The Columbian fountain., 1846-06-02
A GOOD LIBRARY.

readers to the importance Of being well read
let us continue the subject by briefly calling
attention TO the question, what constitutes
good Library? Different answers would be
made to this interrogatorp by different persons,
according TO their respective taste, but there is
general reply suiting all classes, viz: that is
good collection OF books and papers which
is composed Of standard works on all subjects
Of a truly beneficial tendency.
The first and chief volume Of every good Ii
brary should be the word Of God--the Bible
this is the source Of all great ideas, and the
most authentic history Of the beginning Of al
things, the desire TO know which is inherent IL
every man. No volume can supply its place
and no community or individual can be truly
free or happy without knowledge Of its cor
tents.
As to works Of an uninspred character, we
would say an important part of a good library
is some valuable aud well edited EncyclopG-
dia, such as the Edinburgh, or the Encyclo-
padia Americana, or The Penny EncyclopG-
dia. For The purposes Of general improve
ment such work is Of the highest importance.
And yet, even this will hardly supply the
place Of other works which have been rendered
immortal on account Of their intrinsic worth
and without which the Encyclopedia could
never have been written. The selection of
these, however, from the multitude Of produc-
tions of human efforts in literature, is a task
of no ordinary consideration; for it is evident,
that not more than one book of hundreds is
worthy Of preservation, and not more than
this proportion survive the lapse of century,
"the period ixed," says DR.. Johnson, 'for
the test Of literary merit" Few persons have
the means Of furnishing themselves with all
the productions even established as standards,
and there is abundant necessity for the exercise
of great discretion and prudence in collecting
a good library. 1t is rarely ever the work Of
day; but rather an employment Of years, re-.
quiring thought and carefulness.
The gathering together Of library is usual
ly commenced in youth, and continued through
life, and even then the collection is apt to be
defective, unless we avail ourselves Of the aid
Of the advice Of judicious and learned men, for
il requires such consultation to secure sue
cess. With such aid, however, il is possible
for every man to possess himself OF such COL
lection of books, at small expense, as would
afford him great satisfaction while he lives,
and if our remarks on this subject shall be the
means of prompting any reader 10 endeavor
to procure such valuable acquisition as a
good library, we shall have effected our object
And we urge this because we believe that il
lie intimately connected with the true welfare
Of our race. Indeed. we consider the individu-
al who, in such an age of privilege as we live
in, negects to possess himself Of such great
facility for the cultivation of the noble powers
Of mind which God has given him, inexcusa-
BILE.
A good library, if well used, makes man,
as it were, citizen OF the world, and SO
lengthens ones life, il we may SO speak, as to
extend il back to the beginning, and forward TO
the end Of the world. 1t gives him useful
acquaintance with the most exalted characters
that have ever lived, and brings him into close
fellowship with the best minds Of his own age
however distant they may now be. The pos
session of houses and lands, Of gold and silver,
is not to be compared 10 the treasure which he
Is thus made to possess nor can they afford
the satisfaction which the collection of litera
ture is calculated to give Entertaining these
views then, we recommend that fondness
for learning in the young and the old be en-
eouraged.
And especially is this important in our
country, where the diffusion OF useful know.
ledge seems to be our safeguard. Our citizens
are all concerned Directly or indirectly, in
making their own laws as well as keeping them,
and ignorance prevail, our blessed institutions
suffer in the same proportion. Then, let light
go forth; encourage liberal systems of educa-
ton, and be active in spreading, as we'll as in
acquiring that knowledge" which indeed
" power"
TEMPERANCE AND RELIGION.
We do not contend that the cause of tempe
rance is all sufficient. We do not put il in ,he