Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-08-21
PAPER FOR TE FAMILY CIRCLE TO TAE AMUSEMENT wD


YOUNG Hxrs CH1IsrIAx Assocr ALTON
We are glad 70 learn from fhepaprs that
tais excellent Association Is already moving
in the mattcr Of Woviding rich and valna-
bic lectures for theapproaching lecture sea
son. The importance OF these lectusss
can not well be oyerrated The man Of
years. and Of reading, and Of talent, can
condense into lecture Of an hour an
amount Of information that would require
months TO obtain from other sources With
the solid food thus set before ON AUDIENCE,
is usually mixed reasonable portion Of fun
and fancy, SO that thelectureroom becomes !
attractive as we'll as instructive, hence in an
intelligent community like this, the lectures
are well attended We need not urge our
readers 10 encourage the noble young men
who lead of in this movement by liberal
purchase Of tickets. and such other substan
tial aid as viii enable them to prosecute
their plans vigorously, and TO the profit Of
the lecture-going citizens of indianapolis
The crowded houses heretofore furnished
and the material aid afforded, are guaran'
tees that the citizens willnobly and prompt
ly respond TO the calls Of the Associa-
ton. sii
There "a. however, one thing lacking. We
need reading room There is indeed
place yclept Reading Room, in connection
with this Association, but we submit TO the
managers whether it is worthy the name
Need we describe III II is small, dingy
room, about Is by 20 feet covered, or parv
y covered, by worn out, dirty carpet con-
tanning twenty old chairs, two tables, cover
ed first with green baize, and then with
books, papers, periodicals, dust, &c., in u
state Of confusion worthy an editors or a
lawyers Office. There Is table for filing
Eve or six newspapers, the others are hung
up or scattered round carclesslly; there is a
red poplar cupboard in one corner, that may
have books in il, may be not; in another is u
smaller institution, we believe the property
Of another society, perhaps book case; and
/ Mt least ono SPIT BOX, full to OVERLOOKING
of the pure juice Of the weed, mixed with
saliva and other offall from tho mouths OF
visitors or residents This uninviting room
is approached by narrow, dirty, rickety
, stairway-at least the baluster Is rickcty.---
At no time that we have ever gone up then,
could a lady 60 up or down without soiling
her clothes, II, indeed, q fashionable one
could compress her robes into the narrow
Z way.
. Twenty years ago that room was large
4 enough and tlno enough Then our houses
/ and our churches and even our ioNscries
. were no better Not so now. There IL mol
: a dwelling in tho city moro uninviting than
. that rQQn, unless il DO the abode Of squalt
: poverty. Our churches arc large. and
a clean, and airy, aud light and inviting ant
) the keepers Of the dens Of drunkenness un
|. derstand she influence Of neatncss ans
u cleanness aud splendor 'in enticing younI
1 men into their snares. We speak simple
y truth when wo say that no fashionable liz
n nor seiler could be induced TO take that room
y and furnish tin It's present ycle, with
70 reasonable hope Of doing good bushes,
4, He would lose his customers In spite Of al
d his charms
9, Now, We propose to move tho Readin
i. Room into some Of tho largo, light and air
10 rooms now building or already built In III
d. city. We would carpet II with some neu
"a aad substantial article, and keep II we
,e swept and well dusted, and we'll warmed Il
20 tho winter, and we'll ventilated In the sun
"a meg, and well lighted till given hour, eve
: these short nights, that laboring men Nigh
n. resort there and read--not talk and smok,
RS Allow the old gentleman who now occupis
lie ii 10 keep his Office there as a kind Of Gust,
dian Of the papers, books and furniture
and IL the room Is large enough, letthe ID,
!. pository Of tho American Bible Society, no,
~ kept In private house, be there also, pr,
Q pare for fling and binding and prcservin
y the papers sent there, instead ofselling ther
D. at three cents pound for wrapping pape
\. IL might then become u Reading Room
a Men and womes would resort there to loo
' over the files Of papers, bound and preser,
i cd, as well as late papers. We were lookin
- last week Mt most excellent room for hi
"a purpose on the corner Of Illinois and Ma
;. ket II can be rented at but little NOR
T. than Is now paid viii the Managers tai
"A about this matter and then actY