The document summarizes Elbert Hubbard's 1899 essay "A Message to Garcia". During the Spanish-American War, President McKinley needed to contact Cuban rebel leader Calixto Garcia. He tasked a man named Rowan with delivering a letter to Garcia's location in Cuba. Rowan accepted without question and successfully found Garcia. The essay argues more is needed from young men than just book learning - they must act promptly when given an important task, as Rowan did in delivering the message to Garcia. It became one of the most widely printed works during Hubbard's lifetime.

1. A MESSAGE
TO GARCIA
Mike Thornburg, February 7, 2013

2. SOMEONE SAID TO THE
P R E S I D E N T, ― T H E R E I S A F E L L OW
B Y T H E N A M E O F ROWA N W H O
W I L L F I N D G A RC I A F O R YO U, I F
A N Y B O DY C A N.‖

3. A MESSAGE TO GARCIA
 Publisher, Elbert Hubbard pens a 1500 word essay entitled, A Message
to Garcia following dinner on February 22, 1899.
• Later refers to the work as a ―literary trifle‖
 The ―trifle‖ was printed worldwide over forty million times during the
author’s life, making it the most circulated of any literary venture ever
attained during the life of the author.
 Currently required reading for Marines within the ranks of
private, corporal, private first class and lance corporal.

4. A MESSAGE TO GARCIA
 Just prior to the Spanish American War (April to August of 1899), President
William McKinley urgently needs to get a message to the Cuban insurgent
leader, General Calixto Garcia, who is encamped in the mountains of Cuba. To this
end the messenger, Rowan, is called. ―McKinley gave Rowan a letter to be delivered
to Garcia; Rowan took the letter and did not ask, ―Where is he at?‖ By the Eternal!
there is a man whose form should be cast in deathless bronze and the statue placed
in every college of the land. It is not book-learning young men need, nor
instruction about this and that, but a stiffening of the vertebrae which will cause
them to be loyal to a trust, to act promptly, concentrate their energies: do the
thing—―Carry a message to Garcia.‖

5. A MESSAGE TO GARCIA
 Read the entire essay at:
• http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17195/17195-h/17195-h.htm
 YouTube
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5HuyOsHcIU
 ―The world cries out for such he is needed, and needed badly – the
man who can carry a message to Garcia.‖ Elbert Hubbard