The Columbus journal., 1882-01-04

for cream, in that time? A. II.
-O--
A Free Reading Room.
MR.. EDITOR :--Augustus Cserer
made his boast that he found the city
of Rome brick, and left it marble.
But, even in the days of the first
Emperor, Rome did not have a free
reading room. Eighteen and a half
centuries later, Columbus has no
reading room. What was passed
over, as q characteristic of the age of
Augustus, is a standing disgrace, in
the age of Arthur, the untried.
We have a Creamery, q Pork Pack
ing House, and a course of lectures.
All are good, each in its way. A
reading room would be equally
good, bnt in a different way. When
Intelligent business men contemplate
moving to our city, they will first
inquire concerning it's educational
and social advantages; no one will
deny that u public library, and free
reading room, are prominent among
the attractions Of q town. l know
of q certain institution of learning,
where there are from 10 to so STU
dents, all the sons of poor men, and
largely dependent upon their own
exertion for their support while they
are pursuing their studies. These
boys give each a dollar from their
scanty means. and with the sum
sustain a reading room. where the
leading religious and secular period
icals of ten states, with the London
Times, are regularly laid on the
shelves. A tax of one dollar each
levied upon the property-hOlders of
Columbus, would establish a free
reading room and public library, and
One-fourth of that amount would
keep it in operation. There can be
no doubt that our citizens are as
we'll able to give the amount named,
as were those poor students. They
(the stndents), had no other motive
than self-improvement,--here there
Is, with this, another motive,--the
eclat it would give to the city. 1t
ought not to REQUIRE presume it
will not require--either argument,
or e%lOquence, to rOuse the people OF
this city to the Importance of this
subject. Western people are usually
quick to discuss the advantage OF
such an enterprise. l conceive that
two things are essential to the sue
cess Of the undertaking: we must
know that it is possible, and hOv it
is possible. That it is within the
reach of our people to have a free
reading room, the example above
referred to, as well as the experience
of other towns, will prove. As to
the manner of accomplishing it there
r several ways. l have q plan, of
course, but prefer to let others speak.
I have no doubt that the columns of
the JOURNAL are open to any one
who wishes to discuss this subject.
Business is now brisk, and there
could not he a more favorable time
to draw it TO Focus.
Ofcourse the columns of the JOUR-
NAL are open, now and always. We
repeat, what we have said before,
that it is a shame and a disgrace for
so large q city as Columbus to be
without a public library, a circulat-
ing library, a public reading room,
or some such institution. We are
behind the civilization of our age in
this respect; but when the institu-
ton is organized, it should be in the
right way, and mean business in
every respect, as to the size of the
room, it's furniture, the number and
character of the books and periodi-
Gals, sc. As for the individual
there is nothing will help to stay the
tide of the passions like the cultiva-
ton of the intellect, go for the COM
munity there is no greater moral
force than that exerted through the
influence of literature, good litera-
ture. Sir Isaac Newton's theory
was a aound one--to first fill the
measure with wheat, then no one
would have an opportunity to fill it
with chaff; and this is the true
method of dealing with all wrongs
begin against them at the earliest
stage by works Of prevention and
pre-occupatiOn. The mind actuated
by pure motives and filled with
good thoughts has no need and no
room for vain %follies, but will make
the most and the best of this our
human life. 1t ia only by the cul:i-
walton of that which is good within
them that our youth are encouraged
to 60 forward in the path of virtue
and honor, and it is especially be.
coming in those whose children are
stepping upon the stage of action, to
take q lively interest in furtheriDg
every good word and work, and
especially intellectual enjoyments.
which do great good snd no harm.
~O-
Letter List.
The following is \ list Of unclaimed
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