The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-03-19


that point, or only few scattering re-
marks had been made about it between
long intervals, the matter would prob
ably have dropped out of mind in the
course OF week or so and Kenosha
would be as far ahead in the matter oil
a public sentiment in favor of library
as she was before the publication of the
article. We recognized the Importance
Of following up this article with further
appeals to the pride of our citizens and
urging the need of library. 1t never
pays to scold or to use sarcasm. The
plainest truth telling with constant re-
iteration may seem tame, but it has a
wonderful capacity for attaining its OBJ
ject. A scold repels, sarcasm wounds,
irony embitters; the direct truth is ap-
pealing, is soothing. If earnestly told
it reaches the core of the heart where
opposition cannot enter and is fruitless.
Our appeals were direct, earnest plain
truth tellers. We kept them running
every day for weeks succeeding the
publication of the first article. I looked
carefully about the city and took note
of those who seemed to be most favor
ably impressed with these appeals. As
I came upon them [ asked each one to
publicly make some expression in refer
ence to the matter, either one way or
the other. The purpose OF this was two
fold. First of finding whether or not a
public library was wanted, and. second
to commit all we possibly could to some
expression on the matter by which we
could hold them. [ found by careful
search through the city that large
proportion of the leaders of all factions,
social, political and business, were
strongly in favor of public library.
Many of these [ was able to get COM
mitted and most of them were entirely
favorable to the scheme.
This was by no means all there was
concerning the establishment of a Ii
brary. It is easy enough to form an
association. The next thing is to get
the money Money seems to be a very
necessary requisite in all such matters,
and as we were forming an independent
association, instead of going to the city
for funds, we must provide some means
with which to get books and to main
tain management. We hit upon a
scheme to get 500 people in the city to
agree to pay a membership fee OF So
each year to this association. Up tOthe
present time we have not the full 500
but we believe that we
will get it since we have got we'll on to-
ward that number. 1t was understood
almost from the beginning that this
membership fee Of So was to entitle no
one to any benefit or privilege more
than other people had It merely con-
ferred the right to a voice in the man
agement Of the association. The mis-
understanding got out that it was nee
essary to pay this membership fee OF So
in order to secure the uses of the libra
~ books This initiated to a consd
cradle extent against the work of the
association. The freedom of access to
the library was thing for which near
~ all the people seemed to contend.
The association caused to become gen
orally known that the So was to be
looked upon as a sort of contribution to
the society for book purchasing and
maintainence funds. This understand
ing of the matter added very material
ly to the popularity of the idea of the
public library. Sentiment once having
been worked up in favor of a library
everybody expressed himself as being
willing to contribute his share toward
the management and we considered
this So each mans share. When the
public began to see that we were really
in earnest aud set about the establish
ment of a library, gifts of books began
to be made. In very short time we
found we had from 400 to 500 books
given to US which came from all parts
Of the city. The zeal. the enthusiasm,
the push. vim and vigor with which the
business of the association was carried
on so appealed to one Of our prominent
manufacturers that he presented the
association one bright morning with a
check for $1,000 This was the foun-
dation, as we might say, of the library.
1t opened the way to new avenues into
the private libraries of the city and
books came to the library with a freer
hand. 1t was undoubtedly this gift
which gave a strong stimulus to the
Unitarians to turn over their |, 200
books, which had long since been lock
ed up away from the public. We have
in the room now somewhere in the
neighborhood of 1000 volumes.
IF | were to make a recommendation
for the purpose of condens:ng the ideas
| have sought to convey and to make
them helpful to others, so far as my
limited experience can be helpful, be-
lieve [ would ask for three things to be
gin campaign for library with; viz:
An enthusiast, good newspaper and a
trained advertisement writer. This
7 li1Zo 70 GOO 11oI ~