, 1875-02-07

sounettnpr ehculd be done to rolieye the press
urc. as it ras every day increasing.
The Committee on Administration were in
structed to look into the matter, and report at
the next meeting.
Tbe meeting then adjourned.
LIGHT ltTERATuRE.
Is IT WISE?
Tone Editor er The Chicago Tribune:
CmcAoo. Feb GIVE make great boasts OF
being nation Of readers. From cur cradles ne
are taught that to read is cardinal virtue. At
every COST the model mother provides reading
The Nursery takes the babe from its 4 B
blocks, ST. Nicholas stands waiting for the "boys
and girls," and Oliver Optic processes to furnish
mental pabnlum for - young and old" As to
books, series upon series, !" useful, instructive,
and entertaining,' " crowd the juvenile hbrary,-
history, literature. science, politiG,-an prob
lens social and moral brought DOM 10 the ca
pacity of childhood. The Iiterati of the day vic
with each other in displaying their ability to
adapt their etyle to children. II this were all.
the case would be more hopeful, for, though
even then, the chances would be against the
young minds surviving the gorgitg procsss, the
quantity of the food might receive some onaet
iu its auality. TIC amount OF good bread and
butter which children can digest is incredible,
and did my one ever fathom their capacity for
ripe peaches
speak OF children in this connection, because
In the visits have made to our Public Library
it has eeerned to me that had come into one Of
the pubEc schools where the boys and girls had
been left to run at will without restraint OF mon
itor, master, and mistress. Butting their heads
together in their eagerness to compare tho won
derful pictures in each others books OF hobgob-
las and monsters which, as Ms. Agasslz said OF
tho soldiers clothes made by the Cambridge
eirla, bore no likeness to the kgure Of any ything
IN heaven above OF earth beneath, or in the
waters under tho earth. these big-eyed, pale
checked, thin legged specimens OF boys stum-
"manners," and rushed to the entrance with
such happy oblivousness to the slight obstruc-
tion offered by lady III the doorway rs would
hare demonstrated to Helen Hunt herself that
here xas one spot where she might cease her
i4ment that - boys are not allowed"
But We in Chicago are impartial and, being
little out Of range OF DR.. Clarke. give also
stair chance to the girls" And they arc quite
ready to take it. counted dozen por1ns over
catalogues, all except ouo hayirg the page open
at fiction. As was trying tt devise plan to
lure the very preoccupied young woman Assist
ant from her aim1ess meanderngs among the
bookcases to within hearing Of suitable library
tone. OF goice, shrill speaker At uy side e3-
claimed: 'Say. there, have you got Lena R1v-
e:rf This last name seemed to strike famil-
lar chord, for the young woman's counteoance
heightened. Hastily coming up she Informed
three anxious iuquire1s that none OF tho books
On their lists we're in, nud at once drew Lena
Rivers from. = shelf at hand under tho coun-
With herr bare dirty hand, and tucked IT
away as treasure under her soi1ed sud fcanty
shaHl. Poor soul! it is all that will make her
Life toleFable for the next twent5-four houre.
1snot tbs Public Library her benefaetor There
is another craving the same Lethe banediction. |
"Auythmg OF Miss Draddon's: 7" '' ALI out more
ordered y Cruel disappointment, yet With PROM
ise Of hope. ''6ome good story. Nomatter what,
II its only goodl" From the ready response OF the
assistant to the descriptive epithet '.good," !
vas evident that it awakened none Of tho theo- |
logical OF moral questions and perplexitles which
tt mention might suggest in some quarters, SOY, |
for instance, to the editorial and supervisory !
stah Of the Interior. Her mind WAS 80 fully en- |
rapport With her book-borrower, that she at once
supplied #hst the latter knew at glance wonld |
b "perfectly splendid"
/ Do not pretend to Ear that these are speci- /
men instances Of what the Library is dong to |
benefit the public. But put them with state
nents made officially ct the names OF authors
most in demand, and I raise the question whether
4 la the appropriate work Of public library to
supply, and, by supplying. create such de-
1nand- II your 3-yea1-old daughter cries for
saeestnea.s and pou1ld-cake, are you bound to
ea1nors Tor pistol, do you give it to Inn II
the starving mob would rather hare whisky. than
h9t soup, is the Public Treasury TO deal it out
What ia tho ground on which the public take up
SeA<2 Hl4&22f OF pIOFlQlUB HEf&xlEoF A&46F AV 1
wrong but it seems to me, II there is any point
OF policy in it, it is Of sef-preservation- the
ground of the supposed conserving influence Of
gooa reading. cannot SEQ why. public
library is not an impertinence and an imposition,
unlsss it discriminate in favor Of q healthy life
giving literature We boast Of our book-vo~
fscaty, counting mp the numbers who read, and
tno number Of volumes they read. Let US |
know what they read. Is 1t the old nursery
thJne Of "a Cow and a Calf, an OF and
rASf a%@1n1 1
But says the sentnentahst, you surely UouId
not take away from that poor girls wretched e1-
assehosth pihful comfort OF = Lena Rivers" lido
not know that wonId. She may be yonr nursery
maid, and want it to amuse herself with while
10 is At the dull task OF mindipg your baby in
the park, or in that ti1esome bacs-parlor.
do not kuow that would take it away from her,
sFeu though she sat up half the night reading,
and fall asleep uext dav over her eewlng- g-fnaeaine
On the same principle that might not snatch
aep1aved by STRONG drink," OF deny just one
"hiff to the youth welded to the weed I might |
7I make = mistake. take what course would
I nhose things a1e matters OF temperament
out would recognize tho craving Tor tho sensa~ |
1onh novel to be, after its kind deprarty, as is
Ine unconquesable thirst for intoxicating liquors,
Ind would bo slow to furnish the material to b
Leed IT, It is not 'tthe novel; or fiction against
san 1aeh : an invelghiog: lss high place ana MS
:, ti,sMthorne, *::Intellect," Tragedy" Laugh
Aet, let Us bavo them all But let US not dclude
With the idea tAat it for the interest
u the public to beg or borrow money to supply
! demand for s4Good -Dv Sweetheart" "Lena
6Eefa." !" and others OF the came class ad muse
m = Better read poor novels than nothing" !
ens1ked gentleman assistant Of the Public Ii
aFy, in answer TO some structures like the abore-
Setter employed, these Saturday mornings: in !
'nntmg up harmless adyenturesfo for themselves ! ]
nth skates gun in hand albeit at the risks Of
ue and limb whieh cause us elde1G distress.
Md ths Lena Rivers reader would be q Happier
e we'll III better woman Il she we're compelled, {
TON kheer uAnt nj Enrnafhnr hafter m dn r. I