Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-16
THE NASH LIBRARY.
s. mother Goose Suggests That q Conn
miftee of women be Enlisted In
the Work of Securing 1t.

| -NcNci by Oh duOlLiOD,
subtraction, multiplication and division
settle everything somehow, and never won
der" Such was "Mr. Gradgrind's'' advice,
wherein he claimed, lay the mystery of edu-
eating the reason without stopping to the
cultivation OF the sentiments and affections
Despite which sound Gradgrindian philoso-
ply folks Will wonder, with reason or without
reason, so long as addition, subtraction, null
tiplication and division fail 80 egregiously
as settlers.
81 wonder what has become of the Nash
libraryW folks OF an inquisitive turn of
mind are heard to ask every now and then
not as if either demanding or expecting
an answer, for L believe we are ali drifting
toward the conclusion that that is zone of
the things no fellah can find out"-sImply
from force OF habit, 1 guess, or because The
rumor that certain buildings on the corner of
Jefferson and Third streets were being pulled
down TO prepare the way for the library
aroused stunt ering interest 10 the pitch OF
interrogation. l wondered that any one
should think it worth his while to wonder
over such a laDguishing project. We are all
agreed that we want the library, ought, could
and should have ii. Like "Mrs. Toodles's"
door-plate, it mig hit come IN handy in case
anyone should be unexpectedly seized with
desire to read. We are all agreed that it
will be ga burning shame" il we do not Sc
cure ii. Nevertheless, we seem no nearer
the attainment OF our object than when The
| idea was first broached.
| Seeing a curious advertisement about
somebody who would buy from a needle 10 a
| steamboat, with the apparently irrelevant
supplement, "free library for all" rushed
to the conclusion that that was what was the
| matter with the Nash library. Memphis
! had free library already! OF course she
couldn't afford second. But, being pos
: sessed of my sex's share of curiosity, l won
dered what possible connecting link there
could be between needles, steamboats, and
circulating Libraries. On grant you some
libraries are very like needles in haystacks)
So / resolved to investigate the possible
stumbling block in our library's way. / am
still in a condition of unsatisfied curiosity.
Not being possessed of CLARA Bells" dauniless
temerity in the cause of letters, that library
remains uuexplored. 1 was content to view
it, as Moses viewed the promised land, from
a respectful distance. Somebody else limited |
vaguely at public library already in |
existence. In company with other adventur-
Gus spirits, mounted a long flight of stairs |
one evening at early gaslieht, to contemplate |
tina possible substitute for the much be-
desired public library. We were informed
the rooms were locked. We gazad wistfully
at the unyielding barriers, and walked down
stairs. wonder if, should we ever get our
library, the doors would be locked promptly
just at the hour when emancipated clerks
and tired business men, who might by some
rare freak of nature rather incline TO slake
their thirst at the pure fount of knowledge
han at other sorts OF founts, should be seek
ing their refreshmentl
wonder If the women of Memphis, say
= dozen or more of the leading ladies' were
10 resolve themselves into Mach library as
ISOLATION Gust as aiders and abettors of the
good cause, gentlemen, we would not pre-
'ume to more) if it might not be pushed for
ward to a speedy ans triumphant success? |
There is no doubt about the fact that werlen !
IRE tremendous and urappreciated force in I
ust such emergencies. Who build half the
hurches in the land but the women, who
re apt TO throw themselves into any project
nth that delightful abandon and sublime Z
oniempt for consequences which says, =
acilly, "husband and house, babies and :
uttons, may look after themselves until We y
ave worked the good work TO its appointed =
nd" And the good work is very apt to be : :
Time enough afterward Il r
ssure you the reasoning is not mine) to q
noothe ruffied marital plumage, straighteu ?
p things generally, and sew on the missing u
lttons. One might wish for an evener bal ;
ace of system with enthusiasm, but the age u
perfection is not yet, and if we women
'efer attaining our ends by rapid and brill -
ant coups de main, rather than with the slow 81
stematic burrowing Of sappers and miners, a.
here's the odds? l wonder if the library ~
III ever be built otherwisei ~
Let us take the little ones and our books -
Court Square. We can read while they IITI
bic on the grass with the other squirrels" "
y indiscreetly. She looked at me with u
perior pity, answering: "Court Square ~
hould never think of taking my children Ut
erew At which l marveled exceedingly. ~
urt Square with Its velvety grass, its s,
iucing shadows, its comfortable seats, its az
shing fountain. with its wet-faced cherubs VIZ
d tasteful flowers, seemed to my Ignorant
ion an idyllic spot for little ones who have
IN mewed up all day III stuffy rooms that
ell of gas and the ghosts of dinners gone
WONDERED if she who had administered
snub were not manifestations. One or
, rambles through the pretty little park
not cause the wonder still to grow. After
covering that two-thirds of the seats were
lost invariably in the possession Of idlers an
both colore, rather trampy-lookipg as a aar,
e, at the very hours that ladies would most 10
fer to resort there with their chill s,.
q, and after being an eyewitness to Tn
edifying spectacle OF a white man sto
-ying his head (grown weighty by a ws'
erabundance of-brainsO between his ors
es, after the fashion of an orioles nest e.,
dent between the branches of tree, be- ~ :
en- the hours of and o'clock in the I l.,
rnoon, / came 10 the conclusion that my agd
e friend was not ultra-fastidious, and that r-;,
es and children would have to yield the t In,
I oi way 10 tnose "hose miSn. con- file
ties their only right. mo-
you "sa t 70 thioW tne oftnoue1 mem min
her police force is not the most efficient
he face of the globe. In quality they
be, and undoubtedly are all that could e
sked of them, but, not being ubiquitous, III
certainly are unequal TO the task of L Ie.e
Cling town which seems to possess an o9t
s-rubber sort of facility fer stretching OF
vonder ~ en- Gra,i,r;ndv b;,.a1f ,o,lr Boo
to, subtract from, multiply and divide nieA
guardians of the public veal so That s rs,
81 Of temp Ior1rr ,oosr pear
very