Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-08
For tho l.


a moral and literary way, would he H. 10
culab|e. Situated as we are, (esDe ,ass''
the young surrounded by thousand I' =
gerous influences, while the ,ens. osa'
temptation of dissipation is ap, ia ~;
from the path of rectitude. In bon' Us
idleness. for want of better emplovmot
amusements are sought af,s. 4sn'.
public lettering places frequently ha and
the refuge of ennui here We find ,ba 0ns
of virtue; attractive vice arrayed in ~ Odne
tive CARDS; and secret allurenent ,'' ep
it requires the utmost power of reso, "n'ch
to triumph over. What antido,e lhsD uS0a
be provided for this corrupting ,endan Gan
What occupation or food for the mind n.y.
salutary Look around you do von a' 81,
it in any physical object? if so, is !, ~. r,u
accessible to the destitute and the we,l,n As
Is any thing materially more to be der;n;
from it than recreation! No; wealth ms''
be profuseIy expended for amusement, ba
unless it yields reciprocal benefit - NV
literally wasted. We then mus, resor
a Public Library, for, if time is consDm'v
among its little but fascinating tenants
beneficial equivalent is obtained, W.
more delightful than to contemnIa,e ,t aa'
while we derive pleasure and saliscso,;a a'
from the perusal of a standard work oOn
minds are actively engaged our im,r; v"'
ton wildly employed; our ideas eulsSsaS
and our faculties expanded! What Ho,n
refreshing to the man of business than ~
moments of leisure, to throw off the cs, ~
of the world, divest himself of commerc,sr
anxiety, and drown his spirit in the sweet.
Of knowledge; or, what can CLINE awav
with sweeter tone the dull and pro,rac,eJ
hours of the man of ease! What is more
influential in promoting that most yaluabIs
class of persons-selfmade men-wbose
achievements in art and science and al.
vancement in learning, often astonish lit,
tie world, and of which so many brilliant
examples can be pointed to. Can any
thing be more conducive to harmony and
unity of feeling to the acquisition Of re-.
fined taste and manners to the promotion
of general intelligence and to the incul-
cation of studious habits and refined mo.
rails ! The opportunity of Improvement
equally extended, TO the poor and the rich,
such an institution could cherish no sys.
tenn that would unequaIly effect every part
of the community. The mechanic, labor.
err, merchant, and all are, and should man:
ifest themselves deeply interested in this
subject. Nothing then promises 10 be
more effective in securing these great ends
than the establishment of Public Library.
"Hec studia adolescentiam alunt, 81.
nectutem oblectant, secundas res ornanl
adversIs solatium ct perfugium prabenr,
delectant domi, non impediunt ioris, pei.
noctant nobiscum, peregrinantur, rustlcau.
tur !" know of no place where natural
intelligence is more generally difused
and, among large portion of the nbab
tants, where refined sensibility and thirst
for elegant literature is more cultivated
why then has public spirit on this point
been so long dormant? Rouse up! It's
time to awake your native energy? Speak
Wilmington, and it shall be done "Ask
and it shall be given - But how are We
to obtain this inestmable treasure Shall
we linger inactively. i'll hopes thai The DO
nation of some benevolent Glrard may put
us in possession of the requisite means
This, though it would immortalize any III
dlvidual in any community, is vain bope'
for rare is the soil that fosters such magma
nimity. Probably the best method would
be to resort to subscription, the amount OIL
which, could, as literary fund, be pro-
6tably and safely invested, and the income
from it applied to purchases or, if DEEM
ed expedient, it could be Immediately and
totally appropriated for supply OF WORKS
If advisable, connected with the library
there could he literary society, the ma,
circulation and other funds Of which, would
constitute a valuable and important aid
10 suppose that $5OOO or more "Oulu w
contributed, is not speculative or unreasoH'
able in the least, for, from the LIBERIA oPH
ions that know are entertained by many
and have heard expressed by some' nave
no doubt but that hundreds would be sn
individual contribution; besides, we Wouu
be certain Of the support of all beneVOIs"
institutions, and all DESTROYS for the eSRD
sion of knowledge. Such then are ~
views. apart from all selfish motives WDl'"'
"if they are not the best, are the best e"
present" Here then. throug h The Ip'' "ro
mentality of your paper, would ! can ~, lis
f attention of wiser heads than mine u ~"
subject, hoping that, by vigorous eAe'" srs
e public spirit may be enlisted. and sD'' .;oc
, long, we may have the pleasure Of ' w ii
the offers of improvement held os' " LODI