The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-19

good, TO the more pretentlous seller OF
cyclopadias, dictionaries, higher litera
ture all alike are dispensers OF good, put
ting the ignorant seeker after knOwl
edge in touch with "a treasury of the
accumulations OF ages Of the best minds
and hearts the world has ever known.
One of the greatest works accom-
plished by the Book Agent is the very
important and paramount work OF in
ducing persons of limited means to
purchase books. A book week is fifty
two books per year, 500 volumes In ten
years, very nice accumulation, pass
ably good library, and yet how few per-
sons have 1.-THE of this number? A few
cents per month regularly laid by and
invested in good books will soon accu-
mulate nice and praiseworthy library,
provided it be properly selected, and
the person purchasing will herdly miss
the money.
Books are not unfrequently sole by
agents by the set and delivered by the
volume, thus giving the purchaser an
opportunity Of reading one before the
other is out, in this way giving one a
feast of fat things just to suit the pal
ate. which like course dinner one dish
whets the appetite for another, ard a
person in this way reads many books
with the avidity with which an inter
esting novel is read.
Some philosopher has said the value
of books as a means of culture is at this
day recognized by all men. The chiet
allies and instruments of teachers, they
are the best substitutes for teachers
and next to a good school, we'll selec-
ted library may be classed as means
of education. Indeed a book is voice
less teacher, and a good library q
virtual university A literary taste is
at once the most efficient means O.
self education, and the purest source o.
endowment the world affords. 1t brings
it's pOssessor into ever-recurring com
munion with all that is nOblest anC
best in the thought of the past. The
winnowed and garnered wisdom OF age
is his daily food. Whatever is lofty
profound or acute in speculation, dell
cate or refined in feelings, wise, witt,
or quaint in suggestion is accessible t.
the possessor of library, They en-
large space and prolong time for him
the orators declaim, the essayist writes
the logician reasons and the poet sing
all for his pastlme and pleasure. From
, the same source the many and varle'
literary palates Of every reader can teas
to his safety.
Do you wish literature, sacred or pro
; fame, prose, poetry, science, art, fact Q
p. fiction, these stand ready to answer an
demand that you make.
Shall any one say that the activ
means in bringing libraries into ever
home in the civilized world are not i
every way worthy members OF society
: Are they not the masons that lay tn
4 brick in the superstructure OF ever
f library in the country? Ought the
not be called library builders instead
Book Agents? Can any member OF s.
ciety (save perhaps the ministry t
e engaged in higher, nobler and MOI
praiseworlhy calling? Is 1t not II
duty of every good citizen to hear thel
patiently tor their noble cause? III:
not many a good book been bough
many noble sentiment planted IN tt
minds and hearts of the people, whlc
:. otherwise would have lost its sweetne
4 upon the desert air, but Tor the assld
Gus aggression of this very indispens
ble class Of our citizenship?
: The good seeds which the Boo
I Agents are daily sowing will gerlnlnat
y spring up, bear fruit a hundred ana
thousand fold which would otherWl
never see the light OF day-never iii
lodgment IN the human mind and hea
l. The good they do will live after the
q dust shall have returned to the ear
who gave 1t. Future generations vi
|, will better appreciate their efforts
rise ND and call them blessed.
J. All ia rec.