Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-16


the formation Of social libraries as tn
easiest, the cheapest and most efeetiv
mode of diffusing knowledge among tn
people, and gave the further practice
hints that for the sum of six or eight dol
lars at once and small annual paymen
beside, a man may be supplied with tn
means of literary improvement during hi
life, and his children may inherit tn,
blessing. A few neighbors joined togethe
in setting up library and placing it I'm
der the care Of some suitable person, will
very few regulations to prevent care
lessness and waste, may, render the mos
essential service to themselves and to thu
community. Books may be much better
preserved in this way than if they belong
ed to individuals, and there is an advan
| tage in the social intercourse of persons
who have read the same books, by theil
conversing on the subjects which have oc
CURED in their reading and eommunicat
ing their observations one to another
From this mutual intercourse another adj
vantage may arise; for the persons who
are thus associated may not only acquire
but originate knowledge.
From the village library of Salisbury,
founded on recommendations like these
it is said Daniel Webster was able to OBJ.
tain a supply of good reading, and in the
taste formed from reading such works as
the Spectator, that forcible and masculine
simplicity with which his speeches and
writings are so strongly marked.
1t cannot be doubted the character OF
his student and friend, Judge Fletcher,
received like impress, and it is quite
within the range of possibility that this
library has been given you as a
nucleus, for you, by your fostering care
and his generosity, in annual additions to
cause to be a much larger and more valua-
BILE one,-was suggested by the quotation
1 have given from DIR. Belknap-is seed
which terminates after more than half a
century has brought forth fruit in this
argosy of intellectual wealth, which
crowds the shelves of the library we are
met to inaugurate.
1t is no time for eulogy of him who has
thus remembered you. 1t has already
been better done by those who knew him
these books may, aye, aoM leave in their
influence upon the society of all this
region and beyond to wider circles, as
forth into the world, cannot be estimated.
Truly the years which were forming this
wise legacy to you and your children
shall abide after him-for no good deed
perishes-no Prayer-no praise is lost.
The establishment of such collections
commenced by the great minds of the
earliest ages, and the earlier settlers of
New neutrality-suspicious. by such gifts
as this to you, has grown into a pervad-
ing and established feature of our organi-
zation as people. In the once only free
States more particularly the system of
popular self education is inseperably in
terwoven with the civil fabric, with our
social life, and now happily with all the
States, so that failing of its advantages
''Himself, not fortune, every one must blame"
The speaker gave some excellent sug-
gestions of the advantages of living in this
age-the wise choice of books-the dam
ger of a superabundance of those works
that sin alike against the good taste and
healthful tone of society-thoughtful
reading and self culture-the lasting re-
sources gathered from library books and
and on that true man and
which is the grand object as
it should be the aim of life.
He concluded as follows:
Thus, ladies and gentlemen, have pre-
sented to you the blessed alchemy to turn
into happiness many of your barren hours.
Such is the prospective march of the
reading host 1t rises before you like the
army of Napoleon when its van had gain
ed'the crest or the Alpine st, Bernard, and
the queen of italian valleys burst upon
their ravished gaze. Is there here Acham
who shall have no right, portion or mem
orial in this browning comfort their soli- |
tude and old age,-wbile others most hap
py bring their offering of self.culture
who can bear to be empty handed.
If ours were prophetic eye to detect
hat one reoreant, in this audience, well
night we weep over him as the austere
prophet wept over Hazel, Prince of Syria.
Nay, rather let US thank God that we are
lot tormented before the time by reoog-
lizing him who shall throw away the
Key of knowledge. Let us each make it
70 sure as we can that there will sbe 40
UGH traitor to his trust by daily asking
+ it I ? Assured that each of us is keeper
# single individual-that we can make
ure of him, and if we each do this, as
will be we'll