The herald., 1893-07-16

eyed to indulge his individual predilec
tions, but in the public library many
inclinations have to be consulted, ant
to dictate in an arbitrary way what
shall or shall not be read is to introduce
a policy of 'sblunder and plunder'
(since the money is provided by the
taxpayer) and 10 frustrate the chief OBJ
ject of the institution, which is un
doubtedly the greatest good to the
greatest number.
Consider how unlimited is the intiu.
ence of the library A chance allusion
in a commonplace book may open up
fresh ideas to the reader and lead him,
insensibly, from the trivial to the solid
and practical. We recognize in these
days that the due culture and exercise
OF the imaginative faeultyis as necessary
to adults as to children. The intense
absorption Of the age in the sctualities
of life, its ever increasing subjection to
the tyranny of the real has produced O
natural revolt, and the sliterature OF
romance has received powerful i'm
petus.
1t may be safely affirmed that to the
majority reading signifies relaxation.
The literary worker would scarcely elect
to spend his leisure among books. He
would be glad to quit the daily routine
and change his occupation. Merry and
Wise have too long been made antago-
nists. They ought to be good comrades
here as elsewhere. Union is
strength"
The desideratum, then, is to induce
the reading public to find their amuse-
ment in the higher grades of literature,
to persuade them to exchange shadow
for substance, to select from the
library menu such substantial
fare as will strengthen their msn-
tai and moral fiber. And in this
direction lies the highest and best de-
velopment of the employees duty. There
are few, if any, who are not occasionally
asked to exercise their judgment on be.
half of the borrower, and il any earnest
endeavor be made to substitute books
which convey information, elevating
sentiment, noble and inspiring ideals,
for the worthless and insipid pages,
quickly read, to be as soon forgotten,
much will be achieved towards the best
and most permanent education. The
responsibility and labor involved are
considerable, but 1t should be the ambi-
tion OF all concerned to aid those
who will allow them the oppor.
tunity. This guidance need not SAVIOR
of impertinent interference with per-
sonal choice, nor is it necessary to 60
outside the realm of fiction. The novel
has not only its charm, but its serious
value. If not profound or comprehen-
sive, it impresses upon us the fact that
its characters are human beings. The
ordinary historian reduces them to mere
mechanical mummies. 1t need not be
assumed that pleasure and profit are
strangers. and if there be mo royal road
to learning" at least the byways may
be made as agreeable and serviceable as
the highways.
Those who draw books are, as class,
culpably careless as to the quality OF the
literature they peruse, and will take. to
use their faverite expression, "most any
thing"
Such people are not interesting, and
keenly resent any marked endeavor to
improve their present unsatisfactory po-
siticn. An attempt at education, pure
and simple, would be an egregious error.
When they can be induced to educate
themselves. unconseiously, through
their recreation, the battle will be near
ly won. ,-,1
High class fiction is an enormous fac
tor in the uplifting OF the many who
cannot meet on equal terms the culti-
waited members of society. In the pages
OF books they can mingle with refined
men and women of every rank and all
s.hadaa of -anininn- and -brar -nus usstiona
general conversation.
Not to separate, but to amalgamate
e. facation and recreation, is the solution
of the question, and all who have the
interests OF their fellow men and their
own public library at heart, can only
wish "euccesa to the union"
ata GERTRUDE DARLow.