Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-04
The Library Mass Meeting.

There was no doubt about 1t being a
stormy night, the uncertainty was about
The masSness of the mass meeting at City
hall, in the interest Of the proposed public
library. AT the appointed hour, only two
persons were present, one was large and
both intelligent. A bright man said we
are sure of a large and intelligent audi
ence. The numbers increased dill at &
O'Clock about 100 were present, and as the
meeting went On more came, till there
We're from $50 to 200 people in the hall, to
show how heartily they desired the sue
cess of the enterprise. You could count
on the fingers of one hand those indiifer-
ent ones who came TO hear what would
be said and done
There was at first some talk OF adjourn
ing, as the speakers had loaded their guns
for Il crowded house, with some possible
opposition. The motion for adjournment
was made and seconded and about to De
carried when Mr. Frank Redington made
Il proposal to secure money for the enter
prize through an interesting entertain
ment just given in Skowhegan by local
talent which could be repeated in Water
Vile to our gain. That matter could not
be postponed, and then Mr.. Redngton de-
NV tIri an otitfSSS VI SUN WttFIlltD anu
earnestness that made adjournment i'm
possible. Besides, an adjourned meeting
is ''se cond hand victuals' at best, and
who knows bat the next night chosen may
have thunder and lightning added to rain:
Let us take the good the gods provide US,
making the utmost of it as 1t comes. As
for guns and ammunition, there are plenty
more for many meetings to come At
this point laboring man rose, saying, for
the sake of all those who had braved the
storm, he had Il word of cheer from Father
Chariend who expressed for himself and
his people great interest in the project, and
as a first token of his personal interest. he
pledged a gift of $25 Good again, And
then Mr.. W b. Arnold rose to say he
wanted to pledge $500. Good once more
President Johnson opioned that we
would do well to go on with the meeting,
SO Prof. Lane gave a fine, clear talk on
the need Of public library to supple
ment all school work. At this point Mr.
Arnold rose 10 double his subscription.
Cheers! The Rev. Mr.. Sparks spoke for
the laboring classes, their need Judge
Philbrook for the professional classes, their
need; and these three, the pupils in our
schools the laboring classes and the pro-
fessionals, left no human being in Water
vile who did not need public library.
Mr.. Moses Foster told us how we could
secure such library by the co cooperation
of the board Of trade which had as Its
aim the material prosperity of our city, an
aim kindred to that Of the establishment
of Il public library. Hon 5. S. Brown
showed how the State would bring up its
forces to aid us. DR.. Pepper spoke of all
existing libraries, many and good as they
were, rs proving our need of just one
more-a larger and IL free one Hon. W.
L. Haines answered finally and forever
the objection, 1.-The hard times Mr..
Valentine spoke of the hinderance to our
town and the shame of trying to keep step
with the times without public library,
and President Butler went over the field
with hand rake, making good CLEAN.
ing of good grain
These were all to have been five.m;nute
speeches, but the fear of none having a
chance to talk again led every ardent
speaker TO magnify his Office. We doubt