Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-18

The seventh annual meeting of the
American Library association was held at
Green Island, Lake George, on Tuesday
last. The existence of this association of
American libraries, and the interest at
taChing to its annual meetings, are Il good
indication of the growing love of the
American people for books. 1t is indeed
Il healthful and hopeful sign, when pub
lie Libraries become so common that libra
rianS organize, for mutual improvement
and training, in their task of supplying
and directing the public taste for books.
And from this point of view it is an event
of some significance, that the association
of American libraries should have been
holding its scrCnU annual meeting.
The increase in numbers and the growth
in influence of American libraries, within
the past few years, is notable. According
to the latest estimate. there are now nearly
/ ,2OU libraries in the United States, and
they contain more than thirteen million
volumes. Considering the comparative
youth of the country, and the small OPP
portunity which our rapidly growing
communities, with their absorbing ma
terial interests. have had to procure and
I
| this is Il remarkable record. In 1116 the
nation had only twenty-nine public libra
ries, poorly equipped and poorly patrOl-
lied. Our progress in this direction, dur
/ ing the little more than a century of our
national existence, astonishes ourselves
as well us our Old World neighbOrs.
The improvements III catalogung and
the practical conduct of libraries, have
been almost as great rs the increase in
the number and popularity of public Ii
braries. Libraries are expected, and
should be fitted to good deal more than
hand out volumes to those who call fol-
Them They should be and many of them
are, able, in good measure to guide the
reading of the community, to render val
liable aid in the choice OF books, and t.
direct seekers for information, to sources
of supply. In a well conducted modern
library the student has but to indicate
the line of investigation ne wishes to fol
low, or the nature of the information ht
seeks, and he is Immediately furnished
with the proper clue. The public library
can no longer be called II mine of precious
but hidden treasure 1t is accessible to all
the intellectual storehouse of the PEG
pie. 1t stands to-day as one of the most
beneicent institutions of the age
There is a Mr.. Ponce de Leon in New
YORK, probably lineal descendant of tn,
discoverer of Florida, who seems to hav,
pretty level head, on the German-Spanisl
embrogliO. He said to IA Telegram report
er; "Well, the Spanish people are mat
and the King is not on Il bed of roses.
can hardly believe there will be war, ever
though declaration of war is made
Spain has neither navy nor army; he
Golfers are empty and the people ar,
divided. believe it will be settled. Set
tied in this way. Germany will bluste
and at last give consent to the Spanish
holding the Carolines proper, those which
Alyaro de Saavedra discovered in l52S
2 This will cool the war blood If the ma
: ton. But Bismarck will quietly posses
= himself of Mulgrave, the PeleWS, Gilber
and other islands, which, though Spail
, lays claim to, were never occupied b.
her In fact they were discovered b,
4 Drake, Cook, Crosier and others, In thi
t Germany will hold all she wants to eS
q tablish herself in the Central Pacific
= These Islands are very valuable for mel
{ camille purposes. They lie just north o
the Equator, are healthy and productive
$ and when the Panama Canal is perfecte
T. they will be a million times more valua
, BILE"
= Has spain the power to demonstrate !?
5 "By talk, yes but if it comes to blows
= no. Alfonso has the Republicans an
/ Carlists against him, and the Royalist
( are divided into the Constitutionalist
! and Absolutionists. He has no money
i no navy. He must be diplomatic, 0
Spain will lose the islands and he vii
lose his throne"