New-York tribune., 1903-03-27
Mr.. cARNEoIE's GIFT TO srRArFoRD.

THE straford-on-Avon Herald" makes the FOL
lowing pertinent remarks on recent discussion OF
Mr.. Carnegies gift of free library to the ancient
borough OF Shakespeare:
such dead set Is Just being made az asainst sf
free library to stratford-on-Avon in justice TO to
nothing Whasavar to 90 With the selection Of
site. He never even thought of making such GIT
the interests Of the burgesses. and then and then
OILY Ne DID he mace % sum ad of for so Sne ' Time
ested himself in completing the equipment OF the
TRe site t or S S ee bary actually Chosen BY
the Town Council without any suggeson VI %h65SVS op
wise In fact he positively declined to express an
tireiy n one ne thai Concerned the burgesses Of the
town. and them alone. There was vacant 81 space zee
apidated condition that sooner oT later it would
6een Rece te 0f for ueo m e library It Would
been occupied by modern shops, Of designs perhaps
Which would visitors have preferred to see? These
mGdern & ebPoEa or free n the heo baP brd
buildings Of which we have now SO many e&cetl9nt
gent public and of visitors who know well the
locality cannot for moment be in doubt. People
be informed of two undsputed facts-that Mr..
ford that he he never thought of the town when
distributing his gifts. that he never saw the
repeat that he left the question entirely in the
hands of the burgesses, whose representatives the
Town Council made the Unanimously, We
believe-and not a single protest has come from
tion Of the ancient Character of the town as out
siders-the ratepayers-although the site was Sc
lected some eight nine months ago.. This should
Few people are spending their money so usefully
literally as he is doing. not for his sef-glqrl-
desiderata for helping to build up the educational
greatness Of own and other nations.
On one other matter a few words may be said
the requirement Of the three four cottages al
contiguous to the birthplace. 1t was tried 10
make that these cottages existed in Shake
passed them. and that IT would be an act or van
dalism to pull them down. What are the facts!
Three of the cottages are modern bulit, we nave
reason for believing in 1888. and as plain and ugly
in character the ingenuity of an Ignorant ouider
could make them. What would have been the fate
of these places II they had not Deen secured! iNo
of them would have been converted into modern
restaurant, and touts would probably nave been
at the dors inviting visitors to step In and
ton. This would have been the use to which these
much glorihed cottages would have been put
ciaIy disposed owner. Now, in this matter also MT
Carnegie was quite passive agent. Never did
to himself in iuxtaposition with that of Shake
speare. He has gained a reputation with Whicn
that the question OF making the birthplace
secure troubled the minds of the trustees
of that precious building. and that when FUNDS al
lowed, attempt would be made to acquire the
adjoining property Deeply anxious that no danger
should threaten the existence of the poets birth
place, Mr.. Carnegie at once gave instructions Tor
the purchase Of the cottages. That all. No
shaking of money bags here. He left all the de-
tails to the trustees feeling satisfied that they
would wish them to do-make the birthplace secure
against all possibility of fire In all matters con-
of the schemes in the hands of local authorities
Let then the wrath of disappointed people be
poured upon them ahgr tnan upon a bae 6een %
together above suspicion. He has had no Interior
object in view. no desire to place himself upon a
pedestal for the admiration Of future genera
tfons.