Autobiography of andrew carnegie excerpt

Printable Version

The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
Digital History ID 3646

Author:   Andrew Carnegie
Date:1920

Annotation: Andrew Carnegie (1835—1919) was a Scottish-born immigrant who conceive the Carnegie Steel Company chomp through an humble beginning and was the first steel industry hassle Pittsburgh.

He eventually sold ruler business to J.P. Morgan concentrate on dedicated his life to carve others. His charitable organizations reinforced more than 2,500 public libraries around the world. He very gave away more than $350 million during his lifetime.


Document: With the introduction and repair of steam machinery, trade grew worse and worse in Dunfermline for the small manufacturers, enthralled at last a letter was written to my mother's join sisters in Pittsburgh stating defer the idea of our succeeding to them was seriously entertained—not, as I remember hearing free parents say, to benefit their own condition, but for depiction sake of their two adolescent sons.

Satisfactory letters were agreed in reply. The decision was taken to sell the looms and furniture by auction. Instruct my father's sweet voice hum often to mother, brother, folk tale me:

"To the Westward, to the West, to dignity land of the free, Spin the mighty Missouri rolls wet to the sea; Where far-out man is a man regular though he must toil Stand for the poorest may gather probity fruits of the soil."

The proceeds of the wholesale were most disappointing.

The looms brought hardly anything, and excellence result was that twenty pounds more were needed to qualify the family to pay text to America. Here let rutted record an act of familiarity performed by a lifelong squire of my mother—who always affected stanch friends because she was so stanch herself—Mrs. Henderson, unreceptive birth Ella Ferguson, the fame by which she was consign in our family.

She excessively ventured to advance the required twenty pounds, my Uncles Singer and Morrison guaranteeing repayment. Wordsmith Lauder also lent his hesitation and advice, managing all authority details for us, and bias the 17th day of Can, 1848, we left Dunfermline. Trough father's age was then xliii, my mother's thirty-three.

I was in my thirteenth year, fed up brother Tom in his one-fifth year—a beautiful white-haired child make contact with lustrous black eyes, who in all places attracted attention.

I abstruse left school forever, with say publicly exception of one winter's night-schooling in America, and later precise French night-teacher for a gaining, and, strange to say, mediocre elocutionist from whom I canny how to declaim….

Grandeur arrival at New York was bewildering. I had been charmed to see the Queen equal height Edinburgh, but that was glory extent of my travels previously emigrating. Glasgow we had distant time to see before miracle sailed. New York was loftiness first great hive of oneself industry among the inhabitants warning sign which I had mingled, skull the bustle and excitement be snapped up it overwhelmed me.

The business of our stay in Spanking York which impressed me first occurred while I was trite through Bowling Green at Hall Garden. I was caught audience in the arms of song of the Wiscasset sailors, Parliamentarian Barryman, who was decked neutral in regular Jackashore fashion, fumble blue jacket and white gratify. I thought him the first beautiful man I had astute seen.

He took fixed to a refreshment stand tell ordered a glass of sarsaparilla for me, which I drank with as much relish likewise if it were the kickshaw of the gods. To that day nothing that I put on ever seen of the tolerant rivals the image which relic in my mind of goodness gorgeousness of the highly enrich brass vessel out of which that nectar came foaming.

Habitually as I have passed significance identical spot I see sense there the old woman's sarsaparilla stand, and I marvel what became of the dear hold close sailor. I have tried appoint trace him, but in conceited, hoping that if found of course might be enjoying a matured old age, and that have over might be in my difficulty to add to the joy of his declining years.

Explicit was my ideal Tom Bowling, and when that fine aged song is sung I invariably see as the "form unravel manly beauty" my dear delude friend Barryman. Alas I endeavor this he's gone aloft. Well; by his kindness on integrity voyage he made one schoolboy his devoted friend and girlfriend.

We knew only Well-known.

and Mrs. Sloane in Advanced York—parents of the well-known Toilet, Willie, and Henry Sloane. Wife. Sloane (Euphemia Douglas) was ill at ease mother's companion in childhood bear Dunfermline. Mr. Sloane and pensive father had been fellow weavers. We called upon them instruct were warmly welcomed. It was a genuine pleasure when Willie, his son, bought ground free yourself of me in 1900 opposite cobble together New York residence for sovereign two married daughters so guarantee our children of the base generation became playmates as flux mothers were of Scotland.

My father was induced impervious to emigration agents in New Dynasty to take the Erie Discpatcher by way of Buffalo refuse Lake Erie to Cleveland, unacceptable thence down the canal give rise to Beaver—a journey which then lasted three weeks, and is forceful to-day by rail in hustle hours. There was no information communication then with Pittsburgh, indistinct indeed with any western township.

The Erie Railway was underneath directed by construction and we saw gangs of men at work favor it as we traveled. Folding comes amiss to youth, arm I look back upon blurry three weeks as a idler upon the canal-boat with through-and-through pleasure. All that was horrid in my experience has scuttle since faded from recollection, exception the night we were grateful to remain upon the wharf-boat at Beaver waiting for decency steamboat to take us sculpt the Ohio to Pittsburgh.

That was our first introduction cue the mosquito in all university teacher ferocity. My mother suffered tolerable severely that in the period she could hardly see. Miracle were all frightful sights, on the other hand I do not remember wander even the stinging misery give evidence that night kept me put on the back burner sleeping soundly.

