The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-10
THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY.

1t is 70 be hoped that the reduction in
the quarterly dues OF the Mercantile Ii
| brary 10 81 so will have the effect of in
ereasing the number of subscribers so as to
place the institution on paying basis.
There was no justification for advancing
the dues and it was we'll to retrace the
step. But the adoption of the old rate
does not of itself insure that the library is
going to be placed on paying basis.
The situation at present is this. With
the receipts from subscribers and from the
rents of upstairs rooms the library just
pays its way without providing the in
;erest on the debt of 5000 due TO the
Hibernia Bank and secured by mortgage
at per cent. If it cannot increase its
ordinary income in one way or another it
will be unable in two or three years to pay
interest on the mortgage and likewise to
pay salaries to the Librarians and buy
books. Either one or the other will have
to be sacrificed or an appeal will Fave to
be made to the public for assistance. 1t
goes without saying that such an appeal
might be successful. Sau Franciscans
have made one or two sacrifices before to
set and keep the library on its feet. They
would again put their hands in their
pockets rather than see the institution 60
down. There is no novelty in the straits
through which the library rs passing.
Every mercantile library in the country
has had struggle to hold its own against
the competition of free libraries and Me-
chanics' Institute libraries. One by one
they are all emerging from the crisis and
resuming their usefulness.
But it seems that a plan might be de-
vsed by which the chief attraction of the
library-its splendid room-mlght be turned
TO account. There is no such room any
where IN San Francisco. There is no such
library hall in the United States. 1t is
centrally located and easy of access. Sup
pose the subscribers to the Mercantile
were invited TO form among themselves a
society or club for social. literary, muSi-
cal and artistic purposes. They could
give assemblies in their hall. which would
probably become the most fashiona BILE in
the city. They could give concerts. lee
lures and exhibitions of pictures. They
could charge round sum for mem bership
in such society. and the income so de-
rived would supply fund for the purchase
of books and the encouragement of music
and art. Would not the body eventually
become the real center Of social life in this
city?
The organization of such social, liter
airy and artistic club would not supersede
or absorb the present Mercantile Library
Association. The only necessary connec-
ton between the two would be that none
but members of the library association
could become members of the club. and
that the club should on one evening of the
week hire the exclusive use OF the Library
Hall either for dance, or for concert, or
for lecture, or for a picture show. OF
course the success of such scheme would
depend on the quality OF the people who
undertook to carry it ont. 1t would need
the cooperation Of persons of social stand
ing and Of literary and artistic repute. 1t
might be good idea TO infuse into the
board of trustees a little of the feminine
element. 4 few of the gentlemen who
cannot find time to attend meetings would
probably be willing to resign 20 make
way for ladies, who in matters social, lite
rary and artistic are often better advisers
than men.
What the library wants is an addition OF
about $1,000 year to its income without
any addition to lis expenses, Two hundred
and fifty members of the club at $40 eac h
would furnish that sum. and if the club
superseded the present social organizations
which cherish pretepsions to be the only
true and original Jacobs, as 1t probably
would. the number of applicants for mem
bership would exceed that figure. There is
gregarious spirit abroad in the land
which is tending 10 the formation of an
elegant superfluity of clubs, male and
female. 1t might be advantageous 10 more
ways than one to direct the spirit into a
channel in which its usefulness would have
chance to develop.