Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-06

1t is subject for public congratulation that
public library is about to be established in
the city of Worcester If we seem to antici.
pate the action of the City Council, it is on
the side of the public interest. To the munif-
cent generosity of our fellow citizen, DIR. John
Green, who, in presenting his valuable and
well-selected library to the city, is simply car
rying out one of the cherished plans of his life,
we are chiefly indebted for the contemplated
addition to our public institutions. We are
gratified to record this new evidence of regard
for those things to which the Heart of the
Commonwealth owes so much ofits prosperity
at home, and its good fame abroad And we
are especially gratiied that in the same year
in which new inducements to excellence and
honorable emulation have been placed before
our older scholars, the initial steps have been
taken toward furnishing the public with
means of intelligence and cultivation on a
much larger and more benefcent scale
1t may not be improper to state the history
of the movement for public library so far as
it is of public concern. The desire has been
libraries of the city might be united into one,
and opened to all citizens. For several years
the library of Dr. Green, placed under the i'm.
mediate care of the Lyceum and Library AS
ISOLATION, has been increasing in the value
and the number of its volumes, 1t is peculiar
ly rich in English and French history, in
natural history, and in the English classics.
AS library for reference and consultation it
possesses peculiar value, the catalogue cover
ing large range of miscellaneous books.
Upon the death of Mr.. John Gray, the faithful
librarian of the Association-to whom larger
debt was due than was ever paid, DR.. Green
made known to the Committee of the Direct
ors of the Association, (Dr. Geo. Chandler,
and Mr.. Albert Tolman,) the desire which he
has embodied in his communication to the
Mayor; provided the Association would re-
linquish its collection to the city as the basis
of circulating library. Approaching the dis
interested generosity of the gift, and desiring
to share in so useful and praiseworthy an en-
terprise, the Directors unanimously voted to
recommend to the Association the conveyance
of their library to the city upon such satisfac-
tory terms as might be hereafter arranged
The results, so far as they are matured, appear
in the interesting message communicated by
the Mayor to the City Council, last evening,
which we publish in full this morning.
The subject is now in the hands of the city
council, where it may be very properly left.
We cannot forbear, however, to express the
conviction, with which we are confident the
judgement of the community will coincide,
that the city should extend its right hand to
this worthy enterprise, and sustain it by the
wise and liberal policy which has always been
shown for whatever concerns its intelligence,
its character and its honor
The public library has quite as intimate and
direct relations with the public prosperity as
many institutions which have enlisted the af-
fections and the energies of its citizens Its
silent influences are felt wherever the young
men and women who avail themselves of its
advantages are employed. No individual ac-
quires new thought without adding some
thing to the aggregate value of the community
in which he lives. No person accustoms him
self to read those books in which the thought,
wisdom, and genius of many generations has
accumulated,-th histories in which in
structive events are acted again in vivid de-
scription and lifelike Neutrality-suspicious. fctons
which inculcate in earnest and truthful story
the lessons of morality and virtue,-without
giving new impulse to public spirit, and new
life to every department of activity