The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-06
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.


the uneducated and unthinking. II is held
10 be. BY those wh0 have given IL just and
due consideration, a necessity. not only
as an educator and elevator OF intellect
and character. but also as satisfactory
dover OF untold pleasure TO the leisure
hours Of the public. Time has taught US
that the pen Is a wielder OF influence
mightier than any sword, especially in
an age when the freedom OF the press has
become a badge OF progress little dream
ed OF In darker centuries. The privilege
OF few in the past. this gift OF the use
OF books TO the people Of the present Is
fraught with deep significance, for IL not
its aItruistic tendency a sign OF high
promise7 We think II Is. and this ten
dency must not be allowed TO flag for
want OF proper encouragement That our
public library has suffered and Is suffer
ing for want of funds is little in keeping
with this spirit.
Unpnoyided for from proper quarters a
due interest Ia its means OF support
would be but a trifiing consideration IL
divided among the many who are will
ing TO appreciate its value and consider
IL with our schools one of the ncblest and
most needfui branches OF progress. How
ever much us privileges may be abused
by the indulgence of many in low
standard OF literature. that 1t is an in
SEPARATION 10 many toward hotter ideals
and standards must be admitted. The
very list OF its better books invites to
their perusal. often drawn by this mere
invitation even against native inclina-
tons. the reader closes the book a richer
man. A single idea, simple statement
may have touched some hidden chord.
and by the magic of unforeseen infiu-
ence awakened Il 10 noble response. IAfe
Is filled with this unexpected. silent guild
ance. and It's chief medium is that of
books. Could We grasp the good that our
public library has already done in its
complex ways and methods we would feel
strongly with Emerson that TITS the
good reader that makes the good book"
for there is the slumbering good In men II
St ian only be aroused. and IL is within
our power TO furnish the means for this
calling forth OF the better when we give
them free use of books.
The city must then properly estimat tie
the power welded by the library to be-
come content with the expense incurred:
that such an expense is returned TO a
town. even to a nation a thousand fold.
Il takes less than the eye OF a statesman
to see.
The chief foundation OF a city's sue
cess lies in It's means OF education and
development Of individual character.
Falling into the hands of ignorance 1t be-
comes doomed. moral and financial
marasmus follows the footsteps Of the
blind and uneduoated. while it's opposite
springs !nto existence when the influence
Of well rounded and hishly developed
minds bear upon the state OF affairs.
What would men OF well balanced In
tellcc;s think of council which would
be inclined 70 consider publAc libraries a
mere luxury Would their inclination not
he 20 50 TO the root OF the matter and
discover whether such council were not
mora mercenary considerations than the
public gcode That such councils are rare.
II they DO exits, "a, all. let MS thank our
/ modern conquest o( ignorance.
As regards children the public library
| IS mighty as an educator. Minds are 50
tenacious OF What they receive in the
/ dawn OF life. ana weIghty Of wisdom In
/ decd are the lines Of Pope:
Jus, as the ,wlg is bent.
The trees Inclind."
! Tho chief care for those in charge
/ should be a careful selection OF books for
che youthful mind, 50 much depends up
! on the direction in which * is drawn.
/ for 81 Is training that improves the pow
! ers implanted sn US by nature. and
sound culture that IS the arnor % The
I breast" Wonderful truly is that armor
( - cdgcltion. knowledge leads % paths
/ ~ NgAt !. is only iSnorauee which grow.
/ els In darkness and leads IA astray upou
/ thoruv roads. -. brought under thia
! training * goaa books fhe intellect ..
/ youth expands with surprising rapidly
/ Harry ideals. free 20 DO their work in :
/ stIu unoccupled eel1. accomplish a Nigh y
mission for go,,i. and whatever Influences
! the failure may bring % hear tspon thell
/ characters. tn r. ls SIN. deeply concealed
/ iAougA * NAV ST. that corner stone 81
/ desire for refinement ana improvement
7 AMI SIS effects May DC traced long afteg
tae cause is forgotten.
| E,cR "a tAe hSht and fcoliSa book.
/ de,-,urc3 by "A scusa .ton- loving ruhIt
! ls sometimes his5cn amiis; their frivoI
/ ity some sentence or Thought which uay
( prove a gem ~ price. hccoulr< a ta~ni0s
/ Point toward tire rixhs. Dut q Is ancus
/ ,se br,ter hooks that Nc Ara true culc
( ure. ana e. IS Tn the possession % taess
( ,hat CUR ghrary becomes noble POKE;
( in e4,tzs ,&an. causing "a movement 20
| ward ~tife awakening ~ our best sympa
I ,s}~s. ara tss cultivation % our hes; ard
( ggres, tastes. strengthening the desire g.
te nsessl ard rooa, ana directing y7sg.A-
ful arlo8stoa - unselrsh ends.
Tae ue-on se55as guidance % -
/ b~,oA ac-oaplisaes miracles rot oaly O..
the reader. hat IN al who surround hirn
| As single ls.ak eul, - Peters All al
tae sister churches throughout Carts. Aaa
| lalas. 50 words % Vision may become
ne ss7oagaosl 9. a sou. AID or pa5glS