The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-16
Gents.
On Books.

VII nOOkss
There is probably no subject. except it be
man himself, that offers as many quotations
to begin an essay with as books. Every
young writer in the glow of enthusiasm
feels like eXhaustng the "Book Lovers
Rosary" on the subject Our excuse for re-
jecting them all is that we purpose to con-
slider its practical side only, dealing with
libraries in general, and the Minnesota
prison library in particular We are not
ungrateful for the privileges that we enjoy
from the present library and we clearly re-
cOgnze the fact that convict should be
thankful that he has library at all, yet.
since penOlOgists or prison managers furnish
library. it is but reasonable to expect that
they would supply such books as are best
fitted to benefit the cOnvcts-bOOks that
cOnvicts themselves most feel the want of.
We mean practical books on trades arts,
sciences etc.
There is no place in which library of
practical books would be more appropriate
than in a prison, because their readers are
mostly young men depending upon the skill
of their hands for their livelihood. but in
their youth-partly through lack of an APP
premiership system in America and partly
through ''chill penury"-they were pre-
vented from learning trade. Surely pen
OlOgistS have cOnned the maxim that the
best way to help man is to enable him to
help himself.
Many a man dates his success from the
time he first had access to good library.
James B. Eads. when he first went to St.
Louis. was. a poor newsbOy He was
adopted by wealthy citizen, who owned a
large scientific library, little used by him.
self. yet to that we are indebted for the ST.
Louis bridge.
We put it mildly when we say we were
disappointed in the collection of books in
this library. although many of them are
said to be classics. Books that one would
naturally expect to find here considering
their object to be reformative and educa.
tional, are not here at all. Samuel Smiles
works, ''Self Help" ''Dutz." Thrift"
"Character." Steele's fourteen courses in
the sciences; "Ganot's Physics" 1.-THE
Square and Its Uses" any one of which
would be of more benefit to person de.
pending upon his days work for support.
than car load of "Fleming." "Braddon"
and Dickens" Wehave heard murderer
say that but for the book Eugene Aram"
he would not be behind prison bars. and we
believe him. 1t is hard to estimate the in
fiuence for evil a sensational book will have
upon a mind of arrested development.
The number of practical books catalogued
in this library is just eight, and one half Of
that number are purely abstract There
is only one that is standard-that is
Rose" To any one who claims that such
books would not be appreciated here. we
Just refer them to the we'll thumbed condi-
tiOn of that one.
Now, we do not want it thought that we
are "kicker." We don't know who is to
blame for the present condition of things.
many of the books speak for themselves.
The poor print and cheap binding. the SUI.
prescription on the fly leaf--''presented
with the compliments" etc.. clearly indicate
the source whence they came. You seldom
find a Roper" ''BOswel's Johnson" or
"DictiOnary of the Arts and Sciences"
among the cleanings of their Literary
stables" But we take it for granted that
some books were bought for the library.
and if space would permit. we could show.
we think, why such books should be the
kind above indicated. g
A mans knowledge of practical affairs.
his capacity for doing work are his assets.
These represent his earning powers, and
his success will always be in proportion to
his capital.
A prominent bookseller of St. Paul once
told us that he sold copy of Victor Hugo's
Lies Miserables" every ten days, and copy
of Roper's Engineers Handy Book" every
six days. The price of the former is one
dollar and a quarter, of the latter, three
dollars and half. There is no need of
comment. They are both classics. or stand
ard books. and probably represent the
wants of readers better than any other ten
books we might select. LACON.
WI hn nlxc ho