Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-25
NEED OF A LIBRARY.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED AT A PUB
Lie MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT.
Speeches Made by DIR. Page, Mayor Ely
son, Colonel Anderson, and Others
Great Interest EvInccd.

PANNNAS hplic III buo Sohei"i P"AN v
city for the Rosemary Library and Read
ing-Room, and TO increase its facilities and
extend its field of usefulness.
The attendance of citizens was not large,
but those present were among the most
enterprisIng and public-spirited.
DR.. Thomas Nelson Page presided, and in
his opening remarks he expressed regret
that the audience was not larger. and ac-
counted for 10 on the hypothesis that
those who stayed away had associated their
presence here with some pecuniary obllga-
ton. He wished to Impress upon his
hearers the fact that they did not intend
10 impose anything Of the kind upon them
but would have been thankful for any con-
tributlon they might have chosen to give.
As THE NUmEus.
Those who were present, DR.. Page con-
tinued, were sufficient, however, for the
purpose for which the meeting had been
called. which was for a respectable nucleus
upon which TO build up the Rosemary LII
orary. 1t was the germ. The present loca-
ton OF the library is on the confines OF the
city, in an inaccessible locality. lt occu-
pied only two rooms. Small as it IS. 1t u
already having good effects, one of which is
the formation of literary club. 1t has
awakened an interest in the subject. AT
present there are no public libraries here
save two. One had 10000 volumes. packed
up and inaccessible TO the people, save
through the courtesy Of the gentlemen in
charge of them The other IL a negro Ii
brarT containing from 1900 to 5000 books
The lack of a real public library here is a
degradation to the city.
ONE OF OUR GREATEST NEEDS.
Upon invitation Mayor Ellyson next ad-
dressed the aSsemblage. He said two years
ago he was interviewed by reporter who
wished to know what he thought was the
greatest need of Richmond. He answered
then a public library and en art-gnliery,
and he thought so now. Richmond had
reached that point in her growth when
the cultivation of the hearts of the
boys and girls should be looked after
by putting within their reach good books.
Recently he visited the North, saw tho
public libraries. and visited many of them
and noted the uses and effects Of these in
stitutions. He had asked for the lists Of
books contained in them, and wanted 70
know what we're read most. Much to his
surprise three fourths Of tine books taken
out were of q historical and scientific
character. Novels of the meaner sort were
not asked for. From that hour he had
been impressed with the Importance OF a
discouraged by the small number of per-
sons present. He desired 1t understood
that he would rejoice to cooperate with
any persons TO secure library.
SPEECH by JUDGE wuLFoRD.
Judge Wexford spoke next. He heartily
endorsed what the Mayor had spoken. For
q long time he had been impressed with the I'M
portsnce Of apublic library In our midst, The
war vas oyor, but tho results Of u We not past
He was not looking at the past history OF the
State, glorious % 10 was, but at the future. This
library would stimulate the people % giester
deeds by the FnoWlsdge of the past that
IL would impart. The library would make
the city literary lighthouse, as well as the po-
litlcal one that she has boon In the past. Our
position on account OF the need OF public libra
ries is unequal 10 our merits. Look az Now Eng
land Snd follow her example. Her influential
position should impress us Nearly every city
OF 10000 people there has i;s public library, and
better literary facilities than Richmond with
its much greater population. We need it
for instruction. This city should be the literary
centre Of tho South, which IL cannot be without
apublic library. so that any line OF study may
be pursued II was In his recollection whom no
one would read IN American book and the
North sneered at southern literature. This was
due not 70 poverty. but 10 the absence OF
the means OF cultivation. Historical books
10 original sources, Wo cannot preserve fho
purity OF our women nor the Valor OF our men
without such ad1uncts. Those qualities will be
lost 70 us If left to other resources. Tho library
will stimulate them and bring them TO the front
lie would point 10 what could be done by south
ern minds when an opportunity Yss offered by
referring TO tho literary works Of the president,
Mr.. Page. Virginia would yet exceed the past
FELT DEEP INTEREST.
