San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-19
MONDAY. APRIL 10. 1886.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY.
The bill for the erection of a suitable
library building at the National Capital
is timely There has been no measure
among the thousands introduced this
session more necessary, apd none which
will be more generally approved by all
who understand the utterly inadequate
provisions now existing for the fine col
lection of books and manuscript which
form the National library. In speaking
of this bill, the Washington Critic says:
There is one important provision lacking in
the bill to erect a National Library In this city.
There should be n clause in the bill requiring
the Library to be kept open on sundays.
The wisdom of this suggestion will
not be questioned by any brOad-gauged
mind in this generation. 1t should re-
ceive the Immediate attention Of our
Representatives, and the necessary
clause be made part of the bill before
it passes to its final reading. The Brit
ish museum is now opened on Sunday,
all the gardens and museums Of natural
objects in London are so opened, and it
is high time that the recognition of Sun
day as peoples day" was made by the
unquestioned authority of a Congress
siOnal enactment in so far as matters
within their jurisdiction goes.
In Boston all the Libraries and muse
ums and art galleries are opened on
Sunday, the one day in seven in which
the treasures and privileges of these col
leCtiOns are available for the people, and
this example Of the hub might well be
made general throughout America. There
is no reasonable doubt that it would have
a great influence for good in all our
cities. These collections Of art, these
stores Of knowledge called libraries,
these museums Of natural object are
Of worth only as the knowledge they
hold, the instruction they convey and
tie study they stimulate are made avail
able for the people. By closing the doors
OF these institutions on Sunday you shut
out the thousands for whose benefit
they are most needed. The wealthy
few can provide these things for them
selves in private collections and do not
need the public ones. Public collections
are primarily for the people, and II the
people cannot have access to them they
cease to be available for the very pur-
pose for which they were endowed.
Sunday is the peoples one day in seven
for reading, resting, seeing, enjoying
and finding In life something outside the
treadmill round Of their daily labors.
This day, sacred to labor, should not be
defrauded Of anything that may minister
10 the pleasure or instruction Of the
laborer and his family. Open places
like these and family visitings will be
regularly made to them. Mother and
children will not be left neglected at
home because father is taking his recrea-
tion somewhere that mother and
children must not accompany him.
Shut these libraries and museums any
other day in the week, rather on the one
day in which the people can find time 10
visit them. If they cannot be opened
for the people for whom they were origi-
nally intended, then don't open them al
all. AS managed in many Of the cities
the public library and reading room
which should be free as air to laborlng
people, are as practically closed to them
as though they were not in existence
The principle is wrong that adjudges
the opening Of these places on Sunday
injurious, and the practice Of closing
them against the people is simply per-
nicious.