Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-10
Shall We Haze q Public Libr0rv?

To the Editor of the Globe:
The recent action of the board of directors
of the St. Paul Library association in pro-
posing to donate the library of that instltu-
ton to the public, on condition of its being
supported as free library, appears to meet
with general, or almost unanimous approval.
At least, have not yet found single per-
son who opposes it on any ground, or for
any reason. As stakeholder in the St.
Paul library, I will most freely vote to give
the library to the city, and believe there
will be a unanimous vote of the stockholders.
It is time that our city had such library
as this measure proposes. It is not a Injury
but necessity of modern society. We might
get along without parks and market houses, or
even free bridges, and still succeed in the
pursuit of happiness but we will never be
able to boast of our intelligence as commu-
nifty, without placing the means of learning
within reach of all, as fully and freely as
possible. We have noble school system,
and one of which we may be proud, and it
is doing noble work. But it is only one of
the means which can be used in promoting
education. large proportion of the school
children are compelled, er necessitdte rel, to
leave school at quite an early age and engage
in work or business. Their education is in
complete. The school has awaksued a thirst
for knowledge, and a taste for reading. It
is desirable that this should be encouraged,
and the means for gratifying it provided, as
free as tuition in the school had been. If
not, that desire to learn, that wish for self
culture, may soon cease, and give way to other
tastes. Leisure time may be spent in de-
basing pleasures, or if given to work and
business and money getting entirely, the
man may become hard and mean and mar
row.
To some extent the St. Paul library has
already been great educator, and its good
influence has been widely felt in many ways.
But it has been too limited, because of the
cost of membership. If it has been good
thing, and had good influence on its 200
or 300 members, what good might it not &C.
complish If its advantages were offered free
to, perhaps, 10000 persons who would be
entitled to use it? While we are engaged in
q race for supremacy with other cities as re-
CARDS population and trade and taxablc
wealth, we should not lose sight of the fact
that intelligent people are of more value
than the illiterate, and mere numbers might
not count as much in the scale as more intel
lect With less numbers. Our aim
might safely be naultuna, non muZta.
Schools and libraries are the fac
tors which make communities great,
and make their power and influence felt, full
as much as mere numbers. 1t may crafty
our pride to boast that we are the largest city
in Minnesota, but it were far grander thing
to be able to claim that we are the most in
telligent city.
The adoption of the st. Paul library by
the city as free public library can be very
easily and cheapIy accomplished. The ex-
pense of maintainance is but trife COM
pared with the resulting benefits, and the
pleasure and enjoyment to all classes. No
time will be lost or means required in ore
ating library. That is received in full
running order. 1t contains 5000 volumes,
we'll selected, and all desirable for such a
collection. From such examination as I
have been able to make, I should estimate
the value of the collection at $4,000. The
offer of such gift to the city should not be
rejected. It means simply this, giving an
extensive and valuable library to every citi-
zen of st. Paul, for all will share alike in its
use and enjoyment. J.F.W.
ST. PAUL, Sept. 8, 1879.