The Washingtonian., 1845-08-02

lively. Will the work, then, be undertaken
Will the duty alluded to be dscharged2 Who
will be foremost to cooperate? Who, and
how many, will be among the first to show
that there are energy, good sense, and ambi-
tion enough in those who have wisely resolved
10 shun the pastime of the public house, the
ten-pin alley, billiard room, &c., to lead them
to likewise resolve to unite heart and hand in
prosecuting another great work-a work that
has always commanded, and always must
command, the approval and encouragement
ofthe great and good everywhere-a work
with which every man who loves and respects
his fellow man should be eager to identify
himself? There can be no better season for
the commencement Of it than the present.
The lengthy and frequently inclement even
ings of the fall and winter will in few short
months be on us again. Young men, and at
such hours especially, are naturally fond Of,
and to certain degree need, society. Where
SO proper place to seek it, always excepting
religious assemblies as in their own library
room, or the debating room attacheds There,
in either department, may be fully enjoyed the
cheerful, invigorating, mental exercise of mind
graphing and combating with mind in friendly
and mutually improving strife; while the
sympathetic glow cast by the buoyant and
elastic intellect over the physical system, will
be productive of benefits to health that all
must understand. '|
Since the foregoing was written, have met
with an able and beautiful article from the
pen of an eminent and very liberal English
man, on the subject Of" Libraries for Working
Men" The following extract, (though, were
it necessary, do not intend at this time to
display at length the many valuable benefits
resulting from habit Of readng,) will not
fail to find room for itself:
s'Now, Of all the amusements which can
possibly be imagined for hard-working man,
after his daily toll, or in its intervals there is
nothing like reading an entertaining book, sup
posing him to have taste for it, and suppo-
sing him to have the book to read. 1t calls
for no bodily exertion, Of which he has had
enough or too much. 1t relieves his home Of
its dullness and sameness, which, in nine cases
out Of ten, is what drives him out to the ale
house, to his own ruin and his family's 1t
transports him into liveier, and gayer, and
more diversified and interesting scene; and
while he enjoys himself there, he may forget
the evils Of the present moment, fully as much
as if he were ever so drunk, with the great
advantage of finding himself the next day with
his money in his pocket, or at least laid out in
real necessaries and comforts for himself and
his family-and without a headache. Nay,
it accompanies him to his next days work;
and if the book he has been reading be any.
thing above the very idlest and lightest, gives
him something to think Of besides the mere
mechanical drudgery Of his everyday occupa-
ton something he can enjoy while absent,
and look forward with pleasure to return to.
"Bu supposing him to have been fortunate
in the choice of his book, and to have alighted
upon one really good and of a good class.
What source of domestic enjoyment is laid
open! What bond of family union! He
may read it aloud, or make his wife read 1t,
or his eldest boy or girl, or pass it round from
hand to hand. All have the benefit Of it-all
contribute to the qualification Of the rest-and
feeling of common interest and pleasure is
excited Nothing unites people like compan-
ionshp in intellectual enjoyment. 1t does
more, it gives them mutual respect, and to
each amsng them self-respect-that corner
stone of all virtue. 1t furnishes to each the
master-key by which he may avail himself OF
his privilege as an intellectual being, to
Enter the sacred temple Of his breast,
And gaze and wander there ravished guest;
Wander through all the glores Of his mind,
Gaze upon all the treasures he shall find.
And: while thus leading him to look within
his own bosom for the ultimate sources Of his
happiness, warns him at the same time to be
cautious how he defies and desecrates that
inward and most glorious Of temples"
The whole subject, Messrs. Editors, speaks
for itself. Ipretend. to throw no new ligh.
upon tit needs none. All fully comprehend
it, and all, hope, are fully prepared to do it
justice. A YoUNG MECHANIC.
For the Washingtonan. ..
MEssRs. EDITORS: am happy to have it in