Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-02-14

ES~ We desire 10 call the attention of
our townspcople to the Tea Party to be
given by the ladies on Wednesday even
ing next, At School House hall, for the
benefit of the Library Association.
The establishment of desirable Libra
ry in our Flown, is a measure that appeals
to every man, woman and child for en-
courasrmont and support. ltcannot but
rebound somewhat 10 the general benc-
tit, and It's usefulness can only be gradu-
atcd by the amount of interest evinced
in it. Every dollar added to its funds
advances its capacity for mental improve
ment correspondingly, and every mem
Der added TO It's lists. isan additional guar
antee for its permaneney. Some of our
friends are. inclined to be doubtful of our
permanent success but if they will only
take hold with us and do their mite to-
wards uphoiding it, they would do just
so much towards removing the cause of
those doubts. There is no good reason
why we should not have good ard per-
manent library in our town. Our people
are decidedly a reading people, and il is
not probable that any of us have libraries
so complete that we shall not want, at
times, works not in our possession and
there certainly are no cheaper or reader
means of access to them than connec-
ton with the library.
Books are profitable companions not
merely because they enable us to hold
intellectual converse with persons of
knowledge and wisdom not merely be-
cause they let us look at the mysteries of
nature, or explore the intricacies of sci
ence; not simply because they enable Us
to take a glance at the pcculiaritics of
other chimes, and comprehend the Won
ders of the celestial armament, but be-
cause they keep the heart pure while they
tutor tie mind, BY occupying idle hours,
which would else be spent unproftably,
and in vast number of eases even criIni-
nally. To the young, when thrown
friendless into the busy vortex Of life, they
prove the harbor of safety, for in Them
they find relief from that sense Of loneli
ness and craving for sympathy and soci-
atty, which is common to them, car
rying them into the currents of dissipa
lion, and wreoking them upon the reefs
OF crime. With books and taste for
reading, the young man goes doubly
armed into the arena of life, for they will
guarantee, generally, an intelligent APP
preelation Of the intricacies Of business.
and also save him from the Temptations
which always meet the unoccupicd. The
glitter Of tlie drinking saloon viii not at
tract the novice when his mind is EN-.
ploycd and the want Of occupation is
the prolific source Of dissipation.
And it is not alone in large cities tat
this holds true, though there temptation
j. stronger and oftener met than in a lin.
tied community. iIvre in tho West,
where continuous labor is not compulso-
ry, large part Of the time Of both men
and boys is spent in idle and unprofit,
bic gossip in the taverns and about the
stores. generating habits Of Incidence,
and destroying TO a large extent the taste
for home and It's firesilc epjoyments.--
This IS, 70 great degree. attributable to
t. the natural demand for mental occupa
lion, and the want of books to supply il.
We believe it incumbent upon every pa
rent to study to throw all the genial in
iluences about the home circle possible
to make it 50 pleasant that the child will
desire to linger, around it. And we be-
lieye there is no more efectual way Of
doing this than to inculcate and supply a
reading taste. Il is not possible for every
parent to furnish a private library sufi
Gent tor this purpose, for though he may
have many works, yet the large mass
may be dry and uncongenial for his child.
But fortunately there are but few commu-
mites where. this want is not and cannot
be supplied at small pecuniary outlay in
dividuaIly by establishing and support
ing "a public library. For these reasons,
independent Of many other considera-
iions that might be named, We think it in
culnbent upon every parent in this COM
rnurily 10 do all that is possible to place
our Library upon a liberal and stable
footing.
When we ccnmenccd this article we