The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-11-18


fact worth treasuring, that the tendency q
the age is towards imaginative literature
Here, more than ever, is now a vehicle 70
popular instruction that is illimitable. Ger
tain of the greatest of our writers and think
era are taking advantage of it, aud now EN-
! body their ideas in the form of story, IL
which the dramatis persona work out thei'
dogmas in the action of their lives In tins
way theories are only insinua'ed, but new
ertheless take frmer hold on the mind
None of the noyels in this library collection
come under the sweeping bann OF trash
They are all by standard writer's and none
but such as have passed the scrutiny of crit
iclsm and have been found to be of value,
have room upon the shelves. The numer'
Gus advantages for profit and innocent re-
creations which this library affords for the
merely nominal sum Of twenty-five cents per
month, gboald make it one Of the most pop.
ular resorts. Facilities for quiet recreation
in the shape of chess, checker and back.
CANNON board are here, aud room deyot-
ed exclusively to conversation.
Files Of the latest newspapers, periodicals,
etc, are always to be found, and a dreamy
quiet, undisturbed by boisterousness, in
which to enjoy them. Here is an opPortu.
nifty for young men to spend their evenings
prodtaby and to avoid injurious associa-
tions, and they should be encouraged to take
advantage Of it, Now that the street cars
are running, and the means Of reaching the
library are ample, we expect to see the Cit.
zens Of Moline patroni1ing it.
We are glad to see that the association,
this year, has thrown overheard the lecture
SYSTEM and that the institution is to be sup.
ported by the subscribers, and not by few
pick.tna dollars which some literary
mountebank might add to the treasury
The Dsvenporters still cling TO the deluson
that they can be benefited more by hearing
n discursive rambling discourse, made up Of
stale facts and hackueyed quotations, than
by purchasing good book and being enter
tanned quietly and proftably by it at their
own Preside. There is no more gigantic
fraud in the universe than what is known as
the American Lecture System. The lecture
par ecceLicHce is continuance Of some
shrewd yankee TO make large quantity of
money by very little labor. A rambling dis.
course, often written to order, is obtained at
the beginning Of the season by the lecturer
who has gained little local uotoriety. The
are furnished with selEindited
eulogy, with request to publish as n favor,
and his fame is made and then this bundle
of tatters and patches Of research and un.
accredited quotation is retaiied out with
dreary monotony throughout the entire sea.
son, for the modest sum Of SIS to $3.50 per
night. Besides this, the great American
lecturers, as they are ioudly termed, make
their dismal show Of rhetoric simply an en-.
CINE for the advancement Of tauatiCism and
prejudice, and charge s with refreshing
GOODNESS for precious collection Of political
rubbish in which they are unable to advance
one truthful or original idea. As to female
lecturers, Of the Dickinson stripe, We car
only repeat, with DR.. Johnson, that a wo
man occurring is like dog walking on hi
hind legs. You do not imagine that it i
done we'll, but the wonder is that they cal
do it at all. The association have steere,
clear Of this tribe this season.
The purchases which have lately beer
made are the following, which will soon b
placed upon the shelves
Dallas GaIbraith.
If, Yes and Perhaps,
Modern Women.
What Answer, by Anna Dickinson.
' Gold Elsie, by Mrs. Wistar.
Woman's Kingdom, by Dinah Muloc
p Crak.
Curious Myths of the Middle Ages
Gould.
Autobiography Of Franklin.
Hans Brinker.
KngIake's Crimea.
Old Ma m selle's Secret