The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-01-20
~ AIKEN & SCHMAHL
BRO. SINCLAIR WRITES.
Congratulates Us On Having New Car
negie Library.

| negie Library.
DEAR GAZETTE Though this il
the 4th Of January, it is not too late
20 write you Happy New Year.
You have had happier New Years
dare say than this, for several PEG.
pie in Red wood Falls have written
me that it is sad to 90 up town and
look on the buildings which were
wrecked in the fire. I had great
sympathy with all who suffered loss,
but was thankful that no lives were
lost; that nothing so heartrendinq
as the terrible tale Of woe in Chi
cago was recounted among you.
| am delighted that Mr.. Carnegie
has expressed his liberality to Red
wood Falls in giving such hand
some contribution to establish a
library in the city. When return
to visit you I am sure there could
be no building on the site beside
the church to which I used to min
lister on which I will look with
greater pleasure than on an insti-
tuition which is calculated to raise
Intellectually the whole town. In
BrOokline we have a public library
Immediately across the street from
our church and / find it a great
boon. It has some 100, 600 volumes
and 125 of the best magazines in the
world come 10 every month. I find
it great treat to go in for an hour
every day and roam around. The
Brookline people have not been
forgetful of the children and have a
separate department and special
reading room for them. The school
children take ample advantage of
this and sit and read as quietly as
If they were grown up folks.
You will be interested to know
about a visit / made to jamie Beech
er, of the Monongehela, few weeks
ago. The Monongehela was then
lying at Portsmouth, N. Hampshire,
40 miles from Boston. jamie came
up to see me one day and took lunch
with US at the manse. A few days
later / visited him on board his
ship and got some insight into sea
life on naval vessel. It happened
to be the day that the delegation
from Cleveland, Ohio, was there to
present bell TO the cruiser Cleve-
land, which was also at Portsmouth
ct that time. | therefore saw a
naval function which is not wit
messed every day. jamie had
written invitation for me from the
captain of the Cleveland. The
officers of both vessels were in full
dress; the elite of Portsmouth was
present and when all were assem-
bled on the deck of the Cleveland
for the presentation of the bell the
spectacle was brilliant. In his
cooked hat, his golden shoulder
pieces and his girded sword, Pay
master Beecher is no longer the
quiet, thoughtful- looking little boy
we used to know in Red wood Falls;
but handsome, wide-awake look
ing officer who has already risen
rapidly and who has the promise OF
rising to higher rank still in very
short time.
When we returned to the Monon-
gehela and were alone in his state
room / said to jamie, IT would like
% be able to say that I had worn your
sword In the measured terms
of old he said, "Oh surely, if you
can get it on" / tried to get it on,
but the band would not come with
in several inches of fastening. !
put on the cooked hata and expressed
q wish, jocularly, that | had been a /
naval chaplain Jamie looked at me
and said, Swell, you would not en-
Joy it long, for you would weary of
doing SO little. He does not need
to weary for want of work. Every
cent that is paid out on the ship
goes through his hands. He has
several clerks and is busy looking
after them all day long. / met the
officers OF the vessel at lunch and
y a.