Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

the truism, that the mind without books is
like an unweeded garden. The soil Is much
the same everywhere; it il the cultivation
which is the criterion.
'sThe collection of books. in the Penn
avenue rooms, is an excellent one. There
is no fashy literature there; all is sound,
though much is interesting The officials
there are always polite, and sometimes go
out of their way TO be civil to a visitor or
reader. As long as can, win say good
word for the library"
Father Sheedy was next visited. BE,
too. was in favor Of the library, ''ss far as 1t
went" ''Ot course" he continued. 81
don't think that many of the laboring class
thing if they did; but we must be practical
and admit that they don't. I'm afraid that
il is much the same with the majority Of
young clerks and men about town. OF
course advertising the institution might do
good, but fear the laborers think the place
too tony for them. At any rate they would
be out Of their depths, in the way of knowl-
edge, there. But for other classes, and for
the few laborers and clerks who 90 there the
place is worth, and well worth keeping. IF
it were only TO enable US to say that we have
public library, it ought to be supported. !"
BOOK DEPOT SCHEME.
Mr.. w. J. Bremen agreed with Father
Sheedy and Postmaster Larkin in saying
that the library should be maintained at all
cost, but considered that the fee Of 81 too
much to ask the ordinary workingman to
paw. 81 have got an idea of my own on the
subject of city libraries for workingmen, :"
said Mr.. Bremen. 81 believe that a small
but select depot of works, with a reading
room attached, should be placed in every
ward. These little book depots would do
far more good than the biggest of big Gen.
tral free libraries. The workingman doesn't
care to walk in from Lawrenceville or
Birmingham to read in q central
library. Give him room and books in his
own ward and he'll go there fast enough.
If he gets beyond the stock of standard
works in the ward reading room he may think
it worth his while to come to a central
library, and for that reason, if for DO other,
think the Penn avenue establishment is
worth keeping. Another drawback to the
present system, in the laborer's eyes, is the
fact that there is no room for discussion in
the reading room. In the long established
and successful Southside vorkingman's
library, talk and free debate was allowed.
The result was that what one man got from
the books, be impaired to his friends, and
they discussed the authors opinions, and
read the book themselves. Thus great
thoughts and truths were brought homo to
every man, no matter how unlettered, or
how unsophisticated. Those are the faults
find with central libraries in general. But
for the reasons have mentioned and for
the sake of the bright minds which the
library NAV inspire, among those who read
its books, unhesitatingly say that Pitts
burg should hold by the library"
Mr.. William Martin, Secretary of the A.
A. of L S. W., knew very little about the
library question beyond what he had read
in the newspapers. He had nothing to do
with the laborer's literary leanings. "I
have no doubt, " said he, "that the library
does much good, but don't think many
workingmen go there. In fact, have yet
to meet laborer who avows himself a sub
scriber or reader there. Advertising may
induce laborers to join, but 1 don't think
the number will amount to much. The fee
we'll the fee is high to some workers, and
low to others. Four dollars year means
much to labcring man.
BOOKS A BENEFIT.
''Of course agree that books do good;
what sensible man does not? agree that
laborer is benefited By books. But you know
what too much of good thing means. La
borers don't always find time to go to the Ii
brary, and if they did go they would feel i'll
at ease among the richly-dressed folks they
would meet there. But if the Penn avenue
library does little good to the laborer, it GER
tainly does him no harm. For that reason
would preserve it.
Finally body Of Booth & Films merrie
men was interviewed as they ate q hurried
lunch at a street corner. One of
them said he was q subscriber at the
library, but admitted that he always went
there Tin his best suit Of clothes" He was
q handsome, athletic young fellow. and
would have looked well in any clothes.
An old workman said: "I don't take.no
stock in libraries. got enough learning to
do me my life in little school house up the
river. But my sons are fond of books, and
one of them is going to be telegraph oper-
ator. know he is member of the Penn
Avenue Library, and know he likes 1t
very we'll. And that's all know or want
to know about it"
With the above opinions the interroga-
tor was satisfied to rest. When law, labor,
politics, divinity and the civil service give
their ideas on the subject, pretty good no
tion of what the public thinks of the Penn
Avenue Library and its work can be formed.
Brennan.