Colonel Archer Anderson said be came 10 tes-
tify and express his deep sense of the need Of
such library as Mr.. Page proposed 10 form.
I faFa al
but II was practically closed 10 the public The
person who now desired TO inform himself In
science, politics, or any special line OF thought
was. with our inadequate means, utterly unable
TO got even an elementary knowledge. He
would say like certain kngli5hman that IL
would cost a man now el00 to get ESQ worth OF
kno gledge on account OF the lack OF literary
facilities No man can produce sertous lltera-
turo without n library. lie was looking from
the point Of view Of producers who never put
pen 70 paper whose minds con be enlarged and
coiored. He hoped some benehcent man would
soon arise 10 complete inc work OF the small be-
ginning by making handsome contribution.
Mr.. HUTzLER's vIEws.
Mr.. Charles Hut2ler said he knew so few peo-
pie present that be felt embarrassment and the
need OF An Introduction. He was business
man. and would have TO borrow language from
Colonel Archer Anderson and say that no came
10 "indlcate his interest" In tho library scheme.
IL had been stated that there wore only two
Rosemary for the present Was even willing TO
tsko third place IN the galaxy. twenty
four years ago, when n youth, with other
small boys no had helped 20 start littIo
library with twelve or fifteen dollars. It was tho
nucleus OF the present Jefferson Literary
Association, which now had 100 or moro vol
umes. A little boy upon being asked what was
education said IL was thing that lew persons
possessed. There was nothing so ennoDllng ana
elevating as books and the people should have
ha o.
colleges gave knowledge, but they rAther iur-
nished the groundwork for acquiring It
knowledge was developed later In life from
books. which are the storehouses OF morality
and tho best friends person can haVo'
GREAT PUBLIC MED.
Dr. Landrim heartily endorsed the move
ment. Previous speakers. he said, had covered
the whole ground. The library was great pub
lie noed. This movement would DO no failure.
He proposed instead OF asking for money that
persons Interested should testify IL by making
a presentation OF q book, as many volumes
could 5e obtained in this way. He knew OF a
respectable library being formed on this plan.
IL would show how many persons were inter-
ested. Let 10 be made public mat eyeryDody
giving a book should be identified with the
movement and know that he or she was part
OF the concern.
Reading prolongs our lives, the speaker con-
tinued, and makes "the full man." Without
books we become provincial and marrow, ~
hNSAN
two or threo hundred men can also be counted
upon. This is practical.
MANY THE SPEAKERS.
Mr.. W. X. Meredith was afraid If he spoke that
the speakers would outnumber the audience.
Nevertheless he would say that no endorsed
what had been said by those preceding him. The
present small quarters OF tho Rosemary were
we'll used, with an average attendance OF thirty
or forty persons, which OF itself Is very
good outcome, but its scope must bc
enlarged. One gentleman had promised
$1,000, Mr., Page can get Sl,OOO-t2,oUO VIII
secure fooihold, and then 1t VIII WORK
itself up, and they will 90 10 the Legislature
and get tho state Library, and make II practical
ginis history could be established, but you could
not now for want Of valuable authorities. flr.
ginians know less OF their own history than did
the English themselves. IL pasn wants 70
write anything he has to go away from homo 70
prepare himself-perhaps 10 England. Couid
Commodore Maury have written his DOCKS IN
Yirginia7
There was talk Of starting a magazine hero.
Mr.. Meredith continued. but tnere u not mere
The toolB ero needed. A hundred tnoussnu
dollars would not establish magazine wltnou.
q library TO draw from. A negro speaker had
said that the civilization OF Plymouth hYes' bu!
that OF jamestown, which had once awakened
the world, had now perished. so the peryerslon
OF history would go down 10 posterity on ac-
count OF the lack OF libraries and auihorines'
TIE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ENLARGED.
Mr.. Page said 90 little was known OF our Viz.
ginia history that he had heard disunguisned
graduate Of the University OF virginia say tna'
he had never heard OF Hosison's History OF Nir-
RtniA