The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-01-30
City OF EVANSVILLE.
TUESDAY MORNING,:::::::::::::::::::JAN
Library, Reading Rooms, &C., Prac.
teal suggestions.

low-citizens on the subject, and reinquished their
efforts at agitation we are now disposed TO take
the theme ourselves, and by giving it little
more practical bearing, ascertain whether there
really is not enough material in Evansville 10
work upon and &c work up, to secure the desired
object These correspondents have very proper
" shown how far Evansville is behind other
places of much less importance than this, in all
the elements of literary prosperity, and what is
necessary to be done for her elevation in secu-
ring to her young men The advantages of libra
ries, reading rooms, lectures, &c. Taking ii for
granted, that all thinking citizens understand the
Importance to every community, OF those literary
places of resort, by which young men are with
drawn from the haunts of vice and corrupiing in
fuences, and insensibly led into fields pleasant
othe mental feet as expanding to the moral SEN
SEES and that every community should have those
public places of resort where the poor as well as
the ricn may congregate spare moments, fo IN
struction or mental entertainment-we at once
take that as admitted vhich cannot be denied,
and come to the practical part of the subject.
Almost every literary enterprise OF this kind in
the larger cities, commenced with kind OF leu
clus, ana gradually expanded its field of use
fitness with the increase of income and mem
bers, till it combined Libraries, Reading Rooms
and the instruction of regular Lectures. Prob.
ably small Library OF half-dozen newspapers
on file was the fountain around which first gath
cred few thirsting spirits. They invited others
to the sweet waters of knowledge, and made the
additional influence and means of every new
member of the brotherhood, contribute to more
books or more papers. Arrived 10 a certain point,
where its benefits became fully realized BY the
active participants, and plainly seen and kindly
acknowledged by the community at large, .teady
effort with proper organization and manly ap
peals never failed to secure that general patron
age necessary to finally combine all the advan-
tages of we'll filled Libraries, extensive Reading
Rooms, and the Instruction of the highest talent
in the form of Lectures.
Now we conceive that our correspondents have
probably terrified the community at the start, by
presenting all these enterprises in a single front,
and appealing for too much at the start. We
are perfectly satisfied that within two or three
years from this very day, Evansville may and
probably will boast of her Reading Rooms and
Libraries, open always to the stranger, and well
paironized by citizens at home. But We must be-
gin at the beginning, and no, at what is general
ly the full fruiicn Of success. Now then for that
beginning.
We are authorized by our liberal hearted fell
low-ciizen, Mr. M. w. Foster, to Offer any such
association as that to which we have alluded, the
use of the corner room and the room adjoining,
in the second story of MS block of buildings, cor
ner Of Main and First streets, to be used for the
purpose of Library and Reading Rooms. These
looms are centrally situated and by making a
folding door between them, Will afford ample ac-
commodations, at least until the means Of the
association and their increase of books and pa
pers, justify removal to larger rooms. They
will do admirably for me beginning. This exhi
bition of liberality on the part OF Mr. Foster, de
serves TO be met wi the proper spirit, and to be
held up as an example ID Others He has beer
obtaining 1926 per annum for these rooms, which
he now offers free for The use designated.
So then we have one important difficulty al
ready settled. These 70 pms will require it'll,
furnishing-ch tables for period Gals, stand
for papers, stoves, gas lights, &c.
Well, we have County L brary," the oil
patronage of which is almost entirely extinct
many books lost, and the real..value of the Libra
ny itself, in its influences, diminished to almos
nothing. A few years longer, and if not take
under the charge of some association, the "CCun
ty Library. will be nothing more than a recol
lection, excepting where its volumes have adde
TO private collections. We have no doubt hos
authorized to do so would gladly place it unde
the care of proper literary organization sue
as that proposed, allowing those now claimin
lis privileges to continue them till the expiralio
of their subscriptions, and then become, if The
desire, members of the association and su ,jec
to its regulations in the drawing of books.
Thus we may have at once the nucleus of
library, to which We should prob bly, very 500
be able to make substantial additions in III
form of contributions Then er .ct the newspa
per stands, and with the first spare monies rt
oeived, subscribe for the hes. newspapers of gu
nearestlarge cities, then of more distant cities
and afterwhile of foreign cities We ventuI
to say that The placing of the present library i
those rooms, and The filing of half dozen Tres
papers daily, with the inducements of good ligt
and fires would ct once make those rooms plac
of evening resort to a ,reat many.
We have endeavored to place things in pra,
teal shape, and Ivy doing so, prove that there al
no very great difficulties at last in this enteIpris,
1t can easily be carried through. Let but fe-
willing spirits take hold of the matter, draw u
the plan Of organization, and organize,
least temporarily, secure cash subscriptions, I
upthe rooms, procure a person TO keep them i
good order and attend to visitors, and the work
donel