The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-01

] ed in the questions of the day and kept abreast
e with current events and were happily disap-
y. pointed by the answer that they devoted all
f the time that their teachers deemed best for
/, them to take from their studies TO such pur-
b. suits
Ell Looking down upon us as II conscious that
!! "the good he had done was not inferred with his
!, bones" were the grave and severe features of
the gentleman to whose memory the name of
the college Is monument. He was citizen
3 of Boston but, deeply interested in the welfare
of the young city of the west, Topeka, he de-
> tcrmlned to give her a prncely gift, He had
4 given $4,000 when death laid its slencng
I touch on all his hopes and labors. The citi-
zens Of Topeka, believing that their one tai.
ent would grow to ten more rapidly in Wash
burn college than any where else, raised $50
O. 900 and completed the building. In the near
! future group of buildings in the rear
d of the college will constitute the school.
homes of ladies in attendance at this institu-
ton. Crossing from the college to one of
Il these buildings which was approaching com
pction, one of the gentle winds known under
our unucky hat in hapless moment when
we were not guarding 1t and whrlcd it Off
and threatend to whirl us with it hac not our
substantial proportions eflectually prevented
such IA catastrophe. The building referred toI
more than repaid us for the dangers of the
trip, Comfort, convenience and beauty were
blended in its arrangements which were those
of a home with all the modern Improvements
All its windows seemed to be made for the
sole purpose of letting in an abundance off
light and flooding the coy rooms with de
llclous sunshine. So we are sure that their
surroundings will not give the blues to the
students of Washburn college and we hope
that as years go on they Will build upon the
noble foundation already LAID of a grand in
tellectual temple which shall be a beacon
| light throughout all the state
Where colleges thrive there libraries are
likely to live. Up one flight of stairs in
beautiful suite of rooms bright with sunshine
where pictures look down from the walls and
plants running over their vases hide them in a
wealth of luXurlant green, Is the Topeka IL
ings interested us deeply. The first was the
dear, familiar form on canvas of our historic
Starved Rock, painted from the original by
Miss Ida Clarke while on visit to friends in
Ottawa. The second was the intellectual face
Of a young lady who seemed to watch the Wis
itors Of the room as they came and went. The
Ladies' Library Association of Topeka was Or
ganlzed Nov. II, 1870, was reorganized and
chartered as the Topeka Library Association
Nov. 90 1872 and became free Nov. I, 1877.
For the year 1878 its expenses were $1264S1
divided as follows: For rent $500; for librarian
and janitor, $3.50; fuel, $44.67; gas 1872. ii; re-
binding books, 6l.95; printing and stationary,
S11S.25; miscellaneous, S102S1; for new
books, $S73.31, for papers and periodicals
$53,54; for reiurnlshng rooms, $15l07. The
city gives the library 500 per month toward
its expenses and Its expenses amount to an aver
age of about $40 per month. 1t aims to add
to its collection about 1000 volumes yearly
and now contains over 1000. They are CLASH
fled as follows
Philosophy, theology, superstition; Science
politics, philolgy; Natural science and useful
arts-Fine arts, poetry, prose fiction, literary
miscellany; History-Geography and travels,
civil history biography; Appendix-Cyclope
dias, periodicals, public documents. During
1878 the association added TAG books OF which
269 belonged the class known as prose fiction.
Nevertheless we were told that the taste for
fiction was much less marked than in for
mer years and that love for the higher and
more substantial forms of thought was steadily
growing. A soft voiced lady has presided
over these rooms for four years and the perfect
order which pervades them IN the evening
when filled with young men and boys Is
high compliment to her gentle reign.
Very recently South Topeka r.joced IN one
of those industries which seem to robe the toll
of daily life with the romance of fairy dream.
This was nothing more than the transtorma-
ton OF straw into variety of timber said to
be unexcelled for windows, doors and inside
work. The alchemist who effected this won
derful transformation was Mr.. S. III, Hamilton,
of Bushnell, Ill. Mr. III. has toHnu it necessary
to suspend operations for tme and may seek
a new location in the future, but is still sangu-
inc of success
South of this mandatory, on the other
bank of the river, are the great car shops
of the Santa Fe road covering three acres.
We would whisper in the ears of some of
our Topeka acquaintance little word that
we feel sure would add tenfold TO the charms
of their city. 1t is-blue grass. If those
pleasant homes scattered all Though the sub
urbs of the city had only oeen set on a carpet
OF green, how much tairer they would have