Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-11-09
Daily argus.
saturday. November Q, 1879.
oPKN THR FREE LIBRARY AND READ
ING ROOM ON SUNDAYS.

oPKN THE FREE LIBRARY AND READ
INC ROOM ON SUNDAYS.
To-day We publish, 10 foil. the Law en-
acted ct the las, session Of our Legislature,
authorizing the establishment Of free read
ing rooms and libraries 10 towns aud cities,
for the oOmfor. and education Of those who
assd them and THE ARoUs asks that the
Directors shall, 81 soon a. the new rooms
are ready for use, open them on Sunday.
A few years ago the proportion TO open
public libraries aud reading rooms on Sui
day. for the ommodation Of those who
might wish TO spend portion Of tba. day
in study or Intellectual entertain ment, re-
oe,ved such determined opposition that il
was temporarily abandoned. II We are not
mistaken, the credit Of initiating this much
needed reform belongs TO Phladslphia,
where the experiment, WAS fairly tried and
produced mosi satisfactory results. The
success Of the movemsnl in the Quaker
city induced oeTAin liberAl.minded citizens
Of New York 10 make an attempt ia the
sane direction, and last April n large meet
ing vas held At Cooper InsGtuIs, where the
matter was fully and freely discussed, and
an able speech made ia It's favor by Henry
Ward Bsscher. The uuanswerable argu-
msnts presented BY Mr. Beecher seem to
have turned The scaiv completely, for not
only vas the Mercantile Library OF New
York thrown open TO visitors the very next
Sunday, but We observe that the common
council Of Boston, by vote OF 32 to %,
passed 40 ordinance recently requesting tbs
trustees Of their Public Library to do like
wise The request will doubtless be
promptly complied wish, Tor the muuicipa
representatives Of "Modern Athens would
hardly take so impottaot a step without hAv-
ing unequivocal assurance Of popular sup.
port Aud When Purj,Sn Boston ia willing
60 break over The barriers Of prejudice, it is
safe 10 predict that other lsss orthodox To-
oAhties will speedily follow her example.
We cannot bot regard this as 40 advance
in the righ, direction, aud believe that no
long time will elApse before very few sensi
bic persons can be found anywhere who uill
refuse it their hearty sanction. Public
libraries ard reading rooms, as has been
heretofore remarked, are not designed
primarily tor the use Of those who have
sosGdaut conVeuienoes and opportunities
for mental improvement and recreation
but, as their uamo aud nature indicate, are
intended TO NEE, the wants Of the masses.
The mao in comfortable pecuuiary CIR
cumstAnces has no need u 20 away from
hone to erjpy the blessed comyaaionship of
books be can SIT under his Own vine and
hg tree and read When and what be chooses
but the clerk, the mtChanio aud the Is.
borer whose means are seantv and whose
surroundings are altogether less favorable.
must depend upon other sources Of supply.
ProbAb Wy Ihrse-foufths Of community such
A. Ihls Of oars are unable to spare money
for the purchase Of books, and It ihsy we're,
have 20 time to read during the week They
are compelled to ecoBomize closely and
work hard to gain a subsistence and The
materials aud the space for reading mus,
therefore be di,peussd vi,b, unless large
hearted philanthropy provides them. Tbi.
bn' beer done Ia PhiIadelphiA, Neu York
Cincinnati, Boston, aod other places, aud
wal, be done tn ever city in the Isnd within
the next decade
The opponents OF the movement cannot
bring forward a single sound Augment TO
support their position. Ia this city, for ex-
ample, even # the entire population were
disposed 10 attend religious services there
are not churches enough TO hold bali OF
them. 10 1t not wise, then, to do the next
best ,hlng2 Shall We no, offer to those who
cannot or will not 20 10 church, a plac.
where they NAV meet aud commune With
the choicest spirits Of all Agss2 viii any
msn or woman Who visits a library on Sun
day and spends an hour or two 10 the Socie.
y Of SfAvori'e autbur, be- the worse Tor IL?
Will they not, mus, they nos, be the better
Mex; TO that sabine fai,h which locke
through nature up to natures God, - a ta.t,
Tor reading is the trgbIes, blessing heaven
can confer. Il suSbIos the po.ssssor to
temporarily forget his cares, his sorrows and
bis soherngs At puts out Of sight hiS pay.
eriy shd wreIrasdnsss, the triNls of the
present, the gloom Of the future it lifts hi,
soul above the uodden clod, and gives to
him a heritage Of noble thoughts; it quick
ems bis purest instincts, encourages hs
highest aspirations, makes him more WORTHY
TO live and better prepared to die. It is the
duty, then, Of those who are the chosen
guardians Of society, to foster this taste BY
every appliance at their command aud #
Sunday can be utilized for tina, purpose, let
no foolish scruples or blind bizo,ry stand IN
the way. 90 The Sabbath vas made for man
not man for the Sabbath"