Carnegie's Maid

Clara seeks Andrew’s advice about how to rise from poverty. Over the course of several months, the two meet in the park for half-hour sessions to discuss the issue. Andrew says that he worked harder than anyone else in his company to rise to his current position of division superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He also invested in other companies by buying stock and earning dividends. He used knowledge about the inner workings of these businesses to capitalize on his investments. Clara gently frets, “Mr. Carnegie assured me of its legality, although neither one of us spoke of its morality” (132).

Andrew emphasizes the importance of thorough research, a practice he began when he was still a boy. His turning point came when a rich benefactor allowed him access to a private library. Here, he was able to educate himself on all facets of business. He tells Clara, “I cannot describe to you the impact that library had on my life and my success. It quite literally made me who I am today” (134). Clara points out that the average working man wouldn’t have access to private libraries, and this observation sets Andrew thinking about how to solve that problem someday.