The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-10-31

udN6 CNGl UeGll lOSG oAC0pJ dts InoS Uo-
come worn out, when, of course, the
city replaces them out of the fund
which is laid aside with which to buy
the 500 books each year.
The history of the starting of this Ii
brary is one of sacrifice and devotion.
It was not given a spontaneous birth
! by the gift of a wealthy man nor by
the general vote of citizens IF these
things had been waited for there would
probably be no such institution in Fond
du Lac today. 1t was started by u
band of young people who feltthe great
| necessity which always exists in any
we'll ordered and educated community.
They organized an association for the
! purpose of founding public library.
The beginnings were humble. They
/ had not even the advantages Kenosha
migho easily take of that we'll selected
stock of books now lying idle and lock-
ed up away from the public in the old
Unitarian building. Fact is, they had
no books, but began at the very bot
tom. They gave lecture course and
started their fund Other entertain
ments of both local and foreign talent
! followed. All the while these were in
progress soliciting committee was
everywhere in the city asking for any
thing from so cents to $4,000. They
got a number of the smaller sums, but
| the larger came not at all. They did
not disdain books. If they could be
had and not money they were taken.
In many instances both we're forthcom-
ing. Such was the beginning. 1t was
small and seemed almost hopeless, but
perseverance, pluck, energy and set
tied determination to have a nublic IL
brary kept the young people together.
They met discouragements almost
without number The ubiquitous
croaker was there and the fellow who
wanted to wait for some genteel sum Of
money to begin with had to be invited
to part company with them. Enter
tainments did not always pan out q
big profit, but with their gathering ram
of determination they kept hammering
away at the stone wall Of Indifference
and opposition until it fell in a heap, a
monument to the love of learning, lit
erature and education of this band of
young people.
Like all such things the time of great
enthusiasm died out in the mass of this
association. The few left to carry on
the work found themselves surrounded
with quite a neat little library, pur-
chased and begged. Then they went
to the city and asked that it be MAIN
tanned and enlarged, The city took
hold and it's history has been one of
even progress ever since. 1t is the
most priced of all the institutions in
the city and would not be done away
with for twenty times its cost, so am
told by prominent citizens and any one
can readily see why this is so.
Do we need 2 public library in Keno
sha? Ask the business men here
whose BONES are made more lovely be-
cause of its benign influences.
DO the students in KenOsba need
ture and learning have been br0adened
here by reason Of easy access to refer
ence books
Do our mechanics need it, Ask the
men who stand at The forge, the throt-
tie and the big iron and steel working
machines here who have been able to
consult authorities in their respective
branches of industry not otherwise ac-
cessible.
Do our general homes need it 2 Step
into the homes here and ask the fatherss
and mothers what have been the ad-
vantages of free use of the helpful
thoughts of Shakespeare, Dickens,
Longfellow, Irving and thousand
other authors whose works live in the
best English literature. These alb have
an answer easily OWNED.
G.. w. j.