The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21
Public Library Needed.

Editors Dispatch: The following para
graph appeared in your issue OF Monday
last, but as it occupied snctkan obscure po-
sItion if may be allowed the eXpTession),
being at the bottom OF column, appre-
hend that not few OF your readers under
whose notice it should have especially
fallen failed to see it; aud now, with the
view OF giving it that prominence which 1t
should have, and with the hope that it NAV
set somebody hereab0uts TO thinking, and
perchance to acting, | beg that you VIII
allow me space in your popular columns to
reproduce il with few subiOined remarks !:
"Mr. Samuel Watkins, OF Nashville,
Tenn, has given 100000 for the erection Of
a public library in that city. lie has already,
at an expense Of 100000, purchased beau
tifuI building Site Tor the proposed library
building"
| conceive that it requires no great depth
of insight into the abstriise science Of meta
physics to teach us tha: the best and most
comprehensive commentary on the acts and
savings OF men is found In the results which
flow therefr0m, and by the simple art OF
plain reasoning we are enabled TO ascertain
what such results will be before they have
been practically developed.
Referring TO the aforementioned act OF
ph.lanthroDhic bcnetcence, who will deny
that Mr.. Watkins has not forged the first
link in long chain Of results, grand and
glorious, that will bind him for all time TO
the hearts Of the reading public OF Nash
vile, and especially The young men who are
animated by the desire for the acqui.ition
OF knowledge? BY this single act be builds
a monument 10 his memory more conspicu-
Gus, more imposing, aud more enduring
than chiseled marble or sculptured bronze,
and his name will ever he enshrined in the
memory of a grateful public.
We need public library in this city ;
indeed, IL is Il CRYING want, and one that
should be supplied.
With what joyous and grateful acclaim
would the yopng men OF this city h1il such
an announcement as the above ga II re-
late 10 Richmond. presume il Is eenera!iy
known that there is but one library IN our
midst worth mentioning that i accessible
TO the general public, and that only upon
payment Ct fee, which expense many are
not able 10 bear who would like 10 avail
themselves OF the privilege. Then, TOO,
while this library contains many works oi
value and interest 70 the general reader, yet
il is very incomplete, most OF the books be-
Ing very old. We need a library stocked
with literature abreast OF the times Ia the
several spheres OF science, philosophy, his
tory, politics. and beles-leltres, as well as
the more ancient works, and without these,
and TO which free and unrestricted access
can be had, il cannot be expected that the
average young man Of to-day will turn his
attention much 70 literary pursuits, even
though he may have thirst for knowledge
which becomes the paramount desire OF his
life. am young man, and feel safe IN
saving that | speak the sentiments OF all
Young men OF any ambition on this subject
when say thst we feel the need OF public
library more keenly than aught else to ald
us in our mental and moral culture and de-
yeIopmen', and, repeat, we ought TO have
one. Who says not! ). Al