Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
PENSIONS FORMER BOSS
ANDREW CARNEGIE's PROVISION
FOR A DEPARTMENT CLERK

Andrew Carnegte's attitude in favo,. or
lhe pensioning of clerks and other ennIovra.,
VINO nave grown old In service and bis ar
ieSliohate remembrance of a friend whom,
ne mas not seen since his boyhood DAVIS
nave Deen strikingly illustrated recently I'm
an act OF Kindness to a clerk of the pension
Outhau' VINO mas become too feeble to re-
main longer at his desk The story Is an
interesting one, and throws light upon the
early life of the great financier and upon
the nature Of the man himself
hears ago young Andrew then a hoy
Vi eheVeh years, obtained a position as A
messenger In telegraph office in Pitts
"ui & one or the first persons he became
ACQUAINTED with In the office was Jacob
-, Lareofhbe' one OF the operators. who
hked him and showed him Kindness The
TWO were the best of friends as long as Mr.
Larcombe remained in the office After a
"iiiie the operator went TO Memphis Tenn
and later removed to Alabama. Andrew
carnegie and his friend neyer-r,et ag,f,
AFTER the civil war MIR. I.arcombe came TO
TINS city and obtained clerkship in the
most efficient w
Application to Carnegie.
sut his health recently became impaired
anu ms associates began TO be apprehen-
4af. freu I. Peck, who is In the
o'iice OF the board OF review. in which Mr..
LAT cofhoe holds a position. knew OF the
latter early friendship with Mr. Carnegie.
ana without saying anything TO his ASSOC
ciate, wrote to the former messenger bow.
now become a multi millionaire. and asked
MN IL he remembered Mr. Larcombe. He
also told of the condition OF Mr. Carraoie,.
former friend and explained the cIrcuro-
stances Mr.. Carnegie replied at once un-
Ger GATE of January 81, from The Cottage
Dungeness. Fernandina. Fla, as follows:
Dear Mr.. Peck: L remember Mr.. Lar
combe We'll. He was kind to lis bows
" hen he has to give up work I suppose
you nave no pension fund. We have not
yet reached the stage, as far as pensions
than the sword The sword gets ali vet
put there Is change TO come. l will put
Mr.. Larcombes name on nv pension iist
with rare pleasure when he must give up
You know 1t is better to postpone that dav
as long as possible, for men retire to lam
guish and die
yours truly.
ANDREW CARNEGIE"
follows:
Pray, remember me most kindly to my
former operator boss. was messenger
boy under him. A @"
The letter was in Mr.. Carnegie's own
handwriting
Mr.. Peck sent another letter later. ex-
pidHilfE IN more Detail the situation. Under
date of February Is a second letter from
the Scotch philanthropist was received.
III put him on my pension roll" said
MI Carnegie for an amount equal to his
salary with deep satisfaction. I'll be guided
by you, however. If you think another way
more desirable. If L can send him an
amount equal to his salary without dis
turbing his position l will do so / am
much gratified the old gentleman has such
kindly feelings for me. 1 certainly have
the waimest for him"
The Pension Ordered.
He again said he hoped Mr. Larcombe
could remain at work little longer. as IL
would be better for him. but recently Mr..
Larcombe was forced to take leave of alb
sence for a month. and It was known that
he could not return. Mr.. Peck wrote at
once to Mr.. Carnegie, stating this fact
The reply, written Wednesday, came at
once in his own handwriting:
II have ordered $I5 a month sent to you.
beginning June l, which you can give TO
dear old Mr.. Larcombe as you think best,
kindly play guardian angel. 1 understand
he gets April pay. II not, it be made
April II
To say that Mr.. Larcolnhe is grateful to
the man to whom as a boy he showed some
kindness, and who has now displayed his
appreciation so substantially, would be put
ting it mildly. He need not work auy
more and will be sure of a livelihood for his