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Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 49, 27 July 1908, Page 7

Mr. Andrew Carnegie’s magnificent gift of a quarter of a million to King Edward’s Hospital Fund has been followed by the unyoking of a good many stories revealing various characteristics of the one-time bob-bin-boy.

One story I heard told, says a writer in the “Reader" which I have not seen in print. When Carnegie was a young man, it is said he was inordinately fond of toffee, and if the scheme he adopted to keep himself supplied be true, it is easy to understand why to-day he is able to build libraries and disburse quarter-mil-lion gifts at fairly regular intervals. Andy suggested t© the other dlerks in the office in which he was employed that they organise a club for mutual imprqvement. One of the rules provided that any member guilty of using an improper or slangy word should pay a penny for each offence. Tqbacco was not allowed in the office, so under the skilful organisation of Carnegie, it was voted that the fund shoald be used far the purchase of toffee. Carnegie was elected treasurer and disbunser of the fund, and, as he never hud to pay finbe for misconduct, his toffee eqst nothing.