The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-20

70 the Editor: Where are the real
securities upon which rest the future
intellectual, social temporal and spir-
itual welfare of our city OF Raleigh?
Are they to be found in our manufac-
lures; in our stocks and bonds; in i'm
surance companies, aud building and
loan associations; in Hotels and board
ING houses for the accommodation of
lawyers and legislators; in labor and
trade unions? We answer that none
of these things, nor all of them are suf-
hcieut security against the forces that
work ruin to communities. The secur-
tiles (and we want one hundred per
cent OF them upon which our future
welfare as a city is TO rest are not ply
steal but intellectual, or spiritual. Paul
writing 10 Timothy said: Give atten-
dance 10 reading: Give advice:
naleigh needs il, and should heed it,
What worth is wealth without intelli-
gence to use it wisely2 How can there
he intelligence without reading, gen
eral and widespread among all
classes, without d city library? News
paper. reading is good, but it confines
| us to the moments of to-day. Give
our population a library in which ey-
cry citizen may find doors opening
| into vast store-houses of knowledge
| treasured up from the best minds Of
the past; a library that will be the cen
trial office Of a telephone system with
| great and good minds who being dead
vet speak. Within our city there are
| (iod-eiyen talents; intellectual gems
sin the rough, that wait with longing
appetites for the food that develops
1 La
master OF his environments. To fail
| to provide for the native talent that
| the Creator has sown among us would
| be our community's greatest sin. He
| is helper of our city who takes stock
| in any of her business enterprises, but
| he vino gives his money to feed the
| intellectual life that is springing into
| being among us is a benefactor indeed.
He it is that lifts our securities from
| the worse than no per cent on things
temporal and perishing, and places
| them above par on truths for mind and
heart which not only make us free but
elevate us into the realms of the eter-
nal: knowledge is power" because
knowledge is life's-life ever expanding
with the march of eternities.
Raleigh never made better move
than that which had as its end the
establishment Of a circulating city Ii
brary BY no means let it fail. All
honor to those six men who have laid
an hundred dollars each on the altar
of love for that purpose. We wait with
anxious hearts for four others to join
them. Men and women of means, here
is your golden opportunity for good.
''Seize the day" Why not the Carpen-
ter's and Printers Union help? Why
not the benevolent orders of Masons
and Odd Fellows? Why not the city
treasury through our City Fathers
contribute a hundred dollars? There's
no better investment for their money.
This writer has no money to gite but
such as he has he will give unto the
cause-he will contribute books. What
owe to the Pioneer Library Associa-
ton" Of Lenoir, in my native county
of Caswell, prompts me to write these
lines in hope that they will aid in some
way to secure a circulating library for
the citizens of Raleigh. / desire others
TO enjoy the same opportunities that
so helped me to make preparation for
a useful man hood.
ID. III. FUTILE.