The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-01-27
KfNosHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY JANUARY p, 1876.

our town to found free library, if
the town Of salem would give GER
tain sum to put with if. They freely
done so, and the books were bought
and all went smoothly until the first
annual meeting, which your cores
pondent says took place on the last
Saturday in the year. But who
knew of that meeting and what no
tice was there given of it2 | find
upon inquiry that there were two
notices posted up at Salem Station,
none at WiImot, none at Liberty,
two important points in the town, so
all that knew of the meeting was the
Regular goers at the station, and
those that staid at home and quiet
ily read their county paper where
they expect and should find all such
important notices, knew nothing of
that meeting.
How many Of the good people Of
Salem attended that ''pet' meeting ?
Just seven. The meeting was called
to order and the first to speak was
Mr.. A. who says that | have just
/ twenty-five dollars invested in this
library and | want the full benefit of
my money. You shall have it, you
shall have the privilege of drawing
five books at time and as often as
you choose from this library. For
you need something to amuse your
self and rest your weary limbs after
walking so many times to this sta
ton and home. All right says Mr..
A. Mr. B. is in the same boat and
of course shared the same fate. But
Mr.. G. is lesser light as he only
subscribed ten dollars towards the
library. But you can draw out two
books at time and as often as you
please. Now comes Mr.. D. and says
am poor man but | subscribed
five dollars, more than | was able to
, pay but I have large family who
wish to read your books, Well you
) may draw just one book at time,
! that's ali.
Now Mr.. E, springs to the floor.
Thank heaven there was one whole
souled, generous hearted man there,
and he speaks in thunder tones and
says that he has paid fifteen dollars
in that library, not for his own indl-
vidual benefit, but that Salem might
! have a free library, that the poor
! might share it equal with the ricn,
and he believed that the object Mr..
) Simmons had in making his very
: generous donation was to supply
books to the poor who are not able
! 10 buy them. Learning is the bull
. wark of freedom and the poor should
have advantages as we'll as the rich.
But they Kissed him down and he
' left the meeting in disgust, and they
2 were about to close the meeting when
they discovered Mr.. E. away in one
! corner, and they saw as he rose slow
J Ily to his feet that his whole frame
$ shook and as he spoke his voice
) trembled. Gentlemen says he [ have
large family of grown children who
: would like to read your library and |
would like to become a member of it.
You can do so by paying into the
association just five dollars. am
poor man and have got no five dol
lars. Then you cannot become a
member, and he was about to resume
his seat, but broke out once more,
Dear friends cannot my dear children
have the benefit Of your library for
lust one year? Yes, by paying just
one dollar He put lis hand in his
pocket, felt of his empty pocket book.
dropped to his seat, but was heard
to exclaim, my dear children must
grow up in ignorance and all because
[ am poor.
Ny tale is told, simple, truthful,
and [ am in hopes it may have a
salutary effect. W.
| UNION REPUBLICAN, STATE
|