Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-31
Letter from Platteville Y. M. L. "A
Lady in Charge Beginning.
of a Series Of Lectures,

DEAR HERALD:-I don't know that
| ever told you there is such a socie-
ty existing as the Young Mems Lii
brary Associa ion" And, pray, if |
have not, did any one else over in
form you of the fact
IL exists. 1t lives, moves and has
its being Its headquarters are to be
found in the most populous pert Of
our crowded thoroughfare called
Main street The stock in trade has
its place in certain brick mansion.
Aforesaid stock consists Of some
three or four hundred well selected
volumes. And over this august as
semhlagc Of Bancroft and Macauley,
of Dickens and Thackersy, of Milton
and Shakespeare, with scores of lesser
lights, fair-faced, soft-voiced lady
prcsdes with ease, grace and Dig
nifty.
The rooms are open twice week.
Let US go in this evening. The room
is crowded. There is a young man
who has purchased his ticket. He
thinks he will "cut q DASH" impress
beholders with a sense of his impor-
lance. Do you notice how he sud
denly subsidies ? Even he has found
out that a lU0Bldn is mistress there
See the change. He is quiet he be-
comes as gentlemanly as possible for
him to be; takes Tent on the Beach
instead of paradise Lost" and goes
away q better man. He may read
the book he has, while Milton, which
was inquired for only for show,
would have lain untouched until libra
ry day came around again. Her face
IS entirely impenetrable, but is she
thinking, | wonder, as she quietly
recommends the substitute, Milk
for Babes p One thing I'll warrant
he will not think Of clustering here
again.
Now, query Did this association
procure u Iady's services because by
iusunct or observation it knew that
lady fills such a place infinitely
better than any man, or because il
could secure inestimabiy better SER
vice tor less money, since the well
known laws Of political economy in
regard to work and wages are set at
lnaught in her case. To her the in
exorable fate Is 20 do twice as much
work for half the pay. Thus do we
recognize the great truth that much
# woman's service is infinitely be-
yond any value W. can atiix But
t was not enough that this associa-
ton should bring these heroes Of lit
erature to every mans door; that
they have made it possible FIR Us TO
breakfast with Milton, dine with
Shakespeare, sup with Byron and hold
sweet converse with Dickens in the
quiet evening; they must needs do
more. So we were startled one
morning by literary bombshell 1t
said, "a Lecture at Thomas Hall
by Hon. Chas. Caverno, on Wednes-
day evening, Jan. 18th Subject T.:
Henry ID. Thoreau." We held up
our hands and cried out "what will
happen next?" Alarm at the twenty
five cents admission fee took it's place
in many an anxious breast. But am
pie time was given us to recover our
selves and Wednesday evening found
a very good audience in the hall.
They were amused, entertained and
instructed. and the first lecture of the
season passed off quite satisfactorily
| wish that all Plattevillo had heard
it, and Lancaster had had it rehashed
for them.
There is a prospect of other lee
lures following, of which | may give
you an account when hear them.
Meanwhile, | enthusiastically pro-
pose three cheers for tho Library
Association. Yours sincerely,
Platteyille, Jan 20, 1871. &C.