St. Cloud Democrat., 1866-03-29
LADIES. I.1BRARY ASSOctArtok.


few words to our citizens on behalf Of the
Ladies' Library Association of st. Cloud,
the merit Of which ought. long ago to havs
brought it into mere general notice, and to
have secured the hearty cooperation Of
all who have either any literary taste
themselves or any interest in that Of the
community, and most certainly all reject
ing minds must have one or both Of these,
For, in relation to all the interest, Of So
oiety, viewed from Whatever point, II view
ed in their true light, we shall find our
educational and literary qualities and ton
dencies next in importance to religion
The intellectual and moral strength or
weakness, development and bias, impaired
by the literature Of reading people--as
We Americans enphatically ars--necesss-
rily connects our literary tendencies With
al other interests, Hence, we can only
hope all other things to prosper. in proper
ton ~ our circulating literature is high
toned aud pure in sentiment, truthful in
character, and superior in rank. But it is
lamentable fact, Notwithstanding the
Importance Of tho case, that the country is
flooded with kind Of literary trash, in
ferior In every desirable quality, and even
contemplate in tho eyes Of = sound and
cultivated mind. Yet it is 90 embellished
with fanciful overstrained, marvellous i'm
imagination, and stuffed with startling
ragedy--presenting life not in its real, but
in ideal, wonderful phrases, with little re-
gard to its moral oharaoter-that while it
presents pleasing and fascinating attrsc-
tions to the young, andisciplined MUD, it
also exerts decidedly pernioious influence
upon them. Being cheap, it ciroulates
widely, goes every where, into every villa
and hamlet in the country, and has already
become : crying evil in the land. But
what is the remedy for it, I know Of
nothing 50 likely to be effectual as to SUI
percede it with something better, which
can by some means be made equally a.
cheap, or ~ accessible as this wretohed,]
trash. This may be done, is already being
done in many places by Library Associa-
tions; but Is in other things of public in
terest, the more generally the reading pub
lie will aid and encourage the enterprise
the more successful it will become Now
as is generally known, we have such IN
association in St. Cloud, and though but
recently formed by few Of our enterpris.
ing ladies. has already attained hopeful
and promising aspect. Its object is to pro.
mote the interests Of the best literature, to
to bring int easy access, 10 this remote
bordertof civilization the highest order Of
reading mstter that the country Affords
noble, worthy object truly Is al must
confess. And to avoid everything that
might be exceptienae'e, it is intended that
this association shall not 30 sectional, Sec
%arian, or denoninational. It is proposed
to confne the selection Of booFs chiefly, If
not entirely, to literary works of general
interest, and valuable to all, leaving out
every thing Of dogmatic cast, which might
not please oil classes Assuming this atsi.
tude and with such IA object ia view, Why
should it not meet the approval, and ca
gage the hearty corporation Of every one!
good public library is an honor, Is well
as treasure 10 any community, and is espe-
CHILLY desirable in growing city; and now
that our ladies, with IN enterprise and
thus far faithfulness worthy of emuls-
zion, have organised an association, shall
We not have the good sense, not to say
msgnanimity, TO second and assist them
forward to success? They do not ''put on
alrs," nor put themselves forward srro-
gantly, but as modestly a. women ought to
do, they ask our advice and our assistance.
Shall We see our interests with sufficient
clearness to respond generously as No
ought! These ladies are certainly worthy Of
commendation; their enterprise 10 also
worthy Of warm, generous support.
One magnanimous friend, General An
drews, now absent, has ''seen the point
and with . hberality others might initiate,
has sent $40 to the association on con-
dition that there is enterprise enough here
to raise an equal amount for the same pur.
pose. "sshame. upon us' if We fail to &C.
complish that little end! The General
night we'll withdraw his propossl aud
money in disgust. But let US accept his
offer so beatti'y a. to convince him We are
thankful for it, and that We may finally
have library that shall do US credit, let
al who love good book join the Assooia-
tion, and help forward its design. The
cost Of doing 30 is mere tribe, amounting
to Z less sum per week than most gentle
men spend in day for cigars, which is
surely securing good reading privileges .t
cheap rate. There are now seventy-eight
volumes in the library, Of good books, and
perhaps funds enough in the treasury to
procure as many more. Pray, therefore,
"what doth hinder oar making = good
thing Of it, never to be regretted, il ws
will! And can We we'll DO otherwise, if
We duly consider our owa true prosperity!
81. J. II. -BALLOU.
Sa;rt Czoxd, March 9th, 1886.
ST. CLOUD MARKETS.
Ths.. Per bn' e. esos. DBL oS.s GO
Oats ;" - 2ta 0OiOofn meal, 1l6a1 Is