Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-02-22
DISTRICT LIBRARIES.

With the long winter evenings again
with us we suppose it is quite in place to
reopen the reading question, writes cor
respondent of the National Stockman.
| propose at this time to give few
thoughts from the farmers standpoint.
1t is said that "reading makes a full man,"
but am sure that all the reading one
could do in most rural districts would
not make any one very full, for all the
books in the neighbOrhoOd would not give
much latitude in selecting. Many of our
bright boys and girls who would love to
spend every possible evening in reading
the many interesting and instructive
books that might easily be within their
reach are obliged, in the absence Of these,
to expend their pent-up youthful force in
playing useless games, in idle gossip
about their companions, or to go away
from home to seek entertainment that
will pass the long evenings away.
1t has been true in the past that very
large proportion of our great and useful
men were country boys, but unless some
new influence is brought to bear in our
farming communities our boys are going
to lose this very flattering distinction, for
they cannot be expected to keep pace
with their city cousins who are pamper-
ed, forced and coached all they will bear
Our country boys are left to fight their
battles unaided, and if it continues to be
so it must be losing fight. Why is this
so? Mainly because too many fathers are
too shOrt-sighted and stingy to spend few
dollars on that which is almost sure to
bring an almost limtless return. We
don't propose discussing any phase of
this question at present except that which
has reference to the furnishing our young
people with reading matter.
There is no sufficient reason why there
should not be good public library in
every school district. When we say a
good library we mean just what we say
not one composed of a few dozen novels
purchased out of the proceeds of some
supper. concert or entertainment, such
as is to be met with occasionally, but a
real library-One that is worthy of the
name. But it may be said that this is
mpossi BILE. 1t is not impossible unless
it be made so by the unwillingness of
those whose interests it would serve to
do their part. 1t is no uncommon thing
for man in the city, whose income is
fifty thousand dollars year, to give ten
thousand to library or to any other in
stitution in which he is interested. There
are few school districts that have with
in their boundaries less than half dozen
farmers that show, or ought to show, a
profit of five hundred dollars a year.
None of those farmers would think it any
hardship to spend fifty dollars, or sew
eral times that sum If it seemed neces-
sary, in any way that would promise to
brighten his prospects for future success
Then why not spend fifty dollars in such
a way as would be most likely to ado
UNNECESSARILY to the prospects of hi:
children's success In life? If such con.
tribution were made at least six hundred
dollars would be available for the pur
chase of a library. At the present range
of prices-which was never so low be
fore-this sum should secure at least one
!, thousand volumes of the very bes
works-history, biography, travels, sci
ence, and a sprinkling of the best works
of fiction, such as everybody should b,
acquainted with.
What power for good such an insti
! tuition might be, and what a factor i
would almost surely be in the props
. education and preparation Of our children
for their future work, whatever it nigh
= prove to be. And yet we feel prett,
sure that nothing of the kind will b.
done; because many who are quick to SCI
, the needs of their farms and stock, an,
ready to spend money on either, are SLOW
: to see the educational needs of their chill
dren or to provide for them when seen.