Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-09
A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
An Interesting Letter from Member
OF the Exposition Society.

"Thalian club advocating the neces-
sit, Of a public library in this city.
There is not a more praiseworLhy en-
terprise now before the minds of the
citizens, or one that could accomplish
more good ultimately.
The Fort Worth Exposition society
have had this matter before them. In
deed, the name of the society
was changed to the Fort Worth lii
brary association about the LIST of
August, and the constitution and by
laws were made for permanent or
ganizatiOn. A committee of three
were appointed myself being one of
the number) to see what would be done
in favor of IL. We are not assured that
we are the instigators of this question,
but as there is power in united forces
we think the two organizations might
cooperate and work together in har-
mony, and 10y this means consummate
great work.
Let us have public library
with reading rooms attached
and fill them with pure, moral htera-
ture
There is nothing which tends more
to the elevation Of the human race
than the mind well stored with useful
knowledge.
Institutions Of learning, worthy the
state, are growing in Importance daily
in our city. Then why not have a
| library where these young ladies and
gentlemen can resort To build upon the
foundation laid in these academic
walls. Surely there is not man or
woman with mature age or judgment
who will not contribute TO this end.
To educate sons aud daughters
should be the paramount duty of pa.
rents. 1t is the grandest legacy you
can leave them. There is wealth
which meets the eye; sordid, mate
rial, glittering thing which can be
seen and handled and boarded, But
there il wealth of the mind, the in
ward part of man, which enters into
and makes up the mar. This Is the
only undyiDg wealth. Material riches
! iluctuate, change i'm value. Rich to-
day, your securest investment
may be lost tomorrow But the
mind wealth passes current
forever. Take two men. Let one be
the lord of a palace, yet ignorant and
uncultured, and though the other may
dwell in home that is poverty's own,
I "a shattered roof, a naked floor
\ table, n broken chair,
a wal SO blank that II shadow they thank,
! For sometimes falling there"
1 Yet, if he be man of broad culture
and rich attainments, do you hesitate
| to say which is the richer of the two?
Not only Is public library IA field
| for intellectual development, but il is
eminently refining. IL would be
/ the purpose to have such authors,
] Il F,,n n
1 purity, goodness, patience, love and
| philanthropy, whose readers would
! catch up the insl iratiOn and reflect il
| in the same channel. IT would be the
J purpose to have some reading matter
| devoted to the cultivation Of young
/ ladies and young gentlemen; to teach
young ladies that it is better to be adj
mired for beauty of mind than person;
TO teach them to cultivate those virtues
which elevate the soul and ennoble
the heart, and that a sweet dis
position makes an ugly woman hand
some.
To teach them those qualities
they must exhibit as wife, sister and
daughter in the home circle. 1t re-
quires this constant mental improve
nent totit them for the grave RESPONSE.
bilities of life. A library would be a
home for young men to spend THEN
evenings. There are many i'm our city
who, when the shades of evening are
closing in, would be glad to have some
place 10 repair for pleasure. Separated
4 from home and the endearing
ties of earlier life, no mother
or sister with whom to hold social
commune, they are drifting one place
and another. Perhaps their salaries
are such that they have only dimes
and nickels TO spend for something to
read, and the consequence is cheap
books are bought and read which have
a demOralizlng influence.
There is not silver-tongued orator
on this broad continent who can AIDE.
| quately portray the vastness of advan.
tage to be gained by this library work.
Those who labor in its he.
half have the sweet con,
seriousness of knowing they work
not only for good to themselves and
others of the present day, but for pos.
terity. Nothing venture, nothing
have" and feel sure that it would be
only question of time after the libra,
ry Is established, when the wallsof the
rooms would be adorned with the
choicest paintings, and cabinet with
corrections OF curiOsities and relies, and
a piano, so that music could be feat
ure. Everything would be added
which would tend to improvement
and which would make the place one
of irresistible attractivgness
and where we would b,
proud to invite strangers and friends
visiting our city.
think it judicious move for the
committee appointed on the Thaliar
club and the one by the library asso
citation TO make amicahle arrange
ments to henceforth work together
The ladies viii be of great assistance
We will be happy in the effort and de
termination to do good work. WheI
tue olrds IN the heart sing sweetlS
everything else will sing.
KATHLEEN RANDLE.