Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-21
THE LIBRARY
In 0dd.Fellows' Euiliing Which Is No.
Patronized rs 1t Should be
by n Public
Impatient 10 Secure the Nash Library
Fund-A Sensible aud Timely Critf-
eism by Mother GoOse.-
To the Editors OF the Appeal:

suppose 1t is universal characteristic
| OF human nature to neglect a near and posi-.
tive good while reaehing restlessIy out for 8
| fsr-aWay superlatiT. excellence. And SUD
| pose again there i good deal of human
nature in Memphis folks, after which sage
| expect me to illus rate the forcible wisdom
OF approaching the bird in the hand as worth
Two in the bush.
That Memphis has bird in the hand ]
discovered 10 purely accidentally fashion,
| Wishing 10 possess myself OF some facts that
! l felt quite sure could not be discovered out
! side the bindings OF the Encyclopedia Aneri.
cana, L reflected in inlpoient wrath upon all
the dereliCt citizens OF Memphis, who had
eontented themselves with advocating the
Nash library worldly, ard by putting whole
col1mns of hiposinslooking figures down in
subscri p.ioh lists Tor no other purpose, APP
parentiy, than TO prove that figures can lie,
when 1t occurred TO me that l had seen
modest little sign, Public Library" under
the mystic letters |. o. o. F., on the side of a
doorway looking out upon our pretty little
Court SQUARE,
Hi'her | hied me, thinking it iu,t barely
possible that that II. o. O. F." concern might
be possessed Of one or tao cd torn solumes
OF an encyclopedias that might, BY another
bare possibility, contain nv coveted facts.
returned from that /. o. O. F. concern in
very apologize frame of mind. nd this
IS my anende honorable. found long room
with lofty ceiling beautifully frescoed, we'll
lighted by three tail windows, comfortably
esrPeted, delightfully."- warmed by a glowing
hre IN big steve, long reading tables, and
abundance OF luxurious arm chairs, HANG
some Accommodations for books and the
nucleis OF a most Substantial and desirable
sort OF library and, would you believe il,
whole setsof the Anierfcqra aud he Bttttonieoi
An open visitors book, near which stood
glass OF white chTysanihemums, and over all
OF which preside kindly and gentle lady who
not only gave me permission 10 examine the
books sought, but pleasantly told me all she
knew about this much neglected bird in our
hand. In short, found most cosy and quiet
spot, SO thoroughly comfortable that II ia
matter OF 30 small wonder that it should be
so little freguented.
was told by the lady librarian that,
Although 1t was The Odd-Fellous' library. i,
was circulating library and was as free to
the public as any library could be, with
some restrictions | suppose concerning the
scattering of its Volumes. In my stay of a
few moments l was unable TO form anv ide.
OF the character Of the volumes, but noticed
that they seemed 10 be varied enough to suit
almost any taste. Quite a variety of news
papers, also, seemed 10 be on tle
J. mad occasion 10 observe that there were a
few to whom the subject of the library
seemed to be OF earnest interest, as during
my visit one OF our rising young men came
in to consult the librarian on a list of periodi-
Gals, both English and American, which they
are anxious to place upon their reading
tables as added Inducements TO people 10
enjoy themselves even if they do thereby
run great risk of improving themselves.
These facts given, l am at loss to UNDER
stand the intermittent groaus and means
that we SET up over the Nash library Is il
just because we haven't the Nash library
that We pretend 10 want it so badly? L.
there any special charm or magic virtue in
the books that would be in the Nash library,
il we ever did get il, .hat would make us
all healthy and wealthy and wise, without
any mental exertion on our paris? Or isssit
that We want the. pretty house 10 put the
pretty books in, just To point them out 10
strangers and say. See what readers we areu
not that the Nash Library wouldn't be the
SORT OF a thing TO have. But as il appears |
10 be among the unaitansble blessings |
which we can only hope and wish for |
through the natural term OF our allotted |
three score and ten, il appears 10 this med |
der that il would be the part of wisdom for |
some Of the most enthusiastic wishers for |
the Nash library 10 convert some of their |
invisible thousands that figure so hand |
somely on the subscription list into visible |
hundreds for the benefit of The library al |
ready begun in our nils, ard help to build |
il up.
| am told that there are two more hand. |
'ome rooms that would be thrown into the |
library when needed. Does the iacl that it |
belongs 10 the Odd-Fellows initiate against |
lie usefulness in any rsspec. L. might nov, If |
every body had to turn Odd-Fellos before |
hey could get glimpse into any Of The |
books, but such not being the case, it is safe |
% assert that Memphis has a library al |
ready lar superior to the demands of her |
reading public aud m axes precious little use |
IF it.
Since the world begin, women have been !
re.ting and tuning over the strong sex, to |
coax them TO be good and they expect to go |
IN lrettiDg and tuning aud fussing, which |
uggests sn ,ther suggestion. The long win
er evenings are close at hand. Thousands |
VI our young men are horht less in the true
ense of the word home. To be sure they
lave tables TO eat at, and they have "where |
o lay their heads;" but after business hours
hey are frequently "put to ii" to know how
o kill time. Ii the handsome room that so
urprised and delighted me yesterday were
lighted and warmed, and kept |
pen until about 10 or Ii o'clock every even
ng, can imagine no more attractive place
# resort to a young man who is of that
espond 10 the musical click cf the billiard
'ali, nor find its sSeetett solace in the froth
4 the beer glass.
Moreover, our bird in the hand hiss
aides reading room, carpeted, lounged,
abled and chaired. ali ready TO your hands,
lesdames-a clear, pure fountain, from
Thich no one seems eager TO qusf You see
ow impertinently go into particulars, for
II the world as if this L. o. o. F. concern
i.
eally did seem to me; for 10 all the months
nat / have been lis'ening 10 tall about the
LASH library, L never once heard anybody
ay, "Yes, but you know we have frst-rate
brary started here, 10 delightful situation
nd with splendid accommodation bat DO
ody cares for it, simply because il is a good
Iiained," so I'll say it for them, and add
nat "man never is, but always TO be best"
MOTHER GOOSE.