New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-02
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
DEDICATION OF THE CONCORD LIBRARY.
pprsrHrI TON oR THE NEW nIrunIHn BY MR. MONROE

4
| COacORD's WRITER'S
| BY TELEGRAPH To TIE rRIBUs.l
| CONCORD Mass. Oct. 1.-The largo audience that
| gathered to witness the dedication of the new
Public Library Building to-day comprised. besides
| the orator of the day, Senator Sumner. Vice
| President Wilson, ex-Attoney General +. r. Hoar
| Of Concord, Congressman George +. Hoar Of
| Worcester, Judge Geo. NJ. Brooks, Mr. Edward
| Jenkins Of England, and many Others
whose fame has reached beyond this
quiet old town. Henry r. Smith, Chairman Of the
Board of Seleotmen, who acted as President OF the
day. made short address, referring to the noble
gift of tho building and the pleasure they all felt in
seeing its giver with them to-day. The Rev. H. NJ.
Grant offered prayer, and VIM. c. Munroe presented
the keys of the building TO the trustees. He said
that the intention had been that the building should
contain all reasonable provision for the safety Of its
contents and that it should have all the needful
convenences for the practical working of the library
for public uses, and sufficient capacity for
future enlargement without disturbing the original
construction. Care was also taken that the archi-
lecture should be worthy the site. Mr.. Munroe re-
ferred TO the pleasure felt in testfying his regard
for his native town by doing something to promote
the intelligence and tho happiness, and there
fore tho welfare of its people, and he
closed by transferring the keys with an
expression of the perfect confidence he felt in those
who were to assume their keeping. Frederic Hud-
son. Chairman Of the Library Committee, read
brief report of the History of the Library and Its
Present Condition. together with letters from
George William Curtis and James L. Fields The
library contains O267 volumes. or four tor each
inhabitant of the town. He then. in turn, handed
the keys to the Hon. T.. L. Hoar, Chairman of tho
Board of Trustees, who accepted the gift and said
ba known.
may interest this audience to know. how
early Concord stands among New-England
towns as the owner of town library In 1872 Just
two centuries before Mr. Monroe laid the founda-
ton of his new building. COMMITTEES was chosen
to give instructions to the seectmen, and of tho IL
articles which they prepared, the third reads as
follows: That care be taken OF the
boOkes Of marters, and other bookes that belong
to the tOwne that they be kept from abusive usage,
and not be lent to persons moro than one month
at ono time SO long ago tho pos
session and lending of good books recognized
here as an object OF public concern, and
the instructions contain all that is essential for the
management of a library of our time For ourselves
and our SUCCESSORS we are ready to undertake and
engage that We will give best efforts
TO keep the building and the books from
abusive usage, and that, subject only to this
qualification they shall be devoted impartally, and
IS completely as possible TO the and benefit Of
all the people of Concord" Judge Hoar closed with
an eloquent expression of thanks to Mr. Monroe.
The Chairman then introduced Mr. Ralph Waldo
Emerson. who spoke as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The people
OF Massachusetts, please themselves with the simple
political arrangement OF towns each Independent in ts
local government its taxes electng its officers, car
ing for ts schools, its charities Its highways That town
| t,s
healthy spot. il thaye good land, good roads, good
sidewalks good hotels stl more. II 1t bave an
adequate town hall, good churches, good preach
ers good schools, and avail itself OF the
act Of Legislature authorizing towns to tax themselves
for the establishment Of public library. Happier
yet Is IL In its brave citizens who cannot wait
for the slow growth OF the town to make these
| advantages adequate TO the desires Of the people,
but who bestow a Gift education and culture such
az we have met to witness and acknowledge to-day
The benefit Of q noble library, which adds by its beauty
aud skiul arrangements new attractions, making read
ers OF those who not readers making scholars
OF those who only read newspapers and novels till now,
while it SECURES and important culture to its citi
zens Is a strong attraction strangers who are seeking
a country homo to settle down here and don't
know but when Boston learns OF tho GOOD
deods OF our townsmen It will be little
enyous and not till 1t has annexed Concord 60 the
city, [Laughter.l Our founder, to-day, has fol-
the country Of benefactors VINO have not waited to be-
aueath colleges hospitals, but have built them them
selves
II you consider what has befaen you when readinga
poem or history novel, even, that deeply inter
estod you, how you forgot the time OF day,
the person sitting in the room. tho engagement
for tho evening, you will easily admit that
hooks make all towns equal; that the Concord
library makes Concord good as Rome. Paris or Lon
dom for time. Robinson Crusoe, could he have had
a shelf of our books could almost have done
without "Frday" OF even the arriving Of
| the ship Now every faculty exsIteth itself into
an art and memory into the art Of writing that Is into
hooks Everything that belongs to this change this IN
yenton interests The plant papyrus, which gave
is name to our word paper, is OF moro Importance
in b.tory than cotton and silver and gold First used
for writing between 5000 and 400 years ago, and
| though It hardly grows in Egypt whore
lately searched for 1t in vain, ana whence
IT. came. YOU will remember, always
| recau with satisfaction that saw
that venerable plant in growing wild at Syracuse in
sicily. near the fountain of Arethusa And think
can trace in our records and corresponding fact OF cu
ture among our citizens The writer who has done
ia credit himself and the town credit by
bis book, is Mr. Lemuei Shattuck. who wrote
the exeelent history OF Concord. Many Of Us remember
Mr. Hawhornes careful study OF Concord life and his
tory written while he was citizen here, and which
have made this village widely known. Henry Thoreau
was born in this town, a man OF , true
his character decide which exalted him must ~ thelr
regard His books preserve him In the hearts ana hanus
I OF millions In this country ana England. i hnoW
that the word literature has In many ears hollow
| sound There some men who prefer mat Jesus
should have wrought as scor. Of heat
thoughts To those MT ont,n Emerson aneakinr ma
uhe he AL