Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-01-13
Are We a Reading People ?

Are We Reading People?
As compared with most other nations, un-
doubtedly we are The ability to read is
well nigh universal. The newspaper, daily
or weekly, visits almost every house. 1t is
only here and there family that denies it
self all knowledge of what is going on in the
world. Most of those who think they can
not afford to take a paper, contrive somehow
to borrowone.
But 20 into the houses Of our citizens, and
examine the contents of their bOok-shelves.
With a few noticeable exceptiOns,l how
meagre is the list 4 few volumes of Pa
tent Office Reports, documents Of the Bible
and other Societies, Journals of the House
and Senate, the yearly volumes of State Laws,
old ANIMALS, one or two or more subscription
books, family Bible and a few school
books,-these, or books of similar quality,
not seldom constitute the entire list. They
belong for the most part to Charles Lambs
category Of JijHa aJijlia, books that are not
books. Most of them, if you scan the shelves
carefully, seem to have been given, not
bought 1t would be a curious matter, to
ascertain how large portion of all the PR
vatc Libraries Of the country had been kindly
franked from Washington by members OF
Congress to their constituents.
Look the shelves through for the best books,
and how few Of them do you find. Ten
chances to one You will discover no respecta-
BE History of The United States or of Eng
land. none Of the Christian Church, no works
on Natural Science. no novels by writers OF
either the first or second class, no works OF
travel, no books Of reference, none of the
productions of the greet poets, and either no
religious reading at all, or only that of the
most ieiune and modifying character on
look in vain for anything by Irving Long
fellow, Prescott, Tcnnyson, Thackeray, Mac
aulev. Whittier.-to name only q few Of the
modcrns who are regarded in the United
States as popular authors. lfyou light on
bulky and pretentious volume, it is probably
Of that dreary and unreliable class which
find a sale only through the devices and an
moving persistence Of those plaques of these
latter days, the bool-agents.
Now 20 into the village bookstore. and
look over the shelves. Take an inventory OF
the stock. emitting the school-books. New
York Layers and WeehHes, Dime Novels,
Police Ga-Hes, and such trash, in quanti-
ties a few of the better magazines, fewer
however, in proportion as they are better
shelf Of Bibles and Te-taments. another OF
third and f5urth-c,ass works OF fiction, and
a scattering Of standard and miscellaneous
books. vet so meacre as to offer no chance for
selection. 1t would be the ruin Of the coun-
try bookseller if he were to try to keep even
a snail assortment of the best books, old and
new.
In speaking of this general scarrity Of lit
erature. we do not forget the numerous yalu-
able private libraries scattered here and
there. nor the smaller collections Of a dozen
or twenty volumes selected with ;ood taste
and discrimination. We only call attention
to the fact that the majority of our people |
lave but very little reading matter, and that
most Of that is Of a very inferior kind ltmay
not be necessary that those who 1--we the
fcwest books should have the worst books, |
but such seems to be the ease. Why 1t is |
that the farmer OF mechanic finds it easier to |
buy piano for his daughters than shelf |
fll Of books, we do not understand but We |
have noticed thousand times that q two
dollar volume cost MOI. the purchaser feel
ines only being tb en- into the account, than
watch or a silk dress. We would -eally |
Ike to see the statistics, say for the state OF
Vermont. Of the comparative number Of mu-
steal instruments and Of copies Of any great
English classic,--as for instance Shakspe7es
pia7s.-or the number of sewing machines
set over against the numbers Of Paradise Lost,
OF Bacoa's Essays OF Webster Dictionary.
Vow for the ups hot Of all this. We have
little doubt that good books would be largely
read, if only they were everywhere accessi-
Ole. either without cost, CT at merely nom
inal expense. Book-clubs might be organ
led in every neiChborhood. which, FOX s. to
s. a year. would furnish every family with
one new volume every week or fortnight, &C
cordinc to the size Of the club. Any intelli-
gent person cg.u organize such a club in
single afternoon or evening, and have the
books ready for distribution the following
week. Whoever VIII do this, viii confer
lasting Der eft on the families of his neigh
5orhood
But it will be better thing, because of
wider anil more permanent benefit, if each
town or village viii avail itself Of the statute
1rlS67 no. 63l authorizing the appropria-
ton, for uses Of library, Of as many dollars
as there were ratabe polls the year preced-
ing, al "a Of fifty cents to the poll Cor each
subsequent year This tax, so slight as to be
lurder some to no one. if expended under the
iirect on Of a competent committee, would IN
, few years build up "A public library that
zoulc be both an honor and blessing TO the
own If two or three prominent men IN
.ach town will take hold Of this matter Wig
,rou, ". discuss 1t with the citizens, see that
{ I'm is place in the warrant for the March
meet ing, and then present it to the voters,
md urge it as it deserves to be urged, lUe
holtld hare tie foundations lad Of a hundred
iqo Libraries before the tya q July Hert.
v hi effect the statute has already had, we
re not informed. Of itself it will accom-
,iis'l nothing. Now is the time 70 discuss
he matter and lay plans fer the next town
nee ting. Make it question for the lyceum,
nd a topic fer the county PAPER. Create a
General desire for the library, and then secure
he vote tin shall make it = reality. In this
gay the Sc arcity Of good books can easily be
emedied and the reproach Of too many sec
ions of I he State be taken away.
Gov. Eofman's Message.
The message Of Governor Hoffman to the
ieners Assembly, whose session opened on
4 ,l..--l.- = . ...1r,l1o I;S F,r tho DOM !