Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-04-19

auu our own Sunuay senO0t library OF DE-
tween 400 and 500 volumes furnish an
abundance of good books. that are free to
all only the trouble of going for them Is
asked of the families needing them. You
may see how little these generous supplies
are used, by referring to the librarians
records, showing that in Sunday school of
$50 only about ten per cent. take out books
from the library, and that with at least be-
tween 1000 and 8. 1000 persons within easy
walking distance of the public library,
only about 100 persons usually make use
Of it,
You can easily see from these statistics,
that We do not let these libraries do so
much as they ought and might, TO furnish
the proper atmosphere In the homes for
Intellectual growth. 1t Is true that when
they are open only one day in the week
they are unavailable often when needed
Doubtless IL they were open six days In
stead Of one, they would be used six times
as much; and 1t Is to be hoped that In the
near future our town will so feel this
need that 1t will provide for It.
But with the best use OF them, they
hardly meet the want in the homes. Books
are needed In the homes themselves aud
should not be regarded as a luxury but as
necessity! Many parents seem to feel
bt atlAittl W tlt " use n
part of the home furnishings. when the
fortunes of the family are made; instead
OF beginning life with an appropriation
for books in the family expenditures. A.
they would for fire or lights. They are
absolutely essential for mental growth,
and like all necessities can be supplied.
Before we decide upon considering them
a. luxuries beyond the limits Of our
purses, let US be sure that there Is no op
portunity for improvement In the econom-
ical management of our homes.
Cannot our tables dispense with some
things, and yet he as healthy aud nourish-
ius for the body? Could not some dress
or bonnet be worn q little longer? Or
could not some entertainments at Hancock
hall be foregone! Or few less rides 10
Nicolin be taken' And thus books. the
needed intellectual food for our children.
be supplied: In these days Of cheap
editions Of the lest books very few dol
lars spent wisely every year viii bring a
valuable library into the home.
This. however. l. not q plea for large
libraries, but for at least some good books.
II Is the careful reading Of few good
books that has made many a man power
In this world. That great English preacher.
Frederick Robertson, whoee wide Influence
has been felt all over the English-speskin.
world. and who today is an influence for
good even in our own little church. say
In one OF his letters. that when he WAS Ia
oxford he read, bn, sixteen books. with
his tutors; but he read them 80 that they
became part of himself-"as the iron
enters mans blo"d"-and they were
books by sixteen OF the men who have
been leaders OF the world
- 81 IL. h..r HOOK. I
ing for, but for some Certain books of
Reference dictionary. an stias and, IT,
possible, an encyclopa ada, are exceeding
ly important In The homes They are the
stan of the intellectual life as 4 barrel OF
tpGr i - physical, only the barrel Is soon
emptied snd constantly needs replacing.
while an encyclopedias Is al Investment for
a lifetime
With the present nstAilment plan of
paying for these substantials. they are
obtainable by mos, persons. There ought
not "a be a day hardly but some one Of
these reference books would he called into
The family use Edward +. Hale who. by
the way. gives some most valuable -ng-
gc,tion- In his How To Do IT., SAYS it IS
shame 10 read the daily papers without
using the atlas to know ju-t the situation
OF places referred to. Ii is beneficial for
historical reading a. we'll As for geograph-
ical The use OF these reference books
can DO much TO nourish the mental growth
OF the family.
The shortness Of this psper and con
scious inability prevent giving a choice
OF books. We can. only suggest that 4
wise selection be made OF the yaiiJus De.
partments of literature. history, fiction,
poetry, biography, essays etc, always us-
ftr h.ap nj. 20 in
best. one should. think, as lnstlnc,lvely
shrink from allowing their children 10
read poor fiction a. from taking poison.
or feeding upon garbage; the effect upon
the mind and oftentimes upon the body IL
a. dangerous.
We only plead for the furnishing the
healthy, invigorzting stimulating atmos-
phere for the mental life In our homes
ihat comes from the presence of books
we'll used. Can We wonder the children
seek the streets evenings, when none Of
these attractions are found III the homes2
Papers and illustrated magazines and
books lying about are the best safeguards
:or them.
But parents whole work Is not accom-
plished by putting even An abundance Of
books in the homes; II is another thing
and more difficult In some eases TO lead
ourselves and the children into the use Of
them. Frederick Harrison, a Well known
literary critic, says the taste for reading
great books is not natural, but an acquired
one. and. ike all acquired things, some
effort has to be put forth TO gain 1t.
This power of acquisition is not con
fined to few. As late number of the
Outlook says ''lt is not a question Of
privilege 1t Is a question Of making the
most of what you have. II Il true some
have far greater opportunities than others.
but essential culture-tlIat Is, the ripeuing
of the soul by contact with the best that
has been thought and done in tie world,
is quite as much open 10 the man Of lin
tied opportunities as to the man Of great
opportunities. The test is the desire for
il and the Intelligence TO take it."
Culture can never be the real, practical
downright enrichment of life which il
ought 10 be until men have ceased to think
OF it as a luxury. In one sense IL Is Just
as widely open to the poor as TO the rich
one pair of eyes. one pair OF feet, one
open mind, one honest heart, few hours
OF leisure, a bit of country aud dozen
books supply the elements Of deep and
genuine culture for any one who will use
them"
One is never too old to make this effort;
many fathers and mothers have been led
through love of their children, and desire
TO have them enter rich fields of know
ledge, to set themselves to take up sys-
tematic course of reading or the study of
some subject, which has proved a most
stimulating tonic in awakening q love for
intellectual work, which reacts most prom
isingly upon the children's minds.
Schiller's biographer says that when he
was called to the chair of history at Jena,
he was SO unprepared for the work that
he was obliged to fit himself for his class
es by much study, and SO carried to his
students a certain freshness and enthu-
tion of knowledge.
Various little devices may be resorted to,
to bring any such newly-gained knowledge
into the family circle, that will do much
for the pleasure and happiness of the
home life, thus arousing a mutual interest
among the different members. Family
newspaper clubs. in which every member
Of the family shall report once a week on
the news of the week, is very simple
thing. but one that has been found to
awaken boys and girls interest not only
| in the affairs Of our country, but In Euro
pean politics also.
Sometimes the pleasure of the family
| table is increased by every member relat-
| ing something he has read or learned dur
| ing the day. Others have Introduced fam
| lily papers-one acting as editor, and all
contributing. Much out-loud reading is
| found helpful in some cases. At one Of
our best boys fitting schools in the coun-
trv nf ha he