The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-03-03


heavy cloud of disappointment and sadness
that settled down upon our hearts Happily
our honored hostess Of that evening, always
the devoted friend OF this cause, and of all
that promised to promote intelligence and
morality, who shared our sorrow then,
though she was not permitted to stay with
us to participate in the rejoicings of to-day,
still was spared to us and to the good work
long enough to behold the assurance of its
success and to know that her interest and
devotion would be grandly supplemented
by one of those dearest to her. Notwith-
standing /" failure " was written upon that
first attempt, there were those who were re-
solved that what had been done, at so great
cost of time and energy, should not be utterly
lost. They were confident that large share
of the subscribers did not care to insist
upon the strict fulfilment of the condition
in regard to time. They preserved care
fully for future use the original subscription
lists, or copies of them. As the months wore
on few obstinately hopeful and persist
emily Jealous individuals kept up scatter
ing fire of solicitations. Two courses of lee
lures and several single lectures and enter
tainments-among them a sociable at the
Pavilion-were held, and the proceeds were
deposited in the savings bank in trust for
the Montpelier Public Library " that is to
be-" such was the resolute confidence OF
the phrase sometimes employed. One de-
cided effort to recall to activity the commit
tee upon whose shoulders the former effort
had rested was made by five clergymen,
after conference at the Pavilion, to which
they were invited by Rev. II. #. Hill in
November, 1883, but it proved Intellectual;
hence the work done subsequently was done
in less orderly and systematic manner
than might otherwise have been the case.
1t was fortunately ascertained that several
| funds had been lying in the savings bank for
years, which might very properly with the
consent of those from whom they were de-
rived, be devoted to such public object as
library, particularly remnant of the
| fuu nd rais for bp a
Chicago fire, which had been transmitted to
Chicago and returned unused and a fund
left by Engine Company, No. 2, at the time
| of its disbandment, to be used for the bene-
fit, Of the village. on certain conditions, the
fulflment of which had been precluded by
the introduction of the Berlin pond water.
Measures were successfully taken to secure
these funds during the year 1884; and sew
eral persons undertook, in the latter part OF
that year, without formal appointment, to
ascertain how many of the original subscrib-
ers were willing to reaffirm their subscrip-
tions in case new effort were made. The
favorable response was so general that
number of those known to be interested in
the object were again called together to con-
slider the advisability of trying again. The
meeting was held in the ladies' parlor of
Bethany church December 9, Mr.. Fred
Blanchard occupying the chair and Mr..
Charles A. Owler acting as secretary; and
the attitude of the original subscribers, so
far as known, being set FORTH and state
ment being made concerning the amounts in
the savings bank in furtherance of the OBJ
ject, it was thought that there was encour-
agement enough to justify new campaign,
and the following persons were appointed a
soliciting committee: Miss Lucy j. Brad
, shaw, Messrs Wright, Hill, Hncks, Frost,
Mason, Babcock and Poland, Mrs Fred
Blanchard and Mrs. A. ID. Farwell. In its
essential features the original plan was fol-
lowed in the new effort, and the same arti-
cles of association were used. There was
no departure from the early determination
not to start the library without securing at
least 5000 for the purchase of books; but
the assurance of at least $500 from the funds
) just alluded to, and the amounts already
deposited in the savings bank for the Ii
brary, allowed reduction of the number OF
Z shares required from one thousand to nine
a hundred, and subscription papers were pre-
1 pared accordingly, making success condi-
, tonal upon obtaining bona tide subscrip-
) ton of nine hundred shares before March 1,
i 1885. Under this plan the endeavor was
crowned with success; the full amount was
q subscribed, a good number of shares being
\ taken by generous non-residents, the arti-
: cles of association, with the names of sub
scribers appended, were duly filed with the
: town clerk for record February 2S, 1885.
/ The first business meeting of the subscrib-
. ers was held in the conference room OF
!, Trinity church March 16 1885, Hon. Joseph
/ Poland in the chair, and, at an adjourned
3 meeting held March 49, the following per-
m |
q Hill, Hincks, Huse, Marvin, Smith and
p Wright, and code of bylaws was adopted,
), said trustees having been nominated, and
> said bylaws proposed by committee of six
r (of whom Hon. Hiram Carleton was chair
i NAM appointed for the purpose at the pre-
q vious meeting. At meeting OF the board
!. of trustees held at later date, at the Office
n of Messrs. Pitkin & Huse, Mr.. Fred e.
: Smith was chosen president of the board
a (and therefore of the assocation), Mr.. j. @.
/ Houghton secretary and Mr.. f. l.. Eaton
- treasurer. Subsequently Miss Mary Will
/ lard was chosen librarian. Many books
q were obtained by gift, more by purchase, a
n room was secured and furnished in the
:. Blanchard block, carefully considered regu
= lations were adopted aiming at the widest
n possible use of the books consistent with
h financial safety, Ladies' Library Guild in
e furtherance of the general object of the as
=, sociation was organized under the presi
4 dency of Mrs. j. V. Babcock, and the work
r. has been brought on to this auspicious houl
"a the eve of opening what we confidently
% trust will prove permanent and ever-grow
n ing public library at some time to include
y a reading-room open every day, and eventu
i ally TO be made, by the generosity of the
n friends of good morals, intelligence and re
N finement, entirely free to all the citizens o.
ia Montpelier and vicinity.
e Hiram A. Huse, Esq, had been invited tc
n tell what was in the library and what HI
Ie knew about books, and he made a very goo(
n beginning on the first part of his subject
At although in doing so he used up consider
it able more than the five minutes allowed hin
le for its entire treatment. The audience wa.
1T ready to excuse him, however, when he saiC
o. that the titles of the books iu the library
together with the names of their authors
Z. would alone fill more than fifty ordinary
). book pages. He called attention to the diff
Z ferent classes of literature embraced in the
= library, and the fact that each comprises tn,
,, standard works was duly emphasized
r. Works of fiction are most numerous
is there being in round numbers some 75O
a Histories number in the vicinity of 450 anG
n biographical, religious, scientific, juvenile
e. and poetcal works and books of travel are
a found in proportionate numbers. Books O.
n reference are numerous and are of the best
IS About 100 miscellaneous volumes have beer
)r received since the opening and others have
el yet to come. Several which were ordered
" are out of print, and the delay in receiving
Is others is due to various causes. The books
a have been properly numbered and recorded
Z. and are tastefully and conveniently ar
y ranged upon shelves, which completed,
T. cover the four walls of the room. In due
s. time catalogue will be prepared. Unit
s. then the librarian must be looked to as TIN
a source of information regarding the con
y tents of the library. Eighty-six card
p have now been issued, and the circulation
a, has exceeded one hundred volumes, o
~ this number the majority are juvenile, ant