Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-28
THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY.
Personal Culture 10 be Had Through
GOOD BOOks-The OLD and the Ne"
RegIme-Let us Prepare for
the Future.

EDIToRs APPEAL-In looking at the present
condition Of the south we are forcloiy re
minded of Goldsmith 5 description OF Itaiy!
az All evils here contaminate the mind,
That onulence departed leaves behind;
While naught remains OF all that riches
But fields Of sedge, and lords without
Yet sfiii the loss Of wealth is here supplied
BY shows, the affected shams OF former
Here may be seen in bloodless pomp ar
The pa ,teboard trumpet and the caysIcsde
THE mardi gras and the maSquerade).
BY sports like these are all their cares be-
guiled-
The sports Of children satisfy the child.
Each nObler aim represSed by long control,
Now sinks at last, or Jeebly mans the SOUL
The hope of our country is in the rising gen.
eratiOn-the children born since Hb0s those
who have come into the world and nave re-
ceieed their first Impressions under the new
order of things They, not having lived
amidst, will not be prejudiced by conditions
of life that are now made. The conditions OF
life since the war are changed. II Is not 10 be
hoped-it would be expecting too much OF
huuan nature TO hOpe-that men growing up
amidst the surrounding OF the old regime VIII VIII
4, able TO adapt themselves TO the new. Inc
DS,,,a cement Of affairs political economical
ana s1cial must pass out OF tnelr nahqs lnto
the hands of tIiS generation poIn ., unueI @ i tne
rom her f.sheS, and a., ain once more the
wealth and influence that in .he nature %
Things is ilerS. With her climate, soIi tuu PIo-
ducts il is only a question Of time. Inel : is
nothing for us Of the old generation. We
must pass away before the south rises from
her deSolation. We, with our human
a9rs her rliefs To get rid OF
these we would have to be born again. We
can be born again only in our children. Our
hope is in them. Let us forget ourselves an Q
i{,t. in orr children. We cannot do better
thing for the future Of the south, and the
prosperity and happiness OF our chndren
man devote All possible time and means 10
the phvsi cal. intellectual and moral develop
mept OF our children. IN them We can again
be proud, young and happy, ana IN the near
future see our south once more smlnnB, 10
fhis end we cannot be too heavily taxed for
the benefit OF our schools. We cannot give
too much Of our means ana tme 70 the pro
mofion OF any enterprise that encourages
learning. knowledge Is the power the south
must WELD in the future. skilled and edu-
Gated labor and i65e5bgent greai direction ses
The new generation viii supply this
need. In the next generation an Ignorant
man, in the battle OF nfe VIII stand like q
with men protected and armed at every point.
Let US arm our young men lor the nght. ii
we do not some day, when lhslE lgneHshee an e
has brought them to defeat, and a life thns Is
"A failure, how bitterly in their hearts they
s.i,l Justly curse Us for sending them 10 the
~~yhaIsained and unarIned' a. na,,eI h..,
INN, "a u give or business young men the
ealculal 81 MISUNDERSTANDING that
advantages ~ts leau 70 N0olls Vi feauihS z
would 80 pleasa- NStedge-and tnere - no
and acquiring KIM sSctatlon among oar
higher ground for 7ad By the Mercan-
Young men than this ofe.- az association
Tile Literary associations. BY - learning,
OF this kind creating an interest A. ~s. pad
and taste for letters, lower assoclatlO- We
habits and temptations are avoided. -
rafting OF dice, and shufiling OF cards
and the pOking of balls into pock-
cts" Young men must have association; /;
must be interested and occupied. The fathers
in Memphis, for the good OF their sons, should
take an interest in this enterprise. At pres
ent the library rooms are comfortably and
nicely furnished. On ths shelves are some
i've hundred miscellaneous volumes. On the
tables ars TO be seen choice selection OF
neyVsDapers and periodicals. The youngmen
WHO now are members OF the a. ISOLATION can
keep the rooms as they are, q delightful place
10 meet and read, and discuss what they read f;
hut these young men cannot afford TO build a
public library for Memphis. The older citl-