. or to his own cultivation.
(Applause.) That is all you can do ia
any kind Of philanthroDic work. Gap
plause.)
THE only philanthropic work that
counts Ia the long run is the work that
helps a man to help himself (Applause.)
That is true socially, sociolOglcally and
in every way. The man who will suo-
init or demand to be carried is not worth
carrying. Haughter) And if you make
the effort it helps neither him nor you.
'@ur every man OF US needs help
needs more and more to be given the
chance to show for himself the stuff
that is in him. and this kind Of free
library is doing in the world of cult
walton, the world Of scholarship, what it
should be our aim to do In the great
world-Dolitical and social development
that is, it is, as far as may be, equal
King the opportunities: and then leav-
Ing the men themselves to show how
they are able to take advantage of
them. CApplauseO In other words. this
is the kind Of gift that steers the happs
middle coarse between the Charybdis Of
failure to show public spirit on the one
hand, and on the other Scylla of showing
that public spirit in a way that will de
moraltze and Dauperize those who take
advantage of it. (ApDlause) To quote
an expression that 1 am fond Of-this is
equally Tar from the two prime vices OF
our civilization, hardness of heart and
Eo1tness Of head (ApDlause.)
am not here to make a speech. I,
tunaLely, nave TO leave at once.
as the president has several duties to
perform. (Laughter) I have come be-
cause / feel that the movement for Sc
curing better facilities for self-training.
better facilities for education in its
widest and broadcast and deepest sense.
is one of such prime importance that
the president of the United States could
nowhere more apr Opriately come than
TO this building, Mr.. Carnegie. at this
time. 10 thank you for the gift that
you have made to the people of the ma
donal capital" Long continued APP
plause.
When the applause had subsidized
President Roosevelt left the auditorium
the audience rising as he passed out
and the Marine band playing Amer
In a brief address Mr.. H. B. E. Mac
Earland, one of the commissioners of
the District of Columbia turned the
building over to the board of library
trustees President Noyes responding
on behalf of the board Mr. Moves
speech was an eloquent tribute to the
Hberality of Mr. Carnegie. He referred
to Mr.. Carnegie as santa Carnegie.
the patron saint Of public libraries. who
transforms by word or touch of the
pen, cramped, crowded makeshift of
q library building into the marble
palace IN which We're are assembled to-
day"
In conclusion Mr.. Moves pronounced
the building a 'Sn0ta bic adornment of
the city beautiful q factor in the Won
derfuI architectural development of the
new Washington.
Mr.. Carnegie next was introduced. He
was given an ovation by the great audi
ence. He ssid in part: THE free libra
ry. maintained BY alt the people for All
the people knows neither rank nor
birth within its walls. Even he Who
honors us tOdav by his august presence
the honor of the highest uosition upon
earth. the elected of the majority of the
English spea king race. q position com
pared with which ali Inherited positions
sink into insigni6cauce. within these
walls has no privileges which is not the
right of his poorest and humblest fellow
citizen
free Libraries maintained by the peo-
pie are cradles Of democracy. and their