, 1881-03-27

Oxford. thrilled the hearts and wet With tears
he ewes OF our people IN that dread winter or
the burniuR ruins OF prostitute MONIES ana hutn-
bed 5y an o4na 70 az of fa
iibr1aries in Great Britain, to, send contribu-
lions uf their l!ternry works as token
aon o1 of e froe puolio library in Chicago.
aDneaI was promptly answered. Thousands Of
volumes we're collected and came pouring IN; as
ral, caI to to move nov in Chicago. ...-.
saa And ID among the Collections which came i'm
mediatety to hulld and ara now N me Ll3sary nn
Reports, some 4,00O volumes. which ara only sent
out to other countries on very strict condin9ns
where large libraries are esta bltsnea 10 tne prin
valuable contrlbu tions from the British Museum:
The University IF Oxford sent heE 1naKnit'Ge'nt 'n
collection The grsnt ste5men aa ntners and
also the works Of living authors.--such ~ Car
iyie aud Stuart Mill. in all which were writer
their autographs when II tenan 1.r mnnrss FOR
Generations to come. The English Government.: !:
Besides the Patcnt-Othco Reports, sent lSs ~
volumes Of the chronicles mud memorials Of the
earliest times. And. to crown all. the Queen hgr-
self sent In her AUTOGRAPH upon volume OF ING
We had also to acknowledge contributions
from Scotland, ireland, France, nnd germany,
though, In speaking Of Engano, We ineiude 'a1 tae
About 7,O01 volumes were received to tho nrst
months OF the year 1872, all inscribed the hy-
pages, next the title of the book thnt they IRE
Now, it viii be understood that, in view Of
such facts, question OF TIE very n&nesc oaal ,'anl
lookcdl Can this city or its citizens assume suchn
trust In the interest OF mankind aud our mnn,el.
pal civilization, and then neglect or violate the
ssered pledge or conditions upon "n'00 IL W."
The pride, good faith, and public honor Of
every citizen would n ct
of sound morality which is moving pur conn
nunty to give this library. the gift OF foreign
pub!ic building worthy Of the OCCASION: in which
10 preserve these treasures. and from which
may DO dispensed their benefits ,, ,
shall not stop to repeat that so precious seemed
this generosity of the British people IN lsI2 that
the National Government united WITH the cliy
tu giving a permanent home to the Library tn
whit had been the old Post Odlce4s Tint was de-
fcatco and Its design frustrated.
But the question tonight T., VII me b people 2l',
ure of the age? Such memorial worthy q our our
city and equal in dignity to die treasures 1t will
ad hoy sn M Re m ad
dress delivered in l84S upon his election as Rec
TOR of the University Of Glasgow, says thnt the
ennobie tfade BY making trade the ally Of phi
iosophy, Of cloguence, and of taste: Cosr1o de
Medici, endowed tbs first public. library that
enough be illustrates that tho influence Of this
library upon the revival OF learning tn the Hf-
teenth century produced the revolution or tha n
sixteenth, nnd that Pope tNicholas W was the
great scholar who, under Cosmo. planted It's
foundation and secured its library collections,
while. as he claims, 1t became Ia most potent
agency In the overthrow Of the ancient religion.
Throughout AmerIca, In all our older cities,
the merchant princes OF our greatest houses. II
was noted, become the Legitimate patrons uf
letters and urt. In the absence Of Royal FOUND
ers, what more princeiy disposition can the
great merchant prince make Of his wcalth h2 He
| cannot leave 1t entailed. and he cannot take II
with him. The Astors, and LRwrences, and
| Coopers. and others are leaving such monuments
| behind them.
Now, Chicago has reached that period wher
! her merchant prlnces-the Fairbanks. Leltors
Pulln,ans. McCurnicks, Fields, and many orhera
must regard the possession OF tho wealth ac-
| cumulate1. rs charged With q duty OF seeing
| that the intellectual demands OF the population
| aro supplied.
| life, they cannot suffer hunger or thirst In the
| very necessities Of higher culture, any mort
| tbnu they could stand aside while the people
| died, or we're dying from thirst, or hungry. lacA
I Of water, or food. We cannot be mistaken It we
heads of the great houses OF Chicago who pussoC
through the great crisis nf 1S7i and rebultte
| Increase their stores since the fire, will never
| suffer this city OF their pridn and triumphs tt
| blemisn or lose her reputa ton as great ceutrt
| Of learning, education, und art 49,
/ Let us rally round the t1nH Of tho future. nnt
See to it thar the generation IN which, we live
shall leave to posterlty' memorials such as maJ
be lessons to them In municipal duty