The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-26
The Public
Library Question.

pointing out from time to time, tn
great value Of free public libraries a
a means for spreading popular educa
ton. In an article in this department
In The Century for June, 1892, we said
A library Is of more use, in an educa
tional way, than a high school. TIL,
taste for good reading is the true doc
to culture, and Is the taste for gooC
reading be once established in a younf
person, there is an absolute certainty
Of the attainment of a degree OF cul
ture which persevering years in schoo
cannot give. 1t is not enough to hav'
free schools. A widespread movement
for libraries, which shall be either
wholly free or exceedingly cheap
would be most wholesome one. The
abolition of the low-priced, pirated pro-
ductions, which we hope to see brought
about by copyright, would leave the
field free for libraries, and libraries
would render American as we'll as Eng
lish literature Of easy access to the
=. humblest.
This hope about copyright is at last
realized, and we are glad to see in
many directions indications that its
fulnllment has come at very oppor-
tune moment so far as the growth OF
the free library movement Is concerned
1t is most encouraging to learn that
within the past few years there has
been a steadily growing interest in this
subject manifested in nearly all parts
of the country. The chief reason of
this has undoubtedly been the action of
Massachusetts in creating a Free Pub
lie Library Commission, whose jealous,
intelligent, and successful exertion
has commanded the envy, and excited
the ambition of every state. The Mas
sachusetts commission was authorized
by law which was passed in 1890. 1t
Is composed Of five persons, appointed
by the governor who hold office for
five years, but whose terms expire in
different years, one new commissioner
being appointed each year. They are
authorized to expend, on the applica-
ton of board of library trustees of
any town having no free library. owned
and controlled by the town, sum not
exceeding 800 for books, to be used in
establishing a free public library. The
trustees who make the application
must have been duly and regularly
elected at town meeting. The law
provides that towns establishing libra
rles under the act, shall appropriate
a certain sum each year. according to
the assessed valuation of their property
for the use and maintenance Of the
library. The governor appointed as the
first commission, Mr.. c. d. Tillinghast,
of Boston, Mr. Samuel s. Green. Of
Worcester, Mr.. Henry s. Nourse. Of
Lancaster, Miss e. p. Sohier. of Bever-
ly and Miss Anna e. Picknor. Of
Boston.
The impulse impaired to this most
worthy and patriotic work of popular
education has not been confined to Mas
sachusetts. 1t has spread all over New
England, and is felt perceptibly IN
many western states. New Hampshire
has created a similar commission, and
other states are preparing to do the
same in the near future. There are
memorial library buildings going up In
increasing numbers yearly in all parts
Of New England, and free public libra
ries are coming to be more and more
recognized branch of the educational
machinery of every city and town. An |
imperfect report of the gifts and be- |
quests to libraries in the United States, |
of which record could be obtained. |
which was made to the Conference of |
Librarians in San Francisco in Octo-
Der, 1891. placed the total at nearly
$24 100000. The true total Is undoubt-
edly far in excess of that, but this Is
a sufficiently large sum to give encour-
aging evidence that people of wealth
realize the Importance of the work
which libraries are doing.
1t is urged with great earnestness by
the leaders in the free library move
ment that in order to perform perfect
ly their high and useful mission, all
public libraries should be absolutely
free. The charging of a fee, however
small, greatly reduces the usefulness of
any library. The testimony or statls-
tics on this point is conclusive. When
the public library of Springfield, which
had been charging a small annual fee,
was made free in 1885, the number OF
increased during the year
from 1,10O to over 1000, and the circuit
tion of books from 41,OOO to $4,000. A
similar change in the Otis library In
Norwich. Connecticut, made about
year ago. increased the number of
books taken out during the following
year, from 500 to 5000. March Century.
Specimen Cases.
S. II. Clifford, New Cassel, Wis, was
troubled with neuralgia and rheumatism,
his stomach was disordered. his liver was
affected to an alarming degree. appetite
fell away, and he was terribly reduced In
flesh and strength. Three bottles OF Elec-
trlc Bitters cured him.
Edward Shpherd, Harrisburg, ILL.,, had