Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-12-11
Reading Room.
ICOMMUNICATED.

''A eS
ty support and cooperation of all good citi-
zens. It is a matter of surprise, that when
the same proposal was made a year or more
ago, it was not at once promptly taken up and
literally encouraged. 1t may be that the pub
lie mind was not then prepared for it, aud its
advantages were not carefully considered. You
have now again renewed your offer, and once
more a favorable opportunity is presented for
the establishment of a most beneficial public
institution. A well arranged Reading Room,
properly warmed and lighted, and furnished
with the principal newspapers, magazines, re-
views and other publications of the day, would,
to all right-thinking persons, DESTROYS Of spend
ing their time we'll and pleasantly, be a place
of great attraction. Young men might assem-
Bile there after the labors of the day are over
and spend the leisure time which these long
winter evenings give them in a manner most
innocent and useful to themselves. Sufficient
excitement, recreation and entertainment would
be found in the various periodicals spread be-
fore them, while it would foster a taste for
reading, give solid improvement in knowledge,
and Wean them from those haunts and associ-
atoms which are injurious to good morals
ANY institution which affords the means of
self-instruction and recreation, which puts it in
the power of the community, and especially Of
the young, to employ their spare hours to ad-
vantage, and which holds out inducements to
improvement, refinement, elevation of charac-
ter and of morals, cannot fail to exert 4 most
wholesome influence over society. A reading
people are not so liable to be lead away and
made tools of by political agitators, nor are
they so easily duped by the various decisions
and folIies which designing or self-deceived
charlatans labor to propagate. The young,
particularly, in whom the taste for reading has
been strengthened by exercise, who know the
healthy excitement which the requirement of
substantial knowledge produces, and the nat
ural, e~levating entertainment which springs
from the perusal of pure, elegant and truthful
literature will not seek for enjoyment in places
of immoral tendency or in those things which
debase. Along with the Public Reading Room
which will contain, of course, only the current
periodical literature, there should be a Public
Library. The establishment of public Libraries
of a popular character in large cities and in
country towns has received of late years a great
deal of attention both in Europe and in some
parts of the United States. The advantages
secured in the removal of public turbulence, dis
order and the promotion of good morals in the
elevation of the general taste, and in the spread
of intelligence, have more than repaid all the
expense and trouble which have been incurred
in the foundation and regulation of such Libra
ries. 1t is impossible to estimate fully their
benefit to the whole population. What advan-
tages, too, they afford to young men who pos
sess an eager spirit for self-improvement and
yet are too poort to command the means of edu-
cation. In a good library they would find a
rich repository of scientific, historical, literary,
and to some extent, of professional works,
which for q trif1e would be at their service
Suppose that in connection with this Public
Library and Reading Room, there was also an
Association of Young Men formed for purposes
of mutual improvement, would not the advan-
tages we have mentioned be increased a num-
Such an association meeting stated
iy, for defamation and for discussion of lite
scientific, moral, political and historical
questions, would stimulate to reading and re-
Election, call out the powers of debate and bring
into full play all the faculties. a Young Mans
for mutual improvement, a Public
Library and a Public Reading Room, are three
things intimately connected. Such an associa-
ton would need a library and reading room, and
the advantages of the library and reading room
would not be fully secured without such a So
ciety. | would, however, be delighted to see
any one of them established and in full opera
ton. Is there not public spirit enough in this
community to take up this matter and give it
at least a trial? Will not leading citizens, who
ought to have the intellectual and moral well
fare of the people at heart, give all encourage
ment and substantial aid to these projects?-
Will not the young men themselves consider
this matter and take it in hand! To them, main
ly, we must look after all. If they will approve
it and come forward in the spirit which longs
for self-improvement and which desires to have
the means of elevated, innocent and useful re.
creation and entertainment, the town of Pla-
quemine will soon have its Public Library, its
Reading Room and its Young Mans Associa-
Public WELFARE.
UThe following we take from the Picau-
une of Tuesday: