The Nevada Democrat., 1860-01-18
A CHEAP WAY TO DO coon.

Ed. DEMOcREr.-If the members Of this eem-
muniiy have just appreciation Of the duties
they owe to others. "a fact that may be question
ed) they would, no doubt, gladly embrace
any opportunity through which, by small
outlay of money aud exertiOn. they could cen-
tribute to the general welfare. Now just
such an opportunity is offered TO ell whO live
in or near Nevada, whether rich or poor. by
the Library Association Of this city. After
payment Of the initiation fee Of $500, all that
a membership of the Association costs is the
triaing SUN Of 6fly cents per month; VIII lie
the permanent benefits which it, II rightly con-
Quoted, would confer on those who now form
this community, aud their children, would be
ncalculable.
Literary pleasures are admitted, by all who
know their value, to be the purest, lhe most
satisfactory. aud the noblest of human enjoy
meats. Even ignorant men OF good sense &C :
knowledge this truth. How often do we hear
these who have acquired large fortunes express
willingness 10 exchange all their wealth for
the blessings OF = good education and culti-
tivaIed mind La TACT, the sources Of happiness
lie much nearer home than those are aware Of
who make life long journeys in search of the
distant fountain. he who passes through life
in ignorance Of the beautiful aud magnificent
domain of literature, which he might possess
almost without money aud without price,"
never Knows the highest joys of which his na-
ture is capable, although he may have unbound
ed success in The pursuit Of wealth, aud may
purchase every pleasure which he knows how
to enjoy. On the other hand, the man Of lite
rary taste, who 10 familiar with the noblest
thoughts of the greatest ntellects Of all ages,
aud to whose mental vision are ever apparent
the wise truths OF history aud the beautiful pic
lures of poetry aud romance, though living
amidst poverty in q cabin, can extract more
pleasure from existance than the ignorant own.
er OF the richest mine in California Tor WAshoe y
ever dreamed Of whose thoughts are confined
TO the narrow circle of his own experience,
slightly extended, perhaps, by communion with
his ignorant companions. And it requires no
great outlay vi mouey to acquire this great
fund Of Intellectual enjoyment. A rudimental
English education, as u late author observes,
is the key with which q brave man may un.
lock the world " The cultivation of literary
taste. aud fondness for books, is what is
wanted.
In this community books are read and ltera-
ry taste prevails bet little. To supply the
want, aud to raise the intellectual status OF
the community, the Nevada Library Associa-
tom was organized about two years ago
Although il has met with some success, yet
there are hundreds in the community who
should have joined it, and have not while Of
those who are members but few have taken
any interest in its success. The library now
contains near 1000 vOlunes the expenses Of
the Association are very light; and II the list
of members could Ouly be extended even to the
small number of two hundred (and it ought to
be twice that many the income from mouthly
dues would be $1,000 per year, which. in a
very few years would enable us to have An ex-
ceedingy large library, embracing the whole
range Of literature.
To the young men we say: have you lost all
the literary taste with which you started out
in life in your old Eastern homes? Have you
no pleasurs now except those of the card table,
aud the saloonl Have you no ambition to ele-
yate the condition both OF yourselves and those
around you? II you have, then join our AS
sociation, aud lend helping hand 10 giving
oew aud better direction to public taste.
To parents we say: what better gift can you
bcstow upon your children than the Opportu-
nifty for intellectual Improvement which this
Association atfordsi What will SO well guard
them against low pleasures than The cultivation
Of higher aud purer enjoymenis than those 10
which the community so much indulgesi Re-
member that the more the HObler characters
tics Of our nature are developed, the more will
the baser be kept 10 subjoctien.
A railroad to Nevada would increase its ma
terial wealth q large public library, with the
impulse 1t would give TO intellectual enjoy
ments would increase the mental wealth Of
citizens. Which would be the greater blessing
The former we may not be able to have for
years, and, then. only after the outlay Of im-
mense sums Of money; the latter we may have
Immediately, and for almost nothing Shall
we have it? A CITIZEN.
Nevada, January, 1860.
A NEW IssUE-For the approval Of Govern.