The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-13
A Public LGbHaH.

0kS980K b0S4 DsO1S
A Public Library.
Butte has . number Of Reading
Clubs, several of which receive all
the recent publications, and are
accommodating quite extensive libra-
ries, but It II found by those fond OF
reading that these Clubs do not sup
ply the place Of . public library.
such Clubs make 1t possible for psr-
sons Of limited means to secure al
the meritorious periodicals. and the
current works Of fiction, but the
mind occasionally Graves for some
thing more substantial. The standard
works Of history, biography and
travel are reiished once in . while.
and are essential TO the young.
Works Of reference, especially the
encyclopedias and dictionaries. are
not within the reach of the Clubs,
and only the wealthy can afford to
bay them for their individual use.
The MINER is pleased to note that
there Is . disposition upon the part Of
our people to move in the organize
ton Of = public library. The school
board would, no doubt, be pleased to
provide . room tor such an enter
prise, and If that would not be found
acceptable, another place could be
secured. We cannot too strongly
urge the matter.
1.-The Russians at the Gates of
Herst," by Charles Marvin, for ad-
vance sheets of which We are indebted
to the courtesy Of Charles Scribner's
Sons, must be regarded ~ the most
important book of the year. The
Afghan question has been the upper
most topic in all public discussion
for the LAST three months. Lately it
hs dwarfed all other interests in its
lace of . war between England
and Russia which threatens to affect
the civilized world and disturb trade
in the remotest places. It is the
most difficult thing to get precise in
formation about the causes Of the
present trouble, the claims Of the two
parties and the prospects of success
in case Of war, 30 warped are the
various writer's by their national
prejudices. Even % able a paper a.
the Pail AaH Gazette has become
50 thoroughly identified with the
cause Of Russia that its utterances
are to be regarded now ~ merely
special pleadings for the Cars ennis
saries in London. The English re-
view articles r scarcely less partial,
being out-and-out arguments for the
British cause, frequently regardless
Of fact. In this emergency it is re-
freshing to get hold Of . book which
gives all the facts on both sides of the
boundary controversy and sums up
the case in judicial style. Such a
book L. Mr.. Marvin's. The authori IL
well known as one Of the ablest ex-
perts on the Central Asian question.
He has been . wide traveller in
Afghanistan and Turke stan, partly
on public missions and partly to
gather material for the books which
he has issued at regular intervals.
His "Reoonnoiterlng in Central
"'The Russian Advance To-
ward India" and "Merv, the Queen
of the World" were all instrumental
In influencing public opinion in
Mr.. Marvin, though an
Englishman, was bred in Russia, and
speaks Russian and several Of the
dialects like . native.
This accomplishment, Of course, has
been Of immense advantage to him,
~ 1t has enabled him to follow closely
the Russian press and the many Gov
eminent publications on the extern
sion OF Russian power in Central
Asia. He was in the British For
eign Office for several years and was
also leader writer for the Daily NeWs.
AT the Gates Of Herat," will have q
large sale.
The proceedings Of tho Nevada
Convention, held at Carson
City, January 3lst, 1885, has been
in pamphlet form, under q
concurrent resolution of the Nevada
Legislature. It has been carefully
prepared and neatly printed, and its
distribution in the East will tenefit
the silver cause. The example of
Nevada will commend itself to other
and Territories.
David Ramaley, of st. Paul, has
q work Of IS pages that is OF
unusual interest in the business Office
Of . printing establishment. Its
title is the "Employing Printers
Price List for Job Work." The book