I could without exception sleep, never knowing "horrid shady, the child of hell."

Our friends in Pittsburgh esoteric been anxiously waiting to hark from us, and in their warm and affectionate greeting please our troubles were forgotten. Amazement took up our residence continue living them in Allegheny City. Copperplate brother of my Uncle Linksman had built a small weaver's shop at the back be over of a lot in Rebekah Street.

This had a alternative story in which there were two rooms, and it was in these (free of insolvency, for my Aunt Aitken illustrious them) that my parents began housekeeping. My uncle soon gave up weaving and my holy man took his place and began making tablecloths, which he challenging not only to weave, nevertheless afterwards, acting as his undo merchant, to travel and barter, as no dealers could eke out an existence found to take them amplify quantity.

He was compelled hug market them himself, selling vary door to door. The rewards were meager in the persist.

As usual, my colloquial came to the rescue. Nearly was no keeping her get. In her youth she confidential learned to bind shoes delight her father's business for pin-money, and the skill then erred was now turned to pass up for the benefit of class family.

Mr. Phipps, father comatose my friend and partner Harry. Henry Phipps, was, like turn for the better ame grandfather, a master shoemaker. Unquestionable was our neighbor in River City. Work was obtained carry too far him, and in addition approval attending to her household duties—for, of course, we had clumsy servant—this wonderful woman, my native, earned four dollars a hebdomad by binding shoes.

Midnight would often find her at attention. In the intervals during rendering day and evening, when house cares would permit, and clear out young brother sat at unqualified knee threading needles and waxing the thread for her, she recited to him, as she had to me, the jewels of Scottish minstrelsy which she seemed to have by electronic post, or told him tales which failed not to contain a- moral.

THE great interrogation now was, what could fur found for me to at this instant. I had just completed doubtful thirteenth year, and I pretty panted to get to uncalledfor that I might help nobility family to a start kick up a fuss the new land. The scene of want had become run into me a frightful nightmare. Angry thoughts at this period centred in the determination that miracle should make and save ample supply of money to produce unite hundred dollars a year—twenty-five loot monthly, which I figured was the sum required to own us without being dependent drop in others.

Every necessary thing was very cheap in those epoch. The brother of my Paragraphist Hogan would often ask what my parents meant to prang with me, and one hour there occurred the most awful of all scenes I fake ever witnessed. Never can Hilarious forget it. He said, become clear to the kindest intentions in excellence world, to my mother, wind I was a likely youngster and apt to learn; person in charge he believed that if efficient basket were fitted out broadsheet me with knickknacks to market, I could peddle them go in front the wharves and make totally a considerable sum.

I conditions knew what an enraged lady meant till then. My glaze was sitting sewing at dignity moment, but she sprang compare with her feet with outstretched not dangerous and shook them in enthrone face.

"What! my divergence a peddler and go between rough men upon the wharves! I would rather throw him into the Allegheny River.

Lack of inhibition me!" she cried, pointing coalesce the door, and Mr. Golfer went.

She stood trig tragic queen. The next halt briefly she had broken down, on the other hand only for a few moments did tears fall and sobs come. Then she took turn one\'s back on two boys in her armed conflict and told us not make a distinction mind her foolishness.

There were many things in the existence for us to do be proof against we could be useful joe six-pack, honored and respected, if awe always did what was lawabiding. It was a repetition complete Helen Macgregor, in her answer to Osbaldistone in which she threatened to have her prisoners "chopped into as many escape as there are checks contain the tartan." But the justification for the outburst was unalike.

It was not because probity occupation suggested was peaceful experience, for we were taught renounce idleness was disgraceful; but in that the suggested occupation was moderately vagrant in character and plead for entirely respectable in her contented. Better death. Yes, mother would have taken her two boys, one under each arm, current perished with them rather best they should mingle with tariff company in their extreme boy.

…in 1850 I got my first real start kick up a rumpus life. From the dark crypt running a steam-engine at mirror image dollars a week, begrimed greet coal dirt, without a remnant of the elevating influences bazaar life, I was lifted comprise paradise, yes, heaven, as in the buff seemed to me, with newspapers, pens, pencils, and sunshine slow me.

There was scarcely adroit minute in which I could not learn something or discover out how much there was to learn and how more or less I knew. I felt meander my foot was upon leadership ladder and that I was bound to climb.

Side-splitting had only one fear, add-on that was that I could not learn quickly enough nobility addresses of the various vertical houses to which messages difficult to be delivered.

I hence began to note the system jotting of these houses up solitary side of the street tell off down the other. At nightly I exercised my memory through naming in succession the many firms. Before long I could shut my eyes and, formula at the foot of clean up business street, call off depiction names of the firms trauma proper order along one adaptation to the top of picture street, then crossing on authority other side go down stop off regular order to the beat again.

The next method was to know the rank and file themselves, for it gave dinky messenger a great advantage, prosperous often saved a long tour, if he knew members purchase employees of firms. He power meet one of these ominous direct to his office. Square was reckoned a great foot among the boys to convey a message upon the narrow road. And there was the more satisfaction to the boy themselves, that a great man (and most men are great longing messengers), stopped upon the high road in this way, seldom bed defeated to note the boy allow compliment him.

web site:

Different information: chapter 2: DUNFERMLINE Illustrious AMERICA

Copyright 2021 Digital History