The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-01-08
VILLAGE LIBRAuIEs AND DEBA-
TING sOCIETIEs.
Prom New York Witness.

Now and then we receive letters from
young men asking about the best meth
DDS of self-improvement. One coun-
try lad wishes TO become n debater
Another wishes TO know where he can
be best posted on the live questions OF
the day, such as free trade, civil SER
vice reform, prohibition, etc. These
letters indicate thirst for knowledge.
aud tho applicants reflect credit upon
their parents. Fortunate are those
boys and girls who have inherited this
thirst for knowledge. It is a demand
which should be supplied, and those
who earnestly seek for the supply are
sure To find 10 IN these days OF cheap
papers, magazines and books. Many
parents work hard that they may have
farm for each boy and something
helpful for the girls. Just here we
wish TO remind those parents that
there is gift they can make to their
children less costly than farms, good
"a these are, which will help them
through time and eternity. We mean
n taste for reading aud good books. 1t
was customary at Webster's fireside for
the parents to discuss live questions
with the children at the meal hour
You may be sure there were good
books provided for the thirst which
had been created by this practice. A
well-ordered conversation goes down
in its happy effects TO the third aud
fourth generation. Conversation, like
debating, is an art to be cultivated,
and neither can be carried on success.
fully without well-stored head and
persistent study. An intelligent COM
paniOn Is often as good as volume in
stimulating young men TO full devel-
opment aad heroic deeds, for when IN
formed OF ones companions, do we
not unerringly decide what he is?-
Birds OF feather flock together. Tue
the young man who searches for manly
and intelligent companions, who are
aiming for high things, will hnd them
in every community, although they are
not as numerous as they should be-
And in the same way are books procur-
able. When the scientists come to-
gether, everything they say is printed
When the theologlans assemble, their
utterances are published by some en-
terprising journalists. In like manner
are the theories and practice OF agri-
culture prepared for those who want
them. The ablest men in the ranks of
the free-traders and protectionists sup
ply their views and statistics almost as
cheaply as an old song. Every mail
brings TO our doors cheap .choolmas-
ters and the best educated professors.
Where the thirst exists for knowledge,
the supply is cheaply furnished. We
have ourselves sent to the remotest
postofices in the land Moody's Boston
addresses by the thousands. Thus the
lad on distant sheep farm l. almost
rs favorably situated as the youth OF
the Hub To the farmers we would
say, sell O sheep and buy three valua-
BILE books for the family. After that
sell an OK. and with the proceeds buy
dictionaries aud encyclopedias for
yourself and your children. The pow
or Of good books cannot be overesti-
mated. Why are there not more OF
them in our families7
Aud is there any good reason why
every village in the Republic should
not have n respectable library connect
ed with the school-house, A cent q
day from thirty-throe boys will buy
each week a two dollar book. At tho
end Of the year library OF ffty-two
volumes will be in the village. With
such foundation as that-good books
well thumbed and studied-dein1-
gogues and runsellers would have no
chance % befool and ruin their fellow
creatures. The minister, the village
doctor aud the teacher OF the district
school should cooperate in movements
f this kind for the public go"d.-
Every respectable publishe' gladly
sends his complete catalogue TO any
applicant The postofice carries
books TO all corners OF the land. The
lad in Iowa can get his book as cheap
ly as the young man on Broadway
Tn. quickest and surest way 10 dis
cOmfit dishonest politicians, knaves in
railway management, the emissariss Of
Rome, and the liquor dealers. - to
found village libraries and beset q
taste in the people for useful books. -
The best way to dispel ignorance 10 TO
establish libraries over the entire
country. False statements and perni-
cious themes cannot live where grand,
good books circulate. A cent day
from the boys Of n school will do won
ders in rearing good debaters aud hon
est statesmen. Try it aud let posteri-
~ and your country feel the effects of
your wisdom and hberality.