Evening star., 1895-06-05
The Boston Public Library.

The Boston Public Library was created
with a somewhat different view. Its JUS
tifcation, as expressed in a report drafted
by committee. whose chairman was Ed
ward Everett, and one other of whose
members was George Ticknor, was in effect
THIS: That while the system of public edu-
cation in Boston might sustain a compari-
son with any in the world, and seemed
adapted to give first-rate school educa-
ton at the public expense to the entire ris-
Ing generation, Yet there the system of
public instruction stopped. Although"
says the report the school and even the
college ana the university are, as ali
thoughtful persons are we'll aware, but the
nrst stages in education, the public makes
no provision for carrying on the good work
1t imparts, with a noble equality of priv
lleSe knowledge of the elements of learn
ing to all its children, but it affords them
no aid in going beyond the elements. If
awakens taste for reading, but it fur
nishes to the public nothing to read,
AS matters now stand and speaking with
general reference 10 the mass of the com
munity, the public makes no provision
whatever. by which the hundreds of Young
persons annually educated, as far as the
elements Of learning are concerned, a. the
pubhc expense, can carry on their. educa-
Ton and bring ii to practical results by
private study" From the first therefore
the boston Library was adopted into a re-
latlon with the system of common school
education, which, in its turn was rooted
deeply III our social organism. 1t was ac-
cepted as part of that system which Was
matter of common accepiancp and ra,,.,'
ton.
There is an amusing passage in an Eng
ilsn work on public libraries (whose title in
1ormer edition was Free Public Libra
rieS }, in which the author saws that -ba
use Oh the term free" in connection with
public Libraries was highly Objectionable" :"
that in England it had undoubtedly averted
from such institutions many worthy per
sons, who were led to class them with
nee soup kitchens, and free washtuhs IN,
public wash houses" He adds thar "in
America no public library is allowed to he
naiieu Tree unless supported entirely by
private munificence! 1t was perhaps the
animation of public libraries in Great
Britain, with institutions that are ant 70
pe created by private muniticence" that
has inclined certain persons to regard ,bano
as merely eleemosynary
Part of the Free School sxs,c,r
The public library in the United States is
happily exempt from any such i,nputation
1t was created by and for a people wonted
to the notion Of a free school system ana
as part OF that system. In making use of
1t they feel as little the objects of charity
as they do in sending their children to the
public schools. In both cases they are the
patrons and not the benefciaries. More
than this, they haze a sense of ownership
in, and control over, these Institutions
which the English common people, accus-
toned to receive educational advantages as
henehts handed down from the upper
classes will be slow 20 attain. That this
sense Of ownership and control Is in itself
Of the highest educational value was urged
in that report which mas been quoted, which
Insisted that q public library, to be i'm
portant to the whole people, part of their
education, and an element Of their happi-
| ness and prosperity" must be city insti-
tuition. There was profound foresight in
the course taken by Mr.. Pratt. Instead of
placing his endowment In the hands of
private corporation, he turned over the
! million dollars direct to the municipality,
merely supUlating that tl.s city should ap-