Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-12-11
COMMUNICATED.


which are unnecessary TO mention
we are an env:able community. Shop
herdstown has become famed in many
directions, and travel In any direction
YOU please, il perchance you meet
stranger who may have passed few
DAYS in our place, you willsind him
to be unstinted i'm his praise OF our
quiet old town. Yet, however thank
full we may be for such compliments.
however grateful we may be for the
strength and responsibility OF our
reputation i'm these things. we should
not rest contented. This is a pro-
gressive AEGEAN age when the genius
OF men seems to be competing for
some masterful achievement before
the close of this last decade OF the
century. We are aware that our
town is nc: advancing perceptibly in
this general movenent-it would be
impossible in many instances. Yes,
there is no doubt that ii is impossible
for our streets to be lighted with cleo
tricity, for our people to enjoy the
protection of paid fire company,
and for water to be conducted from
the spring of rs throughout the
town (although rumor says that some
OF our citizens are seriously conteln-
plating the latter scheme). But
while these things may never be,
there is one fact that should impress
itself upon us. There are some ways
in which we can advance the Interests
of our town, and these should be- fully
appreciated and improved. The pur-
pose of the writer is TO place only one
of these before the readers OF the
REGISTER. There is no doubt but
that the absence Of the standard pub
LEGATIONS of the day (this term TO In
clude the magazines, reviews, crltl-
cisms, etc. from tue majority OF our
people-should and could be prevented
by some systematic planning. aud
little giving by our people. There
are several ways in which these pub
locations could be secured, and ar
ranged so that the entire community
could be benefited. We will say no
more on this point, but hope that by
calling attention to 1t some pan
may be put in operation for its reall-
70 ton.
The matter we wish to present to
the readers of the REGISTER ls our
great need of good circulating IL
b-ary. The need of such a library
ought, il seems to us, TO be apparent
TO the people of our town. From
some little knowledge, we know that
rather than be without all forms OF
reading the young people will invest
in u stock of cheap, trashy and SEN
satIoual literature. In some instances
this can be easily explained. The
works of the standard authors are in
many cases "out of sight" OF our
Young people, and consequently the
alternative. We grieve that this not
always the cause. Some time ago
we remember reading the following
lines of Jonn Ruskin: Life being
very short, and the quiet hours OF 1t
are few, we ought to waste none OF
them in reading valueless books; and
valuable books should, in q civilized
country, be within the reach OF every
one, printed in excellent form, for
Just price Ii a book Is worth
'readIng it is worth buying. No book
is worth anything which is not worth
muchh Again, We are told TO read
only the bravest and the MODEST OF
books; books forged at the heart and
fashioned by the Intellect of pure
man" 1t is an undeniable fact that
the perusal Of the light, sensational
literature of this age does much to
promote fickleness Of mind, and to
produce unstableness of character
Some one has said that IF book be
worth reading once, it is worth read
ing twice, and that if it stands sec
ond reading, it may stand third. -
This, indeed, is the one great test OF
the excellence Of books. 1t seems
at much contained in these extracts
has never been thought Of by many
OF our people-especially the young
people. There is one thing, however.
that we should remember rs COM
muuity, viz: And valuable books
should, in Il progressive community,
be within the reach of everyone. y"
We cannot claim this for our town,
and this matter should receive the at
tention of he thinking and acting
people. John Bright once said that
there is no greater blessing that can
be given to q community than love
of books" This can only he done by
placing them within the reach OF
everyone In many towns much
smaller lhau Shepherdstown clrcula-
ting libraries have been established,
and are on firm. substantial basis.
All that is needed to establish such
library in our town is that the men
who are interested in the welfare or
ourtown should think and act. There
are many ways by which the desired
end, the establishing Of such library,
could be accomplished. We would
| occupy too much valuable space TO
enumerate them, but may in another
article. The object OF this comlnunl-
cation is to place this Iuatter before
our people. Some may object on the
ground that we cannot afford such q
| library. Yet, We unhesitatingly make
the assertion thai the utility OF SUCH
a library would amply repay the out
lay. A good circulating library is not
luxury, but one Of the necessaries
of life. The long winter evenings
will soon be here-and how shall they
be occupied? There will be great
deal of leisure, how shall it b. EN-
ployed? This is a true saying. THE
| Improvement of little time may be
gain to all eternity" The gains which
would be made by esta blishing cir
culating library composed OF the
works of the standard authors
could never be known until we should
enter eternity itself.
The Christmas season Is upon us
again. We are all busily engaged
preparing surprises for our friends.
| The stores are crowded-the goods
are bought, and then quietly secreted
until Christmas day. This thought
has come to us, that while all these
tokens of esteem and regard are be-
ing prepared by US individually, why
should not this town. this entire CON-
munity, be made glad at this Christ,
mas tide by seeing some decisive
steps taken for establishing a library
in our place. Nothing could bring