Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-30

341 Main street,. -. MOseley, agent.
PIrrsBuRo CoAL-Bigley, Mellersh&
Co, Office No. 81 Jefferson street, one
door east of Second.
A PUBLIC LIBRARY AND READING
RooM.--We have often thought that it
was great pity that Memphis had not a
public library worthy of her Importance
as a great commercial city. A few years
since the Memphis Library Association
was formed under very favorable aus
pieces, but for several reasons it has not
accomplished the result anticipated, and
must now be considered a failure. Seve-
raj months since the reading room was
thrown open to all who desired to avail
themselves Of its privileges, and we we're
pleased to see many of the chairs filed
Of an evening with our mechanics and
clerks busily engaged in culling knowl-
edge or amusement from the various
magazines and papers on the tables. But
about month since a notice was posted
on the door that the library would not
be open at night until further orders,
which had the effect of entirely closingit
from those who availed themselves most
of its advantages Yesterday afternoon
we took a walk through the reading room,
Al .nht Mt ri
WINGED us that the Memphis Library As
ISOLATION was dying, and might just as
we'll be dead for all the good it was do
ing. The only papers on file of a recent
date we're the Memphis dailies, and one
each from Boston and Washington, with
a couple of Eastern weeklies. The table
where the weekly and monthly pictorials
etc, were to be found in days gone by,
was empty, and covered with the dust
ola week. The magazine table was
adorned with some torn and dirty
magazines, the latest dates being
those, of May. The only picture that
graced the walls had been removed, and
library was locked up, the key
doubtless being in somebody's pocket
One person beside ourself was present;
he was intently studying an old number
of the Congressional Globe The room
had a defunct air about it that was chill
ing; the chairs, the tables, the window
stills were. covered with dust that APP
peared to reign supreme master of the
scene, while the floor looked rs if it had
not been swept. for a month We took
farewell look at the musty-looking papers
on file, and left to ramble in the bright
sunshine, in hope that it might dispel the
gloom that had been cast over us by
visit to a place that, under different man
agement, might present better APP
pearance and be both useful and orna-
mental to our city. II is strange that we
cannot have public library and read
ing-room similar to those possessed by
cities of our size in other States.
Our merchants are liberal, a fact
that is patent to all whenever they are
called upon to subscribe for any charita-
BILE purpose, for they respond most liber
ally. This being so, why cannot they
found a library and reading room worthy
of our city, whereby all classes of the
community would be benefited ? We
hope some of our public spirited citizens
will make a move in this matter, and take
out letters of administration on the re-
mains of the Memphis Library Associa
ton, or start an institution independent
Of it.. We have received communica
ton on the library question, the writer of
which has been misinformed in one re-
spect, which we publish to show the
views of one of the many young men of
our city who would avail themselves of
the benefit of public library:
EDS. PUBLIC LEDGER | ask the priv
ilege of calling your attention to the
pressing necessities of the young men of
Memphis, i nose VINO are CitTho uuu
workmen are at loss for some profta-
BILE mode of spending their leisure after
work There used 10 be library open |
at night, and hundreds would have paid |
a dollar month to go there. AS it was
conducted, members had to be proposed |
and balotted for aud were required to |
subscribe for whole year. As conse
quence, none found it expedient to be-
long to the association but those who |
were established residents and had ten
dollars to invest in one payment. That
class of residents having no particular
interest in the young men of Memphis
who have no gilded parlors nor fast
teams to while away the long evenings,
have allowed the only library in Mem
phis to be closed during the very hours
It used to be crowded. As a consequence,
our clerks and employees have their choice
between the billiard saloon, the gambling
bells and other inviting resorts, to which
we fear, through very ennm they are
driven or enticed. If you will agitnte
this matter, Messrs. Editors, and get us
a library, conducted on liberal principles,
you will confer an everlasting benefit on
this city and its mercantile classes
Truly yours, }. d. ID.