Daily Republican., 1881-01-15
Free Libraries,

Free Libraries.
A free circulating library is needed
in Wilmington. Prss librsfi7s have
been tested in ether cities and Ther-
ever they have been tried they have
been successful. The material for such
library exists in our city in abuc-
dance. Here Is large population
that is always on the lookout for some
thing to read, and Tor want Of supply
Of reading matter tae young are driven
into the purchase Of cheap, trashy lit
eraturs which viListes tie morals AMI
taints the .pure stream that shouli
always foz from the fountain Of vir
tue. Books would be given 20 it &:
well IS money. There are MAJ OF large
philanshr1py, here as slssEhere, who
would help on the good work, II once
it took practical shape. Wilmington
with her population Of intelligent!
manufacturers and private genl=n7n
Of wealth, With Thousands Of artisan.
and mech anics shoui not lag so iar
behind her sister cities as not y put in
tslleotual wholesome reading ma!t r
within t1s reach Of al.
Tie free circulating library Of N.w
York established las! March, has proved |
a great SUCCESS. By g.f-s of mon-y |
and books, the library has already out
grown its present ,coumoiAtions, and |
must get mora rooms. The demand |
for BOOKS has been steadily increasing
as the people come TO understand tn a.
there Is no expense involved. In the
month ofEoVenber 1914 volumes were
lent Sis1s the opening ia March last
up to November lst, % 5j3 volumes
had been lent, and wonderful to relate
only t~o ot them we're lost. This fact
OF it.elf is very significant and shows
that the reading public does not cen
sist Of literary thieves as has been
generally supposed,
The experience Of Ngw York Lss bsgp
the experience Of Cincinnati sni Bos
ton T2s loss ia books has been less
than one half Of one per cent. Some oil
the ito1 CLAD Libraries of the present
day are con1us!si on the hypothesis =
that naa who drops in to read a few
'm7n's must n,cssearily bs q thief. =
he is not even Permitted 70 20 into the
library to inspect tls backs Of the booka
wire casas, bat is com pelIedt .
I'll IN some an!9-ro0m where Ls may be
watched, and must Judge from the -
dialogue wha. BOOK he wants to read.
when E bOok is brought he -,
nds 1t is no! the book ne wants. -
a library is a su2oess in the exsc. -,
roportion that it is used. A book th at 49,
never opeDed might as we'll be ~
lock Of wood, bat # opened once in r
'e years it is no. tota loss. A book
orn ont in the service ia like a hero la
Vered with the soar9 Of battle. Ifany Pc
ritsr or thinker could have his choice. Gel
'u!d 1t b. to have his volumes bound bz.
esif or gold and put in a case never onl
be opened, or would he have them edu
Voured with keen delight, studied and
lgbe1 over, and wep: over : Would pri'
have his ideas covered with the star
st Of ancient resPectaoility, Or have the
I'm drop Ike sssds into fresh young the
telligence, and gerninate th.re the 4uc
rvests Of large thOugA:i All hoard sittc
. OF books is a mistake and sometimes but
most dspl0rabl- one. ths
salthy literature should be as bound VII
5 purs and fee az the air We peel
a:hs. There is DO knowing yhs, f-eh
4 may BE- due by opsDtng tn sse Mes
ntain5 o. in.4lligence-thess free real
rarj1'. Wao will move in tAs mat Of
in " lm'ngtJa' teac