Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-01
COMMUNICATIONS.

A Word More On The Free Library.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 My excellent friend, MT. Van Name, who is authority upon libraries, said that the books in the library of the Young Mems h. stitute were like the ragged regiments that came back from the late war. Granting this to be true (and I admit it), this only shows that the books have been well read and thumbed, and that there is an inexhaustible demand on the part of the public for books to read,. so that this is @ strong argument in favor of the speedy establish n1ent of free library. This needed project should not be much longer delayed, whatever is decided in regard to it's locality. But had the curiosity to look over again yester- day the Institutes library and was surprised to find so many good books. Of the 5000 volumes one-half, at least, available. There are wel1-bound editions of the chief historians, Prescott, Aacaulay, Froude, Mot ley, Milman, Meriyale, Guizot, De Tocque- vile, with the best modern bio graphies and books of travel; good editions of Scott, Thackeray and Dickens, and of many of the standard works of English, French and German literature; the Encyclo- poedia Britannica and many other encyclo- poedias of recent date, well bound and ser viceable; in fact, nearly all the books in the closed cases are valuable and it would take a large sum of money to buy or replace them. The older books are constantly re- bound and are by no means past their use fitness. It is true there IS large amount of old trash and fiction, but even the old books, like the set of the Gentleman's Nigga zine, would be of service to the college h- brary and would enable it to complete it's own editions. I would not say that there is anything remarkable in this collection, or that there is not large amount of perfectly useless matter, but desire to call attention to the fact, not appreciated by all, that the books, and would make 8 substantial nu- cleus for free public library. It assuredly should not be hastily condemned If the city would appropriate considerable sum, say ten or fifteen thousand dollars year, for the purpose, the free library thus started would rapidly increase. If the stone church building on Church street could be pur- chased, or much better still, new building erected, then this most desirable enterprise would be fairly instituted, which would be of incaleu liable benefit to the community; which would be college for the many-ss much so as Yale college is for the few.
 Should it be decided to take down the old State House this would settle the question as to the locality of the free library for the i'm mediate present; and the commencement of large building (the Lawrence dormitory) just across the street is fit time for the State House to come down. The question might be asked, What would you put in it's places I, for one, would decidedly answer, the soldiers monument; but this matter seems to be now settled, and wherever the soldiers monument is placed it has my hum ble and hearty approval. We cannot have public matters always settled according to our own private tastes, but it does no harm for every citizen to express his opinion, and the matter of free library absolutely de- mands just now 8 universal expression of popular interest lest it wholly fall through. J. M. HoPPIN.