The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-08-10
THE PACIFIC
SATURDAY. AUGUST 10.
"A Public Library-Our Chief Intellectual
Want.
a PAPER READ BEFORE THE HAWAIIAN MISSION
CHTLDREN's SOCIETY.

The intelligent stranger who visits these beau
tiful shores cannot fail TO be impressed with the
fact that Christianity and a culture, Of no mean
order, are noticeable features Of the society OF
these Islands. We may take an honest pride IN
the remarkable progress that has been made here
since our fathers began the noble work which we
are bound 10 see carried on. We love TO think
that this garden city Of the ocean contains so
much that is beautiful and refining. Seldom do
We meet in so small a community so much OF
courtesy and Christian goodwill. Honolulu Is
as cosmopolitan and as liberal in its culture as
any place Of its size that we know Of. Its schools,
churches and pubic buildings do US honor. We
have private residences which beautify, and
homes which are a blessing to the place., and
where the stranger finds a kindly welcome.
We confess that we were surprised on return
ing to this city, after an absence of some years,
to hear such superior music from the Hawaiian
Band. Emma Square seemed for the time like an
enchanted garden. Aliiolahi Hale and the Ha-
waiian Hotel-what elegant and commodlous
buildings. The luxuriant verdure and boundless
variety Of plants, all this enchanting scene Of
loveliness, seemed to US, SO long used to New
England city life, as a dream of Fairyland.
But no rational being can long be content with
making life a mere holiday. The summers va
cation must have its end, and the higher facul-
ties of our intellectual natures make demands
which are as imperative as the social or merely
sensuous. We sought for a quiet hour among
the masters of thought in the lOng-familiar public
library. But what a feeling of sadness came over
US as we thought of the libraries of distant cities,
30 far, far away, while here, alas, there was none.
A city withouta public library. What would
be thought of a city without its churches and
schools? But next TO the church and the school,
the public library is the institution which de-
mands the highest place in the care and affection
of the entire community. Its power for good is
beyond all computation. Isolated as We are from
the great world of thought by our insular posi-
ton, we require to make the more effort to keep
up a high standard of intellectual life and general
intelligence. No institution will do more in this
direction than an ample, well-regulated and ac-
cessible public library. We can no longer
afford to be without one. We need it for our
selves, to keep our mental armor bright. We
need it for the sake of the young people growing
up in our midst. 80 many of whom are compelled
to go abroad to find what is lacking here. We
need it for the stranger who visits our shores,
and who would love to make this spot his home
if he could feel assured that his higher intellectual
wants would here be met.
We are told, and we believe it is true, that our
community is as literally supplied with private
libraries and periodical literature as any of its
size in the world. Such a statement Is a noble
tribute to the Intellectual culture of this people.
And, for this very reason. we believe that the
intelligent community in this city will the more
readily see the need of a generously provided
public library. Because our beautiful homes are
so comfortably furnished and attractively adorned,
shall we therefore neglect public improvements =?
Man is gregarious in his tendencies, a social
being in his instincts. To gather in large num-
bers In a city is one of the prominent features of
modern civilization. So long as men live isolat-
ed from each other, each family must provide it's
own well and pump. But when they gather in
crowded cities, it becomes more economical and
wholesome to combine and organise more syste-
matte methods of securing the prime necessaries
of life. The w~ell-sweep and old oaken bucket
give way to the large reservoir, which, through
miles of pipe, supplies every house with a pure
and refreshing drink.
Three essentials of civilized life should be found
in every city, viz, pure air, pure water, and
fresh thought. The cities expend large sums
every year to secure the two former why should
not the latter claim it's rightful share of public
support? Of course, the professional man needs
his own library at hand, as much as the car
penter his chest of tools. And every family
ought to have its home library of choice reading.
But who can afford. to purchase all the books that
he may wish to read or consult? 1t is utterly
beyond the means of any but the very wealthy.
The student and thinker must have recourse to a
suitable library, or be continually laboring at q
disadvantage. How many persons of rare culture
and scientific or literary attachments might be
induced to live in these Islands if they could but
have the facilities which a good public library
would afford them for the prosecution of their re-
searches. 1t is one of the nOblest institutions of
which any city can boast. While the church is
open but for a few hours In the week, and the
school is only for the younger portion of the COM
munity, the public library is for all. Its open
doors and commodious hall invite every one to
enter and hold converse with the noble and the
wise.
We have, in the rich and rare collection of
scientific works now in the Government Library,
the germ of a splendid public library, of which
Honolulu may yet be proud. 1t is a collection
which already attracts the interest and attention
of many a man of science from other countries
who happens to spend a few hours in our city.
But we are sorry to notice in this choice collec-
ton of scientific works the almost entire absence
of anything published during the past ten years.
We need a convenient hall, well lighted and
properly ventilated, where any one may spend an
evening in comfort and quiet with the masters,
or where he may consult works of reference. We
need a liberal sum of money annually expended
in the purchase of the ablest works on science
and general literature. We also need a suitable
person in charge, who will always be able to find
the book that is wanted.
We hope to see this subject of q public library
fully discussed and the enterprise started and car
ried on, so that our city may be as distinguished
for its intellectual advantages as it now is for the
mildness of its unrivaled climate, the natural
beauty of it's situation, and the charm of it's
social gatherings, of which we have this evening
so delightful an example.
MALE WREATH.