On March 13, 1901, Andrew Carnegie announced that he is retiring from business and that he would spend the rest of his days giving away his fortune. His net worth was estimated at $300 million and he is the richest man in America. One year later, he donated millions to 40 libraries. The following anecdote is one that I started telling decades ago. It was one of my favorites and I used it in my Gilded Age unit. Unfortunately, when I first ran across it, I put it in my anecdotes notebook and did not note the source. (I had no idea I would be doing this web site.) It is definitely in a book somewhere.
One day a donation seeker knocked on the door of his mansion. He was shown into Carnegie’s office and made a strong case for his charity, but Carnegie responded by telling him he was tired of all the people begging him for money. The donation-seeker was not to be put off and continued to make a case for his charity. Finally, Carnegie told the man that if he could find someone to donate the other half of what he needed, Carnegie would match it. The man agreed and left, but soon returned. Carnegie was upset and asked the man if he did not understand what the deal was. Carnegie: “Where did you get half the money in so short a time?” Donation-seeker: “From your wife.” Carnegie chuckled and reached for his check-book.
P.S. Don’t forget when you tell this story to mention that in order to get those millions that he gave away, Carnegie exploited his workers.
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