New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-07-17
7 sEsTT n IN Is 4 n lcir.

KsECEaBfW An nd ~ A ~ "
Il The advantages arising from the esis ct pub
Hc libraries lii cannot but le evident NY
every one who has THE subject tlle slightest re-
Election. The varied ana mum erols benefits 70 be DE-
rived from them by indy iduals, and the consequent
beneficial efects upon society recommend
then, to tile attention Of communities.
From HE earliest times when thoughts were first
recorded either BY rude tracngs on leaves or BY sra
WINGS On durable substances, down to- the
Wien die genius Of Faustus is triumph pursuing
;ts onward march, 1T has been with all wise rulers
and nrevident communities an object OF especial
concern to cultivate taste for literature, and 20 sat
isfy the natural that taste BY building up
ana sustaining Repositories Of thought and study.
Through their influence pure morals and more re-
lined standard civilization have ever been produced
at tho same time that an element of refinement has
thus been created basis Of good social government
il established. AS the individual is benefited by
converse with the wise Of the past and the present.
irsonueh is the community Of which he forms part
profted. 5$$
This il not theory, but fact amply proved BY the
history Of cities in past time renowned for the learn
g, wisdom and social amenities Of their institutions
& The advantages to be derived from The spread Of
gerated-w whether emanating from the pen Of the
scholar, issuing from the lips Of the daily aborer,
words Of intelligence never fail to contribute to the
common veal because by their utterance information
Els thus much extended, and to this degree the condi
ton Of society ameliorated It is imperative duty
chen, deyoving upon those who have the interest Of
the in which they live at heart, to foster
such literary institutions as tend to the moral social
they assist in sowing the field from which, in due sea
son u renuneratve harvest may be readily and freely
I gathered.
admitted fact that system Of public schools
conducive to the healthful growth Of large comnu-
mites AS the children educated under this system
arrive at 1aturer age, It proper that sources from
which they may derive more general information than
be obtained in the usual course Of study should
be opened to them With a view to the furtherance
Of this object the Council Of the Second Municipality
on the Sd December, 1874, passed an ordinance pro.
yiding for the establishment Of Lyceum and Libra
the scholars Of the public schools, But whilst
this object particularly borne in mind, care was
had that no class Of our citizens should be debarred
from the privileges and advantages of the Library
subsequently the Common Council, by resolution, ap
propriated all fines collected BY the Recorder Of the
10 stiu VI tlle
said Library and Lyceum. Z
During the past season, owing, it is presumed, to
the financial enbarrass of the city this source
of support was Withdrawn, 50 that now the library
is entirely dependent upon the efforts and liberality
/ of orr citizens for its sustainment. The library
referred to, now contains nearly ten thousand vol
umes, embracing well selected works upon theology
medicine, law general literature, etc., and the most
popular and reviews are regularly received
monthly Or quarterly, as the case may be.
Boston, New York, Philadelphia Baltimore, Gin
cnnati ST. Lonis and other large cities our Union
justly point with pride to their large and numerous
repositories Of literature Our own city, the metrop
oils of the Southwest, can instance but one large
public library, and that up to this time sustained
rather by municipal nunificenee than by individual
assistance. This too in the face of the fact that its
benefits may be realized for less consideration thar
is required BY any similar institution in our country
i So far as we are Informed.
Is itnot eminently proper then that those of oul
citizens who are identified with the social advance
ment Of New Orleans should give this matter theil
thought and earnest SO that an institu
ton merftorious in every point of view may not fa
1 OF even angush for the want Of the necessary sup
port? State pride, if nothing else, should induce
every merchant to give his aid. The annual charge
for membership is but a trife, and every considera
ton of patriotism calls for liberal support to t
very valuable and useful enterprise.
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