Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-07-13
Common school Libraries.


Common school Libraries.
The page of history furnishes few examples
where a government has as well subseTved the
jus, and paernal ends of its creation, as did the
State of New York, in providing that libraries
of sound aud useful literature should be placed
within the reach of all of her inhabitants, and
rendered accessible to them without charge
This phianthropic and admirable conceived
measure may be justly regarded, as next TO the
institution OF Common Schools the most impor-
tani in that series of causes which will give It's
distinctive character 10 our civilization as peO-
pie. The civilization of ancient and modern
times present marked distinction While the
former shot forth al different epochs, with in
tense brllancy, il was confined 10 the few; and
the fame Of those few has decended to us, like
the Iigh, of occasional solitary stars, shining
forth from surrounding darkness. The ancient
Libraries, though rich IN their stores and vast in
extent, difused their benefits with equal e&cu-
slveness. The Egyptian peasant who cult
valed plains of the Nile, or The ar.lzan who
wrought in her prlncey cnies was made neil
'her wiser nor better by The locked up treasures
of The Alexandran and though The Greclsn.
Roman, and even Persian commanders plum
dered hostile nations of their books, no portion
of their priceless wealth entered. The abodes
of common humaniry, 10 dfiuse intelligence
and Joy.
The ari of printing first began TO popularize
civilization. 10 make II universal, however,
it was necessary Iha, all should be taught 10
read. The Common School Supplies This link
in the chain Of agencies. But another was
yet wanting Not only must man be taught
to read but that mental aIiment 10 which rea-
ding merely. gives access, mus. be brought
within his reach and it is surely as wise and
philan'hropic, indeed, as necessary, on The
part of government, to supply such moral and
intellectual food as 10 give the means of para-
king of II, and an appetite for its enjoyment.
Without the last boon the first would be, in
the case of the masses, comparatively useless--I
nay, amidst The empty, and frequently worse
than empty, literature which .overfows from
our cheap and teeming press, it would often
times prove positively injurious. In the Ian
euage of the philosophic Wayland, "we have
put II into the power of every man TO read,
md read he will. whether for good or for evil
1t remains yet to be decided whether what We
have already done shall prove blessing or a
curse"
New York has the proud honor of being the
first government in the world which has esab-
llshed a free library system adequate to the
wants and eXigencies of her whole population
II extends It's benefits equally 10 all condruons,
and in all local situations. II not only gives
profitable employment TO the man of leisure
but !, passes the Threshold of the aborer, Of
fering him amusement and instruction after his
daily toll is over without increasing his fa-
tigues or subslracling from his earnings. 1t is
an interesting reflection that there is no por-
tlon of our territory so wild or remote, where
man has Penetrated, that the library has not
peopled the wilderness around him, with the
good and wise of this and other ages, who ad
dress TO him their silent nominations, cultivatIng
and s,renglhInlng within him, even amidst his
rude pursuits, the principles of humanity and
civilization.
A colonial nation, we inherited the matured
literature of England but in our country, as in |
that, this literature has not extended 10 The
masses In lnsllnling general library system, ,
we create, or rather put in circulation. the first
really popular literature, beyond that contained
in the newspaper and in the books of the Sun
day-schOol. Can any one doubt, then, that we
have reached point or phase in our civilization
which demands the exercise of provident care,
an anxious, If not timid clrcumspeclion 3
annual Schoo! Report.