The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-15
THE PR ESS.
Monday Morning, April E5, 1857,


Public Library. ~
AT meeting of the Directors of this Insti-
tuition, held on "Wednesday last, the following
officers were elected, viz: 81 -s=t
VIM. Willis, President
George It. Shepley, Vice President.
Eben Steele, Treasurer.
Edward A Moves, Clerk.
Edward Gould, Lewis ID. smith, A'oi'o,
Several committees were choS'"
mare a circular asking AID Iron o'ii'' p'''NN''
another to apply to the city ior rooms &C. III
otber to confer with other societies. lor union
of oil in one public institution, to give greater
.tronctb and usefulness than can be found in
soa+,ared efforts, and one to select a librarian.
n was voted in this connection, that any pro-
,riotor in the Athen9um who will contribute
his share in that Institution to the Public Lii
brary, may thereby become a Life Member.
A letter to one of the Directors from Geo. A
Bailey of Washington, who, it will be remem-
bered, promptly contributed $1,000 in aid of
the sufferers after the fire, was communicated
to the Board of which the following is an ex-
tract:
when / first saw mentioned in one OF tie
Portland papers the project of an Institute anu
Library, L promised myself the pleasure VI
contributing to it set OF books 9ois a,'dI not
upwards of 100 volumes, and when Woulu NOV
be likely to be rendered by any o',e forence to
This still propose to do, wltnout Ieie t, ~ 10
auv persouaI privilege to be derived from 'he
act, but as an unconditional prlvllese. ,,
i am glad to hear OF the progress maze ana
of tba cheering prospect. never knew Oh n
ctoorer t;eId for commencing work of the
kind every thing in the shape OF library OF a
nublic character having been swept away,
leaves an opening which dn may contribute To
fapl hot ha 10 rnin
axg,y from any very cherished institution with
which he may have been formerly connected.
This prompt and voluntary donation gave
the greatest satisfaction to the Board and was
a most encouraging token of success.
Mr. Bailey is a native OF Westbrook. He was
sometime engaged in the book trade in Port
land. Neither distance nor time iminishes the
attachment he feels to the place of his birth
and the scenes of his early labors.
We annex the circular prepared by the com
mittee for general distribution. 4gu
CIRCULAR.
To the Public:
Every Public Library and many private L.
braries in Portland, were entirely destroyed III
the fire of July last. Among them was the
large and valuable collection of books belong
ing to the Athenaum, the growth of a hundred
years. The people We're thus suddenly depriv-
improvement and recreation, and are still des-
titnte. An attempt is now made to supply
this deficiency and to restore these lost treas
ures.
A charter has been obtained authorizing the
establishment in Portland of a Public Library
and Institute Of art; officers have been chosen,
an organization completed, and our own peo-
pie have given encouraging and satisfactory
subscriptions, notwithstanding their crippled
means
The advantages of Public Library to the
learned and studious, for reference and con-
sultation, have always been acknowledged;
yet until within few years, the worth OF q
Peoples library for the benefit OF the masses
in a country like ours, where all the efficient
means of selfeducation are in constant de-
mand, has been overlooked or greatly under
valued. Even the sagacity of Franklin fell
short OF what now seems unquestionable truth,
to make provision for the universal diffusion
of knowledge. To occupy, or even to amuse
the great multitude, may well be regarded as
an object OF transcendent Importance, by the
philanthropist, the statesman and the moral
list. Ali history teaches this lesson.
Our losses by the fire were SO heavy and
would have been SO overwhelming, but for the
generous contributions poured into our eX-
hausted treasury from all parts of our country
and from abroad, that we are obliged to lock
elsewhere than among our own population Tor
the requisite help. -.
We therefore submit our cause and our wants
to Authors and Publishers, to men of wealth
and Of business, and earnestly appeal to our
fellow-countryme of other towns and States,
10 AID us in the formation of an institution
which will promote the grand object of educat-
ing the people, and be worthy of the age il
which we live. We believe that the noble sym
pathy which pervades the American character
will come to our reliefin this great emergency.
JOHN NEAL, 57
WIN. WILLIS, t-
L. D.. NJ SWEAT,
j. Z. GILMAN, NJ. d,
WIN. III. FEM.
Portland, Me-, April, 1867. -s.e
P.S. Contributions in money, books, OF
works of art, may be forwarded to the port.
land Institute care of John Neal, S3, State
street. Winslows Eastern Express will trans
port all donations with little or no-expense.