The Washington herald., 1908-03-08

nor the former guiding spirit OF the sec
Ond largest corporation on earth He is
plain Andrew Carnegie, private citizen,
free from all cares but domestic RESPONSE
bilities and that involved in giving away
millions OF dollars annually. His duties.
which are always pleasant for the most
part consist OF looking after little cor
poration of three. composed Of Mrs Car
negie, his little daughter Margaret, and
himself
Alone with His Books.
At home Mr.. Carnegie practically ig-
nores everything with the exception of
his domestic affairs and his books His
private business is principally looked
after by his secretaries who have Offices
in the residence. and all his letters are
written by these men.
II is in his study where Mr. Carnegie
gives away Libraries. church organs. and
makes other munihcent gifts and dona-
tlons. This sometimes keeps him busy
for few days az a stretch. and when so
engaged he denies himself to all visitors
save those who come by appointment.
have met and conFersed with Mr..
Carnegie on the streets Of Pittsburg. in
one OF the Libraries which he built. on
board an ocean liner returning from
abroad, and in the privacy OF his wonders
ful library in his Fifth avenue palace.
And upon each occasion he appeared q
different person than the Carnegie 1 saw
at my last meeting with him.
Change of Attitude.
When the former A. ID. T. messenger
appeared on the streets Of Pittsburg. which
has been seldom during the past ter
years. he was tine most democratic per
-sonage imaginable. On the streets OF
New York and the promenades in Central
Park, near his home. where frequently
saw him. Mr. Carnegie on these Ocza-
sions, accompanied sometimes by friend
bur most frequently when alone, was a
man Of thought
If any one doubts that Mr. Andrew Car
negie prefers the heather or Scotland and
his Skibo Castle TO America and his New
York house, he is In error. Should you
believe that the Scotch town Of Dunferm.
line and not PitssbuTg Is his feYOrite
town this would be readily dizpeileC
from your mind were you 10 see the
laird on board an ocean greyhound cut
ting her way through toward the Statue
Of Liberty.
Carnegie on the Deep.
I was one OF number OF newspaper
men who. in government cutter. went
out beyond Ellis Island 10 meet the Ced.
ric, upon which Mr. Carnegie was q
passenger He was returning to America
after an absence of several months.
On that occasion The light and Joy o.
childhood sparkled in the usually impell.
ing eyes Of Carnegie. He said that hs
was glad 10 get back home. The Httl.
tremor in his voice told better than hi,
words that he is a loyal American.
Mr. Carnegie talked at length with ths
reporters Who scampeTed on board. shak
ing each by the hand as they reached The
deck He talked Of his trip. the ap
preaching gubernaIorial election IN New
York State, but turned a deaf ear L
questions bearing upon the United State.
Steel Corporation and its officials. tn,
Presidential possibilities. and other topic,
in which the whole industrial and com
merclal world was interested. But al
hour later, when the big Cedric had pull
ed into her slip, the little, bearded man
wearing a Scotch patterned cap. was n,
longer a tourist steelmaster. He was An
drew Carnegie. and the line on interview
had been drawn. He was then a private
citizen Of PittsbuTg and New York.
On the following day 7 had the goo,
fortune 70 meet Mr.. Carnegie in his home
II was by appointment, effected through
an influential Pittsburger. Several news
paper representatives. had called az IN
house earlier in the day. but their card
never went beyond the austere-faced but
Ter at the door. One correspondent. rep
resenting large New York daily. who wa
among the disappointed scrihes. through
some fine piece OF strategy succeeded il
getting past the man IN swallcw-taile,
coat. His card was then sent to tn,
laird. and he was ushered into the pres
ence OF the latter The interviewer thel
asked Mr.. Carnegie several questions. re
ceiving a negative shake OF the head Il
reply 20 each.
Understood the Code.
Then a happy thought struck the core
spondent. He was an old telegrapher
and, sure enough, hadn't Carnegie him
self pounded the brass
After making futile attempts 10 Obtain
answers to his queries. the interviewe
began TO make imaginary dots and dashe
on the palm Of his left hand with hi
right foreigner. Mr.. Carnegie recognize
the Morse code in an instant The teleg
, rapher gave him what is known to New
York operators as the high sign" II
lad told his host that he was an ol,
Western Union man
Mr. Carnegie made no oral answer but
reaching for an envelope opener whicl
lay on a mahogany ,able. spelle,
out the words by ticking the knife: -
have nothing further TO say.
Such is one OF the many. schemes tha
have been tried to induce Mr.. Carnegi
TO talk
Possibly II was because I was a Pitts
burger that Mr.. Carnegie chatted with m
for half hour-five minutes worth 70
publication and the rest for myself. II
talked OF public men, and his words wer
rot to the credit of some of them; OF hi
daughter, OF whom he is exceedingl
fond and other subjects that contributes
10 making the most interesting half hou
that l ever devoted TO newspaper work.