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Andrew Carnegie
Dead.
THE DEATH of this man removes from earth
one of the most remarkable characters that I have ever
known.
He began life a poor boy--the son of a
master-weaver, and from that humble station arose to be next to the
richest man in the world.
Carnegie had some good ideas and
some good traits.
He worshipped the dollar and made money
his religion. But with it all, endeavored as a side-line to improve
mankind and alleviate human suffering.
He never seemed to
realize, however, that the methods employed by aim to grow richer
necessarily made millions of poor.
He was a vain man, as
most men whose god is money, are vain.
He encouraged
education without knowing what education meant. He spent large sums of
money in the distribution of books without understanding the meaning of
books. He endeavored to make a reputation as a patron of learning with a
view, of course, of glorifying himself and possibly making restitution and
amends for the sins which he committed in amassing a great
fortune.
In this he reminds me of a great many people who
have devoted their lives, sacrificed everything for the accumulation of
money, spending hours under the drippings of the sanctuary or in the
"Amen" corqer in the church in order to fool the people, possibly God
Almighty, as to their own perfidious lives.
But there is
much in Carnegie's life to be studied with profit by the young man who
starts out in the world to win his way.
He never lost an
opportunity to push himself forward, and his eyes were never closed to a
good business proposition.
But it is all over with
Carnegie now. And probably as he sits in his last home, he is endowed with
the power of looking about and contemplating the frivolities of this
world.
With his millions he could not bribe the Dread
Messenger, nor could he . ease an aching heart with the gold for which he
had devoted. his life to accumulate.
Soloman was probably
correct when he said, "It is at vanity and vexation of spirit." As I
have thought and said, there is no happiness worth striving for, no fame
worth the sacrifice save that which comes from service to
mankind.
I believe the inspired
author.
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most acceptable service to God."
.
"Prince pity our faults wherein we
die,
Our greed and cruelty both
condone,
Only the gods can mount the
sky,
Fame is the flower of love alone."
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