Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-01-23
response to cur Inquiry about Iysenms.
condition of the franklin Lycerm.

Response to cur inquiry about Lyeenms.
Condition of the franklin Lycepm.
Messrs. EaitoS:-It was with feelings of
more than ordinary interest that pertEed an
article which lately appeared in your paper, cal
culated to awaken the interest and enlist tne
sympathies of our citizens in Literary Socle'
ties. L have waited in hope that some interest
ed party would answerit, but as it appears none
are so Inclined, have attempted areply Beg
ging your pardon for intruding myself upon
YOU inexperienced as l am in newspaper cor
respondence, will report to the best OF my
ability, the past and present condihous OF the
"Franklin Lyceum."
This association was organized September IL,
1856. At the first meeting contribution papers
were given to each member. and high hopes
were entertained that they would be well Tiled
by the next meeting. Fancy our Disappointment
when the Secretary read report of the sums
collected by each member, and gave the total
amount as $40. We could scarcely believe our
ears. Each had hoped that the rest had done
better, than he, but such was the fact, this tri'
fling sum was all we could raise from our liber-
al a. citizens Discouraged and chagrined, the
majority were ready to give up in despair, ana
had it not been for the encouraging remarks OF
some most influential members, an Adjournment
would have Immediately taken place SINE dIe.
They were, however, persuaded to test tue mat
ter for one week more. Att next meeting the
report was little more fattering, about the same
amount ofmoney being received, and some TWEEN
ty or twenty-five books Thus we struggled along
lencountering new difficulties at every step, and
at the end of the year despite our I'LL luck, we
were possessed of library of some 100 or LOU
volumes. About months after our organiza.
ton new difficulties arose, some were discour-
aged by the illiberality of the citizens, others,
having an eye to profit, wished to divide the
Library and adjourn, others again true to the
cause they had embraced, were determined to
persevere and if possible surmount the difficult
ties. To guard against the attempts OF the
mercenary members, an amendment was passed,
providing, 'That in case of dissolution of the
society, the Library should be delivered into the
hands of the City Council, as a foundation for a
Public Library" This cost us some six or eight
members their loss discouraging those still re-
naming. Hope seemed to have forsaken us,
but at our next meeting several new members
were proposed and admitted. This revived us
until it was discovered that the new members
took no interest in affairs. Again we began to
be discouraged, the receipts for monthly dues
were SO small that we were forced to petition the
City Council for reduction of rent. lmagine
our astoniShment when we were notified that
instead of being reduced it was doubled. Here
was quandarg; scarcely able to pay our former
rent, where was the advance to GENE trom2-
There was but one alternative, we removed our
Library and adjourned until the state of ouT
finances should be improved
Now MeSsrs. Editors, L wish to ask ii there is
any man who, after perusing theabove, can say
we have received justice at the hands of the
Council or of the citizens? What has the Coun
Gil done for us? Our only answer is the echo
What? From the citizens it is true we have
received something, for which trust we are
duly grateful; but was it rs much as our fail
offers warrantedY We did not ask either the
Council or the citizens to give us money Oh
books-we merely solicited the loan of them
When our aims have been accomplished, anc
our course run, we will not, like all former soci
cites in the city, divide the books among our
selves, but our Library goes entire to the "city
as foundation for Public Library" This j:
our ambition. We know the advantages to be
derived from the perusa of proper books, anc
the disadvantages, moral and intellectual, which
result from the use of whQt, VIC Improperly cll
light literature. 1t should be called hedoY, 1ol
it has dragged down more innocent souls to the
very depths of vice than the wine cup, and it
victims are numbered by thousands. We wist
to snatch from the hands of the youth the nov
ell, and supply its place with the choicest o
history and biography, or by works on the art
and sciences In one word, we wish to lear
him from the paths of vice to those of virtue
| from the paths of ignorance to those of knowl
edge. Who then can stay the hand of contri
button when the cause is so good. trust tina
have shown that our motives are not selfish
our aim and watchwo-d is and ever will be Pr
bono PublicO. PUBLICOLA.'S
An "INFElsNAL MAcH1NE" UP AT PfTTsBURe