The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-11-01

will naturally form the nucleus OF an ex-
tended popular library, which by subsequent
yearly additions, will contain the materials
for a general acquaintance with all subjects
. of interest and benefit to the community.
T. 1t seems necessary, in order to carry
out and complete the work of school edu-
cation, to provide some such supply OF the
means of reading. The elementary branch
es taught in the classes, are rather the IN
, s,ruments by which knowledge is to be ac-
quired, than the acquisition itself They con-
stltute The preliminary training of the mind
and when this is in some good degree nc
complished, how important that the pupil
should have opportunity to employ his pow
lers, in exploring the field of knowledge.
The school teaches the boy to read (; and
gives him some elementary knowledge OF
various kinds which enables him to under
stand books. When this is acquired, we
must give him the books, or our work is
incomplete.
5. Such library of simple, interesting
and instructive works would exert vast in
iluence in preserving the morals of the com
munity. An entertaining book is one of the
strongest keepers a child can have. It's
chain is invisible, and it neither chafes nor
annoys the wearer. But it is more effectual
than almost any other restraint. How
many hours wsuld such libraries rescue
from idleness from wicked conversation |;
| from open dissipation and vice how many
! from noisy brawls and savage fights! Aud
this, too, iust in the most important crisis !;
! for, if u young mans character is saved till
! l,, a. n1 Ia
| This plan also, by providing source ofen-
ljoyment and improvement for all the mem
bers of IA family at home, will strengthen
the domestic relations and tend to revive and
restore the love of domestic pursuits and
pleasures. The experience of ages shows
that mankind can exist safety and in hap
piness, only in the form of a vast congeries
of families; and the more we can strength
EN- The iOoe ofhome, and bring means of i'm
lprovement and happiness to every mans
fieside, and keep The inmates Of the house
hold Mt home. the better for the virtue aud
solid happiness of the community.
6. 1t will be very effectua mode of
supplying the population generally with the
means of knowledge. Through the scho-
lars the books will find their way, in con
slant rotation to all the families around !;
and many circumstances will conspire to
cause them to be extensively read, by the
adult population. Parents are always
specially interested in their chldren's pur-
suits, and often like to read themselves what
their children ar, reading.--And the inter-
esiing nature Of the subjects, the simplicity
and direcness of the style, and the practi-
Ia, k,, 4
at, will fit these works peculiarly to the
wants of n large class of our population.
h Z. The plan is a very economical one
The amount of useful result is very large
' when compared with the expenditure.
:, book sold to mn individual is commonly
!, read but by few, and is then laid aside idl,
: and useless. These books, on the contrary
will circulate continually, and be used by
new readers in succession, ill worn out
An edition Of 1000 copies, in the ordinary
, way, will reach perhaps 5000 or 10000
,, minds. But on this plan, circulating II.
mong the families of thousand districts
they will have opportunity TO reach serera
huhdred thousand minds Indeed, if il wer,
desired to make known n narrative of facts
as extensively as possible TO the mass of ,
. community, what cheaper or better mod,
= could be devised, than TO place copy il
every school to be loaned 10 the scholar,
in rotation? A sum NOT exceeding the or.
dinary endowment of n Proiessorship IL
one of our colleges, will found such Ma.
tional Library, aud enable the Society t,
perpetuale its blessings indefinitely among
the risiag generation in our country. Tcn'
, of thousands IN our day, hundreds of thou
sands, millions, ye; unborn, would hav,
their minds expanded, aud their character
r formed, under its benignant influence
Such library placed in every school in ou
f country, would seem to be one of the mos
elfectual aud desirable measures for III,
) general diffusion of knowledge and the inn
provement of society, that could possibly
, be devised. Its benefits would be incalcu.
, liable. Ii seems to the Committee, that i
the founders of such libraries as the Bod
, lean, the Uarleian, aud the Cot,oniau il
, England, had devoted one-half their muni
ficent endowments in establishing suitabl,
library for the common people, with the
means of giving it universal circulation a
mong the towns and villages of our mother
country, they would have accomplished in
, comparably more for the Improvement anc
3 happiness Of their countrymen and of the
/ human race, than they have now done b,
their princey gifts in the republic of let
ters.
g And they cannot but express the hop,
, that the immense importance of such ben
efaction may attract the attention of tn,
= opulcnt in our country, aud that patriot,
/ individuals may be found willing to Civ,
, their influence aud portion of their pro-
. pcr,y to the great work of ditl'usug anon.
, all classes oftheir countrymen, and through
many future generations, the elements of 4
sound and Wholesome literature.
CHARACTER AND DESIGN OF THE
WORKS