Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-01-22
APLEA ron THE z. NJ. c. A. LIBRARY.
Causttc Remarks m to the Defense OF tho
stomach and Neglect OF tho Brain.


Stomach and Neglect OF tho Brain.
MEssRs. EpIroRs: The managers OF
the Y. NJ. e. A. library are at present
making the strongest efforts In their power
70 improve It. That they should receive
the most generous encouragement from all
cur citizens ought 10 go without saying.
But 1t does not.
The best university In these days, ("
says Carlyle. ais q good collection OF
books"; and all who are capable Of per-
forming that rare act among the sons of
mon, a little honest thinking for themselves
know that the rugged Scotch iconoclast Is
right. The university Is, Of verify, a
good collection Of books; or rather-and
this 10 what the philosopher means---a good
collection Of good books.
Yet consider this city Of ours rich In
banks, rich In market houses, rich in men
of wealth, and so wretchedly poor In pub
lie libraries! II our bank presidents, d.
soctoTs and depositors our market house
stockholders and our wealthy merchants
md manufacturers are capable of praise.
worthy spirit of emulation, lot them go to
Wilkesbarre, for example, and consider
her ways and be wise. She is, In compar-
tson, poor enough In banks, market houses
v
magni6cent building In which IL enshrined
ffes public library of ten thousand tlo,-
oo0) volumes, only one-tenth Of which Ia
Aeaon--a free library Of new books, se-
lscted with the greatest care and contain
1ng the cream ofthe literature of all nations
I'D Of all ages.
& u u not an absolute disgrace, therefore,
toa city ~ old and as wealthy as Lancas.
seee--a city which was once the capital OF the
united States and which Is to-day the
tpentre Of the richest agricultural county in
~ nation-that its educated people and
~ members of its churches, all of whom
oFo ostensibly In sympathy with the Y. NJ.
C. A., should permit Its library to lack not
only 70 many ofthe masterpieces of fmodern
0seraturs. but scores Of the classic works
efantquityf
= r. II not possible to arouse our people TO
: senss Of duty to themselves? Shall it
pputinue to be said that In this city you
en- get all the money you want TO erect
calls for the sale of pork and cabbages, or
~ the building Of strong to hoard
~ "hlthy lucre'' gained by the sale ofthese
nlngs, but scarcely q penny for library
1hoaves filled with books? Millions for
4o6pnse ofthe stomach, but not one cent
~ tribute to the brain-shall this be the
anetto Of the city and county which gave to
~ world Fulton, buchanan, Stevens
I'D Nevini
Do We not owe something better than
ehias mot only to ourselves, but to the fair
6ns OF our city! Do We not owe 1t
~ our childrens We give them, free of
S1Anrge, the rudiments OF an educati on, but
WAen they graduate at our high schools
- ask for Intellectual bread, we give
I'm stone and the money paid for even
&10e Stone. such ~ the trust company is
1nn1ng In front Of its new building, would
0pehase many a loaf Of bread for the
qin. Our public libraries should be a
Y %1ece Of pride, not cause OF shame. Let
~ cttisens see to 1t that when they call
halp they do not call In vain.
<E< GEO. r.. VANDALEAR