Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-12-04
Newspapers and Libraries.

In England we hear "filst, of the
written news letters furnished to the
wealthy aristocracy: then, as the crav'
ing for information spread, the ballads
of news. sung or recited: then the news
pamphlets arranged in prose: then the
periodical sheet of news, and, lastly. the
weekly newspapers" the first one, en-
titled The Weekly News from Italy
etc" published in the year 1922.
The ancient Athenian SalutatiOn
What's the news?' il on the lips OF
men to-day.
Something more was needed to satisfy
the hunger for information than the
tablets of stone on the corners of the
streets. To-day the newspapers Is as es-
sen.ial to the happiness and prosperity
of nation as its supreme law.
With the world for its parish" this
priest. the newspaper. is proving one OF
the most potent educators. As cIviliza-
ton advances and our postal laws be-
come thoroughly organized the demand
will increase. In it's four centuries of
growth. the art of printing has given to
us the rich legacy of an advanced and
Notwithstanding civilization. True
culture can only be attained by forego-
ngindulgence in meaner pleasures. In
early wears education was confined to the
few. 1t was rich man who could own
a book and magus who could read it.
I'm these days of free schools, free
public libraries, thou art inexcuSable,
oh. man, whosoever thou art" that get
teth not wisdom.
Contemporaneous with the idea of
free education was the idea of free pub
lie libraries: not until the one became
no longer an experiment, but reality.
did the other become even a possibility
In the first days Of our countrys his
tory the lovers of reading were COM
PEELED to send to Europe for their books.
The thoughtful, eager Franklin, with
all his craving for knowledge. found.
during the first quarter of the last CEN
turv. IN the city of Boston, "a few books
in his fathers library, the use of book
now and then from a book store. the
chance of borrowing a book from a
pretty collection. or the occasional
purchase of one.
About the year 1882. after Franklin S
first establishment in Philadelphia, the
first public library was established.
becoming. as he said. "the mother of all
North American subscription libraries.
We read of the books for this
library coming from England: of the
occasional presentation of a book or
two: of subscriber bringing a book
for the directors to examine. and pur-
chase if they would title. "A Voyage
to the south seas. along the coast of
Chill and Peru. IN 17l2 BIZ: with
thirty-seven copper cuts, well printed.
and well bound in folio form. Thu
board. after much consideration agreed
to buy this valuable book, and ordered
the librarian to pay the price down. ID
shillings. out of the money received for
fines on borrowed books.
This library reflected the taste and
bore the impress of its great author and
originator, Franklin.
The culture and refinement of TIE
masses is due to this mighty civilization
produced by books and papers. Public
Libraries are store-houses that both sup
ply and create demand. He is wisest
who culls most carefully. most judi
ciously. most intelligently from this
great ocean of knowledge.