The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26
THE GREATEST OF PUBLIC B%ENEFAOToRs.

many men who have been successful in
business when they arc prompted by a
sense of duty. or by q desire to be held
in grateful remembrance as benefactors,
to bestow a portion of their wealth
where it will add to the educational fla
~cilities of the country. Many of the
most useful colleges of the land owe
their successful existence to the
requests of such men. This is
particularly Ltrus of UNCONVENTIONAL
colleges and iseminaries. In their
zeal to Strengthen denominations their
champions, during the past century,
have practically nourished the greater
portion of the higher institutions of
learning which have given the country
by far the larger part of its educated
men. They have rendered the country
a great service, ven if their zeal has
led them to found more schools than, in
some localities, seem to be necessary.
They havS induced the wealthy and
well-to-dO lay men, or contributing ele-
ment, in their churches and church con-
nections to contribute literally. just
now they are building several preten-
tious universities in localities which
seem to have rs many institutions of
higher education as can be supported.
In view of this fact 1t seems that the
time has come when thOse who do
sire to contribute to the education of
the people IN the future should be in
duced to direct more of their attention
and donations to public libraries. just
now there are enough colleges, but
there will never be enough public libra
ries until there is one free to oil in
every considerable community In
fact, the free public library should
be the sequel of the free public
school. The public school furnishes the
child the tools with which to acquire in
formation, but they are of limited value
to him If, in after life, he has not the
material ut hand to which to apply them.
Therefore, hext to a public schoOlsys-
tenn. communities need, for the educa-
ton and intelligence of the people. pub
lie libraries, made MP largely of ency-
ClOpCutdot OOOA8S
treatises on political and social topics,
the better current literature and the
higher class of fiction. More than ever
before in the life of the Republic, our
people are seeking information regard
ing it's history and it's institutions. The
revolution which the steam-engine, the
railway. tho telegraph, and the fresher
advent of electricity is causing in the
industries, and. indeed, In the life of
the country has aroused a spirit of in
quiry and a desire to "know things"
which did not exist years ago. when the
lawyer, the doctor and the parson were
revered as the reservoirs of ali in
formation and all knowledge. University
extension has beer presented to meet
this demand, but, while it il to be COM
mended. It is wholly inadequate to give
the public the information it desires.
The public library, wisely instituted
and kept up. alone can meet this grow
ing demand for information. Now, be-
cause such institutions are rare, they
are not SO much thought of, but once
let the people understand their value
and they will demand them as they now
do the public school.
Here. then, is a field for those who
would be public Generators. By giving
thousands To q college a few persons
will gratefully remember the donor,
while in laying the foundation of a
good public library the man who does
it will be praised as a benefactor by
thousands in every generation. for
whom he has opened the fountains of
knowledge.