Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1905-05-10
ANDREW cARNEGIE's GIFTS.

Andrew Carnegie up to the present has given away total of $121, ,325, ,OO0. As it was his own money, gained legi- timately under our laws, he should be permitted to aisDurse It as he pleases. without offciOus and annoying criti- cism from the several millions of per sons who think that they could have put it to better uses. Even though he might have devised more useful schemes of philanthropy than some of those on which he has spent his wealth, his intention and example have been good, and not the most captious prof ferer of free advice. given to looking gift horses narrowly :n the mouth. has complained that any one of his dona- tions is not in some measure for the public benefit and worthy of approba- tion.
 His appropriations for libraries. now amounting to $2S,OOO,OOO bring the best literature of the world close to the people. The Carnegie libraries are popular libraries and must have. of course, the defects of their qualities Scholars are disposed to sheer at popu- lar libraries as mere machines for cir eulating trash. The learned mans notion of a library is that of a great storehouse of original documents, "source books' and ancient and rare volumes; repository for works of re- ference where a man engaged in any line of work may find all the learning on the subject. Such is the library of the British Museum and that of Con- gress. But popular libraries are also very valuable in their way. although high and mighty savants may scorn them. Much trash may be circulated by the Carnegie libraries. but they cir culate also much real literature and thus tend steadily to raise the stand ard of the popular intelligence. Even the trash does little harm and some good, for it lifts readers away from sordid surroundings, and gives their imaginations exercise.
 In a nation like this, possessed of mania for education, no fault can be found with Carnegie's immense dona- tions to various schools; $7,S52 ,00O to the Carnegie Institute at Pittsburg, S2,OOO,OO0 to the Polytechnic School l at Pittsburg, $15,00O.OOO to the Scot | tish universities and $17,OOOOOO to divers small colleges. Naturally, his l personal inclination is toward tech l nical rather than humane education, al l though letters still survive in tine | Scottish schools, and in this inclination | he is supported by the spirit of the | age. The scientific departments in American universities are being ag- | grandized more rapidly than the liter ary and philosophical departments. We are more concerned about what partic i ular thing a man can do than about his general culture, and since there are two good sides to the matter, we cannot blame Carnegie for his predil- ection.
 The foundation of the national uni versity or institution for the encour agement of original. creative work in every field Of intellectual endeavor is, undoubtedly. the grandest and wisest of Carnegie s schemes. He has set | apart $1O,OOO.OOO for this object, and i probably will increase the apprOpria- ! tion as the range of the institution s | work expands and its needs increase. Thus far the trustees of the fund ap- | pear to have administered it most in telligently. They have provided for the advancement of the historical as well as the physical sciences. and the inclusion of Luther Burbank among the benefciaries of the fund indicates that the trustees are not bound bv academic preiudices and can perceive merit even when it is not resident at a university.
 The Dunferline endowment escapes l criticism as an act of natural senti- ment, although there is some question i of the usefulness of gift which may i pauperize ones native town. Support | ed by endowment, and relieved of | much stimulating necessity, what will | become of the virtue and industry of ] Dunfcrline The croakers shake their ! heads and fear the worst, but in all 1 probability the people of the town will