Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-25
"All that tread
The globe are a handful TO the tribes
That stun er In its BOSOM"

The work Of our ancestors IS finished,
but our town will live forever, and may
not something more from us be hopeful
ly expected?
Whoever passes over the chief high
way of the town, along by our pet branch
of the Ompompanoosuc, (however he
may regret to find tie road declining
from its ancient stage-coach breadth to
that of n one horse road, and looks out
for miles upon the charming landscape,
upon the well-tilled and fertile farms,
upon the two quiet villages nesting in
the vallies, upon the tall steeple of the
old time-honOred town-house, wherein we
are now assembled, the architecture Of
strong willed and strong. g.handed men,
elevated upon a site fairly eclipsing in
beauty even the historic mounds of the
aborigines, cannot fail to recognize the
fact that the town, even with all of its
New England competitors, possesses, in
its varied and heart-winning scenery, un-
surpassed attractions Like yourselves
! am familiar with all of its borders and
do not forget that almost every hilltop
was once the home of some citizen whose
history-noted for marked character, wis
dom or wit-has found q Judgement in all
of our memories, and still enriches and
cmbroiders our daily conversation. Among
the names of the old settlers whom we
fondly call our fathers, there is scarcely
one around which does not cluster many
gems of story and anecdote, bringing to
mind "a fellow of infinite Jest ; of most
excellent fancy
With these surroundings, it was natu-
raj that | should look with some favor
upon increasing the usefulness of your
Town Library, founded by the late Judge
Harris, a citizen whose general intelli-
gence, sound Judgment, and brilliant nat
ural abilities, would have commanded re-
spect and honor in any community, as l
know they were always respected and
honored here.
| had, therefore, in my will made an
additional bequest to the town III behalf
of the Library, but, on the whole con-
cluded that it would be as well for me to
personally attend to the business rather
than to devolve the work upon my survi,
vors.
l have accordingly erected as l Judge,
neat and modest building, appropriate
to hold your Library, with any possible
future accretions.
The Library Building has been thor
oughly constructed from top to bottom,
by excellent mechanics, covered with a
slated roof, is not exposed to perils by
fire, and will require for any needful re-
pairs only very small expenditures foi
generations to come. Any examination
will show that the structure is no sham
have also furnished the building with
ample bookcases, affordin9 very abund
ant shelf-room, a library table, soap stone
stoves, and two chandeliers to handsome
ly light the Library.
Also shall include as a gift to the
town large number of public documents
bound in sheep, which We're received by
me during twelve years Of service in the
House of Representatives, To any large
library these misunderstanding q com
piete documentary history of the Legis
latlye and Executive Departments of tht
Government during the most eventful
trying and prominent era Of our country
would be regarded as an important ant
most valuable acquisition. Here they
will for all time not be without value fo
reference, greatly increasing in interest n
the years roll by land there are also man,
volumes that possess attractions for tn
general reader.
When but boy-clerk in store of thi
village, | started in 1927 subscriptio
for town library, with shares at two dol
lars each. There were, | think, abou
fifty subscribers. The capital was, how
ever, too limited to flourish for any lon
period and finally the books went ou
like the doves from the Ark of Noal
never to return.
Two hundred years ago the practic
widely prevailed, i'll many localities c
England, OF forming n union among
considerable number of persons VIII
agreed to contribute one volume eac
every five years as the common stock of
, Library and in this work We're so success
ful that the plant in many instances SUI
wives to this day.
The library started IN Philadelphia b
Franklin in 1731, contained at first only
list of about fifty authors, and of whi
may be called eight literature, only til
Guardian, Tatler, Spectator, and Add
sons works. Fifty young men, mostl
artisans, subscribed ten dollars each. an
agreed to pay two dollars and fifty cen
annually for fifty years. Could thei
have been heartier appreciation Of
public library? It excrted q visible il
huenco over the character of the qui
city Of Philadelphia, which Penn had d
icSuS' hIlOul'l ~ oO Dlllll, llul lntl
may be ground on each side of the hous
for gardens, or orchards, or fields, that
may be green country town, which wi
never be burnt and always wholesome
This Library, not despising the day
small things, from one man received
gift few years ago, believe of mi
lion dollars, and now takes rank amor
the largest Of our country, and, of {
our large cities, Philadelphia, it is gu
posed, takes the lead in industrial al
educational prosperity.
The State of Michigan is authorized |
its Constitution to provide Libraries
every town. New York, believe, al
some other States, have made proYisio