, 1877-07-18

hurricane OF last year, when they
were removed to the residence Of the
writer, who for some time had acted as
Librarian. The number Of Su subscribers
mas unfortunately fallen off from various
causes till it has been reduced TO
fifteen only. In the mean time we
have increased the number Of books
to 1925, and have on hand also q
considerable number Of magazines. Some
Of the magazines Were given, others We're
purchased. This latter feature Of the
plan has bean lately abandoned, as it was
found to be too great an expense in pro-
portion to the small tot&l of our funds. It
was also found difficult to distribute
periodical literature fairly among the su b.
scribers, and it became pain that this
class of publications can only be used
effec lively where there is a reading room.
The management Of the Library has
cost very little. Mr.. Dahl, Mr.. Noues,
and tie writer have SUCCESSFULLY &C ed as
Librarians, gratujtously Of course, and the
only outlay in addition to the cost OF the
book case, books, magazines, and cata-
logue3, has been a few cents paid weekly TO
the school messenger for opening and clo-
sing the building, Even this small expense
has ceased since the removal OF the books
to She writer's house, so that there IS
now no working expense whatever, and
the whoe Of the subscriptions can b.
Iai out in books.
We have last week received a few new
volumes, and wish to take advantage Of
the occasion to revive the interest OF the
community Ia our undertaking. In the
hope that the fame Of some of these
books Will attract new subscribers aud
bfiag back some of the Cd ones, I give
you their tities: Bulwer Lytton's My
Novel; 2 Vols: and What will he d.
with it?" 2 Vols; Samuel Warren's
CHOW and Them, " Diary Of late ply
s'cian'' and "Ten thousand a year,;
George ElIiolt's Daniel Derouda' in 4
vols :; Disracli's "Lothair"; PaIgraye'S
Arabic" d" Two Years Ago. by Chas.
Kingsley; "Ginx's baby" "Ttu;hluI
James SC" by Bret ~lIarte. " Adyen,
turss of Mr.. Ledbury"; Miss Austen's
Emma" "Northanger Abbey, and
"Prdo and Prcjudice''; Chas. Levers
"That boy Of Norcott's'; "VaIentino
Vox' ;"The Innocents at Home, by Ma k
Twain; "O'd st. Paul., by Ainsworth
"Naomi or the last days Of Jerusaleu,'
by Mrs. Webb "Lewis Arundel by FranA
Smedley jules YernJs "Mystcrious island
in 3 vols.
It win be observed that with the exccp-
ton Of Mr.. P4l5rave's "Tfave!s in Arabia,
these are all light reading. Experience
has shewn US that books having a more
serious purpose stand for the most part
unread on our shelves. This is to be
regretted, but on the principle, that OF
two evils one should choose the least, we
consider it better to introduce really good
works ola light kind than to leave our
subscribers dependent for this kind of
reading on the mis- cradle and mischievous
trash which is commonly circulated. If
people must have' confectionery, it is at
least desirable that it should bo made of
che best materials, and, above all, FREQ
from poisonous cOIouring. And the com
parison is after all hardly fair, for there is
a good deal of sound mental and mo-
raj nourishment in the higher walks Of
fiction. Perhaps some may think these
last remarks a cool exhibition of the con-
ceit of the library committee. Well, per-
haps they are but we mean nevertheless to
hold to our %conceit, in the interest, as we
conceive, of the young people of Santa