The Newtown bee., 1894-03-09


 educational work of the town and state It may be for the reason that he knew 0 my experience in establishing and man aging other public libraries. And still for aught know, he may have address ed similar letters to others in this town In any case I wish my connection witt this movement to be clearly understood from the beginning.
 It was very unJimely and unhappy suggestion think, made by GA Sub scriber, ''in next the last issue of THE BEE from which it might be inferred, before the committee had even agreed upon tht exact form of their report, that an at tempt was being made to snatch the Ii | brary away from it's devoted subscriber! and drag it down into the valley for tht sake of ''a few subscribers from Sandy Hook.''
 Now I wish 50 have it understood that whatever the traditions and prejudices o1 this town may be, I have no sympathy with them, nor respect for them, which ever side of the railroad they may be on l And 1 am sure it does not take proph ct to fOresee that there can be little hope of any general prosperity in any com munity where such spirit of distrust prevails. Let me say plainly that what ever claims the people on the east side of the railroad may have on this library, they have made no demand, nor petition, nor request to have it moved and I doubt if six persons in Sandy Hook even knew of my connection with this movement.
 We are poor people down there and work for our living; we need the use of this library without doubt; we are deep down in the valley of ignorance, sitting there under the shadow of the everlast- ing hills, and some of us perhaps couldn't read books if we had them; but I am sure that if we could have this library a l little nearer to us we should want to get it honestly; and we should want our neighbors and friends on the west side, and from the beautiful hill-tops to con- descend gracefully. 1 am very sure that if have ever suggested the idea of strat- agem and spells, it must have been in self-evident raillery. My interest in this matter is nothing less than that of free public library for the whole town.
 In reply to the letter from Secretary | Hine, 1 promised him that 1 would look l into the matter and find out what could be done, if anything. And that is sim. ply what l am trying to do. In the first place 1 found that as an honorary mem- Der have all the rights and privileges pertaining to this association, except vot- ing. Rights and privileges carry with them responsibilities. 1 find that l have a duty in this matter; not only to che east but also to the west part of. the town, and to the whole town. Every thoughtful person must realize some. thing of the great power for good which is possible in the general use of good books by the people of any community We are living in an age of books. The press is perhaps the greatest educator o1 1 this generation. More than p, 900 books are published each year; and yet, in this good old town, a generation is now grow. ing up without any practical benefits o1 a public library. The children in oul public schools read few, if any, books and know little or nothing of the current literature of the day. The Newtowr pubic library has nearly 2000 volumes on it's shelves, but out of population o1 nearly 1000 souls, only D persons arc qualified to draw books; and with s grand list of $1 ,555, ,225, it is found diff cult to keep the library running; anC this, after 9 years of experience. Vel might we heed the words of the State Lii brary Committee in their circular, whicf says: "The committee desires to interes you and all good citizens in the estab lishment and maintenance of free publi, libraries. Such libraries are an efficien means of education, and ought to be eas fly within the reach of every person il the Commonwealth. Especially should the advantages of good library be prof fered to every child. Man, towns have libraries which are the resul of individual effort, supported by sub scription fees. If the subscribers conve, these libraries to the towns, which accep them by voting sum not exceeding $2OO with the promise of future care and in crease, the State grants an equal amount If there is such a library inayour neigh borhood, we shall be glad to suggest hoy it's books may go into every family an, school in the town, instead of being con fined to few paying readers" ''I Massachusetts, only A out of 342 towns and only 3-4 per cent of the population are without free libraries, and within year $500,000 has been given toward es tablishing new ones or endowing thos already in existence. This," says Re Samuel Hart, President of the Connee necticut Library Association, ''show what we have to expect from the Connee ticut public library committee"
 Il After receiving the letter from tn \ state board of education, I asked tn , chairman of this committee to appoint t meeting, and we met on the 10th ins ]. At that meeting we agreed unanimousl } to recommend: First, That the librar : should be removed to location at, ( l near the Newtown Academy, on cond Q tion that the people east of the railroa ol shall laise as much money for it's suppo I as shall be raised west of the railroat | Second, That the books and all oth' 0 property of the library association e turned over to the town of NeWtown ( e condition that the town shall comply wit
 the law of the state relative to the esta ]. lishment of free public libraries. Thir L That the state library committee be i