Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-01-29


ONroED. Oxford l. 80 fortunate a.
70 possess the largest public library In
oxford County and one Of The largest and
best selected tows libraries 10 Malne. A
few years ago. frecland Holmes, bache-
lor, retained from California 10 spend the
remainder OF his lfc among bis relatives IN
East oxford. In that State, where rlv-
ers fow over golden sands, he bad accu-
mulated some little wealth. In bis will.
aasr giving lsgaoies 10 relatives and
friends. be directed that the remainder Of
hls property shoald be used for the pur-
pose OF founding free pablle library In
this town. proving the town would raise
an equal sum. On settling bis estate u
was found that $4,000 could be used for
the above purpose Ameeting OF the town
voted 10 accept this sum and, of course,
comply with The conditions Of his will '-
that they should raise an equal amount TO
20 with H. As says my informar,l u
W. not lawful 70 impose tar Of more
than Is cents on each poll In any one year
FOR the purpose Of public library. the
town had 10 make a two years JOB OF H.
A committee Of ten were apPolnied-nye
BY the estate. and i've by the ,own-,o DO the
necessary business. select the books, etc.
Wisdom Is found In a multitude OF coun-
sellors. unless par, OF them are "old wo-
men; and 10 not see how better selec-
ton Of books could possibly have been
made. The list includes popular and
Trustworthy histories OF nearly every ma
ton. q long list OF biographies, OF travels.
OF adventures and the like, number OF
works on the arts and sciences, political
works, and the most popular and ins,rue-
tive novels. II was opened In 1873.
shortly amer II received large additions
from the Hogan Library. "In most an
Client days" Club known As the Sons Of
Temperance was organized here. On It's
rolls such names as John J. Perry, Chas.
Durell, Orrln Jones, ETC., can be seen. In
Imitation OF frtnk!lns famous Junio,-
they began library called Hogan's. The
best works OF Hume. Gebon, froude, Ma
csulsy, Mlchele,, Theirs, Gulzot, Rollin,
Bancroft, Motley. Prescott, Irving, Plu-
tarch's Lives, PArtons Biographies, Tsy-
lor's Travels and others, making one hun
dred volumes In All.-eAch work as solid
as the men who chose them. In course OF
time the Sons OF Temperance ceased to
exist. Some died, Others were scattered
abroad, a few only remained here. The
library was buried In an old cupboard In
Darelrs store. As the public library ex'
cltement grew hot 10 the town, people re-
called the memory OF this library, and
wished 10 secure H. The remaining men,
bers OF the Sons OF Temperance gladly Of
fered TO present IL to the town, bat no one
seemed willing 10 20 ahead. Al last
Thomas Baker, who Is always on hand for
any good work, cut the gordian knot BY
getting the books and hauling them over
TO the new library. In q. II. Jones's
balldlng there Is q pleasant little room,
about the size Of small kitchen. Shelves
ran around three sides OF this room, and
extend row above row from the floor "a
the ceiling. All these rows OF shelves are
nlled with books, In neat paper covers,
their titles and numbers plainly written
on the backs In Thomas Bakers Zone Of
the best penmen In the County best style
This Is the freelAnd Holmes Library. IL
contains (ssys the Maine Register) i,2o'
volumes.
few days ago three Norway bucks go
. team and . jug and came down TO pain
our village red. A few rods this side o
the covered bridge they overlook mild
good d.natured looking man. and opened III
circus by winding their whip round hi'