The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-06-01
For the Literary Echo.
A Reading Circle.

The young men of our village have
contemplated for some time past the
formation of reading circle, or club, to
pass the evenings pleasantly and profit
ably. l hope they may succeed in their
wishes. DR.. Franklin said he never
regretted any money expended in books,
for what was put into the head was
always returned with interest into the
pocket. Such declaration cannot be
contradicted. l am also pleased to
learn from the Librarian of our Library
Association that there is an increasing
interest taken in our Library; books
are loaned in greater numbers and to
more persons than for some time past.
This is really encouraging. l hope our
citizens will visit theLibrary oftener, take
books; or visit it, even if they take no
books-thcir presence is desired to up
hold and encourage the thing. The
Association has never yet paid expenses
Do let us have crowd there and make
the Library pay. No man has read all
the books in yet, or, if he has, it will do
him no injury to pcruse them again.
Now, for the interest of the Library (if
for no other reason), let US encourage
the formation Of reading circles and
clubs.
But, from what part of the evening
can time be obtained to devote to read
ing and improvement Some of our
young men, who are mechanics, work
but ten hours and have their evenings
at command, but quite number are
clerks, and / understand the project for
closing the stores at eight o'clock has
failed. Is this right; Is it doing as
we would be done by Are these young
; men to be confined fifteen hours within
doors-drilled into the art of selling
tape, buckram and groceries for five
extra hours for the purpose of putting
a few more dollars into the pockets of
their employers-having no recreation
and no out Of door exercises? Oh
though Almighty Dollar A man has
no moral right to use the flesh and BLOOD
of another to his injury. Neither has
he right to let him injure himself by
Y excessive labor if possible to preven
e him. Does it need an argument tC
4 prove these last assertions | trow not
Philosophers have calculated that i
every man worked from the age of six
y teen years until twenty-eight, his par
0 of labor in life. would be performed
He would possess a competence, anC
= could devote the remainder of life tt
, other pursuits, onl y exercising his phys.
5 ical organization sufficiently for health
The great era of the millennium must be
ushered in by less acork and mere pray
: ins. The praying should commence
0 first, and its influence would tend tC
: make men less selfish, and convince
a them that this life is not to be passec
alone in heaping up silver and gold, bu
: in cultivating the mind and preparing
n for better state of existence.
@ In justice to the merchants,L must sa
|, that every firm but one agreed to clos
their stores at eight o'clock in tn
= evening.
a To the clerks, say, improve you
minds every opportunity. If the store
do not close until nine or ten O'Clock
,s devote one hour after that to reading
: to be sure, you may not prolong you
:. lives by so doing, but what of that' ]
n is better to live less years on earth an
is hnow something, than to be dragge
n through lite at the rate of fifteen hour
IT per day, and die at the end simpletol
v pI" +
, eJ" The Adventists of Newark N. j