The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-01-22
MISCELLANY.
The Public Library.

tNe loiloWlnS oeautiul extract We make
from the published Address of the Hon. Roht.
c. Winthrop. recently delivered at the dedca
tion of the Boston Library Building:
1t was n poetical and beautiful concct OF
the great philosopher of our Motherand, of
Bacon, mean, the contemporary and fellow
countryman of our Pilgrim Fa,hers,--that
Libraries areas the shrines where all tl.e
relics of the ancient Saints full of true virtue,
aad that without delnsion or imposturc, arc
preserved and rcpose." But Cicero. methnks,
did better justice to the theme. We are told
that when that illustrious orator and Statesman
saw the books which composed his precious
private library, fairly arranged in the apart L.
ment which he had provided for them, in his
villa at Antium,-he wrote to his friend Att j.
Gus: "Postea zero guam I!!yramnio mihi hbros
disposuit, mens aeldita Vidct,r n.eis adiJus' -
"Now that my books have been put in their
places by your learned Greek Tyrannio, Soul
seems to have been added to my dwelling"
And our own American Cicero is ut tn is mo.
mcnt at your side, sir,-prepared to receive
: Trustees over whom he so fitly presides and
under his auspices, and with the aid ofhs asso-
ciates it is hardly two much to say that Inv
ing, breathing, imperslable soul will have
been infused into this merely material
structure. Yes, my friends. within these walls
sy masters of philosophy and rhetoric. of his
tory aud poetry, whom the Roman Cicero re-
,cognized and reverenced as introducing soul
Into his dwelling,-but the great lights of all
ages, the wise aud learned Of all cllmes-an,l
sthose, especially, who have adorned a civilza.
'tion, aud vindicated liberty, and illustrated a
christianity which that Cicero never conceived
OF, shall be congregated around them. Here
soon shall many waiting heart be kindled in.
to something OF the exuItation of that good old
Bishop Of Norwich, when he exclaimed, on the
sight Of great library-"What u happiness Is
!. that without all offence of necronancy, 1
may here call up any of the ancient wortliics
OF learning, whether human or divine, and con
fer with them of all my doubtsl-that can ut
pleasure summon up whole syuods OF reverend
fathers and acute doctors, from'aiI the coasts OF
Che earth, to give their we'll studied judgments
+ -on all points aud Questions which may pro
.pose" %.
And not the reverend fathers and acute doc
tors only shall answer to our call but here
also the Poets of all ages shall he ever ready
to sing to US their choicest strains the Druui.
atists Of all ages to rehearse to their riches,
& scenes Of wit or woe e;-Orators of all ages to
( 5recite TO us the triumphant argument, or the
thrilling appeal, which may have shaken EN-
Pires from their base, or changed the current oi
!. the;world's affairs. Here TOO, the practical
Inventor and ingenious Mechanic shall exhibit
& to his specifications, his plans and his draw
ings. Here the great Interpreters Of Nature
: shall unfold TO us the mechanism of the Heav.
sens, the testimony of the Rock and the marvels
sGfisnd ,mysteries Of animal and vegetable life.
ssHIsre.the glowing pictures, Of fiction and fancy
shall pass and repsss before our vision, Beneath,
the magic wand of Scott O. Dickens or q
3 teCooper;--the living portraits of Sages and
Patriots, of other lands aud 4 of our own land
II be displayed to us by,a Guizottor q Brouphaf
ia Carfyie Or q Campbell, aSparks or an lrylug
~ AorY M nora ana S,SS