The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-09
The Library for Newberry.

To the Editor of The Herald and
News:-Last weeks edition Of The
Herald and News contained an edi-
torial comment on the efforts now be-
ing made to establish in the town of
Newberry library. The Herald and
News was pleased, moreover, to ap-
prove of the idea-very correctly saying
that the library will be organized. AS
yet, however, the plan of organization
has not been selected, that being a
matter to be determined by those who
establish the society or association.
Meanwhile, all light on the subject
will, doubtless, receive most cordial
welcome; and it is to be hoped that
those who feel an interest in the move
ment will attend the meeting to be
called for the purpose Of adopting some
line Of action in respect to the matter
and by their counsel and cooperation
aid in making the foundation success
full and beneticent undertaking.
Libraries are institutions by no means
unfamiliar to the people of South Caro-
lima. AS matter of fact, the idea of
creating for the general good common
storehouse of books was one of the
many very excellent seeds brought
over from the old country by the early
colonists. In a few communities, these
institutions, in spite of adverse circum-
Stances have long been nurtured; but,
unfortunately, in many instances-pos-
sibly in the majority of instances-they
have ither languished or altogether
ceaseu to exist. Recently, however,
the idea has in several places been re-
vlved with results that appear to be
highly satisfactory and encouraging.
That such institutions have not of late
years to a greater extent fiourished in
this State, that their possibilities as
factor in the cause of popular education
have not been more fully recognized
and that more widespread and last
ing interest in their formation and
maintenance has not been aroused and
kept alive may be ascribed to various
causes of which the fault of the people
themselves may, possibly, be one.
Whether the world is indebted to en-
lightened Egypt for the origin of libra
ries or whether their germs may be
found in those collections of inscrip-
tlons on the walls and temples of for
gotten races may he a point of dispute
never to be satisfactorily settled. Be
that as it may, however, ever since
man first learned the art of communi-
eating his thoughts to others by means
OF symbols painted, drawn, or chiseled
upon substances capable of receiving
impressions the notion of gathering
those productions together for present
use and for future reference has seemed
to prevail. Greece, for example, bor-
rowing her culture from the Nile, is
said to have numbered among the very
many institutions of which she could
justly boast several well-knoWn as we'll
as useful libraries, and the Roman
eagles bore back to the Tiber these
same institutions. Nor should the fact
be overlooked that on the breakup of
the western empire, it was in the libra
ries of cloister and convent that the
sparks of civilization destined for all
time to illumine the world were pre-
sented and kept aglow.
The wonderful impulse given to the
realm of letters by the revival Of learn
ing, bringing with it the invention of
the art of printing, FASTENED the for
nation and growth of libraries until at
last they have found their way to every
land in Christendom. Under the liberal
training Of the common schools of
modern times, moreover, libraries are
now everywhere recognized as institu-
tions at once both desirable and neces-
sary. No longer the especial sanctuaries
of the learned, they have become the
workshops of modern social life. To-
stead of being found only in the great
centres of population and industry,
thlssiSI1sav thls been firnnlz- ssa- successfully
and 25ssa9s gson hs SS2sy? s2esss! R12sss
persons WILL C
contact, ~ =,
GhE-A WORLD. ,