New-York tribune., 1919-08-12
Life Story of Scotch Boy
Who Amassed One of
Largest Estates in the
World Reads Like Fiction
Gave Away Many Millions
Final Years Spent in Spread
ing Education Through
Libraries; Heroism Was
Rewarded

Andrew Carnegie, the outstanding
figure of nineteenth century in
dustrialism, will go down through tho
ages as the very pcrsonifcation OF
"Triumphant Democracy"
Overcoming almost insupcrabe o.
stacles by his unusual en-, " am
sheer tenacity of purpose, Andrew
Carnegie rose from a humble mes
senger boy to wealth beyond .ho
dreams of avarice. lie rose from
obscurlty to unique position in tn
world.
Yet despite the tremendous cffort
put into everything he undertook
Andrew Carnegie's mcteoric rise Wa
due entirely to the opportunity offer ~
to all in a land of freedom and Of
free speech. This fact he emphasized
in all his writings, and il all hi
speeches. Moreover it hid profoun
effect upon the course he adopted for
the administration of his vast forturo
for the development of mankind, and
the furtherance Of science.
Fathercd World Peace Plan
From the very first he looked upon
his fortune as great trust bestowed
upon him for the betterment of man
kind. With this point in view he sci
himself the task of administering it fo,
the development of education, art and
science.
One of his most recent gifts in the
latter realm was the establishment of
Mount Wilson Observatory, built for
the special purpose of studying the
sun. This remarkable observatory is
just about to begin work of adding to
the store of human knowledge
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dun
termllne. the parliamentary burgh of
Fifeshire, Scotland, on November 25.
1887. His birthplace was a onc-story
structure in Noodle Street, Just back
OF some gas works. At the time he
came into the world the town of Dun
fermline was noted for its extensive
weaving industry
The boys father, William Carnegie,
was one of the leading weavers of Dun
fermline and was considered we'll to do,
as he owned four damask looms and
employed several apprentices Econ
omy was the watchword Of the house
hold, however, and in order to insure
the family against future reverses the
mother worked at the looms from early
morning until late at night.
Father Meets Reverses.
When Andrew was eleven years old
dire destroyer Of the family pros
perity came in the shape Of the dis
covery of the uses of steam. The hand
weavers of Dunfermline saw large fac
tories spring up in which this new
power was installed, and found that
they must abandon the occupation
which their fathers and their fathers
fathers had followed. Upon none of
them did the blow fall more heavily
forced to dispose of his looms at a low
figure. His savings rapidly vanished
and the spectre of poverty was installed
in the home.
Andrew Carnegie in later life paid
glowing tribute to the worth of his
mother. 1t was she who, upon return
ing tired and worn from her toll at tn {
looms, yet found time to instruct
young Andrew. To her he owed what
little education he received in those
days, and he never forgot his debt In
this connection he once said: IL have
never known my mother to be wrong in
anything. SO long as she lived never
hesitated to obtain her opinion on any
question and to follow it absolutely"
At this crisis in the family fortunes
the mother exhibited wonderful cour.
age and foresight. She summoned a
family council and brought hope to he,
despairing husband by proposing tmi.
grafton to America. Having INSULT
clent funds to make the journey, she
appealed to her brother, who was a
familiar character in that part Of Scot
land. He was called "Candy Rock and
Whitenin' Geordie Lauder" because he
peddled rock candy through the streets
for the children, and also sold stove
whitening to the housewives. The ped
Ter willingly gave his sister $40
In 1848 the Carnegie family, consist,
ing of the father and mother, Andrew
and his brother William, set sail
Seven weeks after they embarked the
Carnegies sailed into New York Har-
bor. and day or so after their arrival
left here for Allegheny City, where
relatives had already settled.
Bobbn Boy.
The first money Andrew Carnegie
earned was to him the greatest prize
Of his life. Not all the millions of
dollars he afterward amassed and be-
slowed in libraries, books, paintings
and charity gave him so much pleasure
as the first S1.20 he took home for q
weeks work when twelve years old
he lived with his parents in a little
dwelling in Rebecca Street, which
long since has disappeared He had
secured situation as "bobbin bow
IN cotton factory. Allegheny CITY
before the Civil War, was ooe of the
greatest cotton manufacturing towns il,
the country. There were no. eight.
hour workdays and half holidays on
Saturdays then. The working peopls
labored from the earliest peep Of dawn
until darkness prevented the further
use Of the ta.low dips which fickered
uncertainty about the machinery. Bo-
! kept Young Andrew husilr onoaAl