The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-10-18

hence-make gate at the northwest
corner, and at other convenient points,
and throw open the park to the public.
Buythe neat little building about to be
moved from the grounds. Put the libra
~ there. Subscribe for a few standard
dailies, weeklies and monthlies Put in
a librarian and give her all the fees, and
more too, as long as necessary. Make a
reading and reception room of the build
ing, and have it open especially even
ings and on Sunday afternoons As soon
as practicable build an addition for a
coffee room and oyster parlor. Build
another addition and let the librarian
and her husband live there, the one to
take care of the books, the other of the
park and the refreshments. Give them
the profits and let them have a billiard
table, we say, in a room aside from
the library, and pack of dominoes in
another, and perchance platform in a
secluded part of the park to rent now
and then to small parties for stump
speaking occasions, or walking-to-music
purposes. In short, let there be there
anything recreative and instructive, not
associated with whisky, riotry or immor-
ality. Make the place as pleasant, popu-
lar and attractive 1--WE were going to
say as saloons seem to be) as our means
will allow.
We do not say but that central room
located on a first floor-as convenient as
inferior places of resort generally are
might be preferable to the park as a To-
cation for reading room. We suggest
the method herein because it combines
two projects, and because it seems cheap
er and more feasible, and at the same
time gives the library a very pleasant
and desirable location.
A few hundred dollars will start this
matter, and after a while the amount it
will take to sustain it will be cheerfully
given, directly and indirectly. As purely
a charitable undertaking, we fear sub
scriptions would not come in readily.
Take value received for what you give.
The connect season is here and it
might be practical to secure a promin-
nent lecturer or actor and sell tickets
for two dollars-each ticket giving the
buyer admission to the entertainment
and years membership to the library
association. Ourself and friend hereby
conditiOnally, for five years
membership to the E. L. A We don't
mean to be generous, for we are neither
well-to-do, representative or influential
citizens, but it is a shameful fact that
our subscription herewith is equal to
the income of the institution for the last
twelve months! This IN the intelligent
and liberal city of Emporia! We lament
and put in our little subscription as
protest. We will hand over the cash
just so soon as the authorities, with some
of sour public spirited citizens, wake
from their lethargy in these interests
and make an organization that will in
vite and compel success. We are not
now members of the E. L. A, and do not
intend to be until the management takes
hold of something of this kind and
thereby seeks the efforts of others, then
we propose to go in and help build up.
The tearing down committee has proceed
ed us many months.
Unless we are deceived we think there
is considerable latent sympathy for
movement of this kind. 1t ought to be
manifested at once.
Since the above was put in type we
notice that the small building has been
moved away from the park. This, how
ever, need not effect the above project
one way or the other. REsORT