New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-26
FREE LIBRARIES NEEDED.
BROOKLYN ASSOCIATION HOLDS ITS SEC
OND MEETING.
THE CITY STANDS FAR BEHIND OTHER TOWNS
sAID-AN EFFORT TO INTEREST PEOPLE
OF WEALTH IN THE PROJECT

sAID-AN EFFORT TO INTEREST PEOPLE
OF WEALTH IN THE Project
The second parlor meeting of the Brooklyn Ii
brary Association was held last evening, at the
home OF Henry w Chatneld. No. IS South oxford
st. The object OF the association Is to arouse pup
lie interest for the establishment of free library
for the city. Although the two meetings nave
been far Their sparsely attended. the movement
Is growing. and there is little doubt but that in the
future Brookyn's best and wealthiest citizens
will become interested in the project Mrs. Charles
H'O. Craigie. who is president of the ASSOCIATION
opened the meeting last evening with short talk
the libraries of other cities The gist or her
remarks that Brooklyn Is far behind towns or
Infinitely les swealth population and Importance
She referred to the endowments which had been
glveu for the purpose of forming free libraries in
small Towns. ard spoke particularly Of Philadel-
phia where the leading citizens had given thou
sands OF dollars in sums OF 5000 and $4,000 and
over for free public institution. She spoke Oh
several small cities in Western States and also IN
Massachusetts,. where philanthropc women had
made this public benefit possible, and she did not
see she stated. why Brooklyn could not have an
institution worthy of its size and Importance. Mrs.
Craigie referred 10 the Pratt Institute, and said
that II was supported by one family. In citing
number Of requests Of Brooklyn's citizens for the
endowment Of libraries in outside towns. she re-
ferred to gift made by Mr.. and Mrs. Rufus T.
Michigan town. Mr.. Ch!tendon had also given
s225OoO TO Yale University. 100000 Of which had
been for a memorial building to his daughter
There is sufficient wealth IN Brooklyn said Mrs
Craige land II only get our wealthy citi-
Gems aroused TO the Importance OF this movement
] think can count upon some lDeral gllts' Al
least we hope and expect that some one Will soon
come forward and give the proposed library some
material aid"
FREE LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. Nelson. of the New-York Library Association.
said that Of eSo towns in Massachusetts, there were
only twenty-four which had no public libraries. and
only eight from their geographical. position which
without facilities for reaching these insttu-
tons in some nearby place.
ut strange" said he. that Brooklyn the
third city In the Union has free public library.
She should soon have a central library with
branches in different parts Of the town. II seems
strange TO me- also that some of our wealthy citi-
zens have not before this seized the opportunity to
hand their names down to posterity in such bene-
faction as library would be-
John A. Taylor former Corporation Counsel Of
Brooklyn. the next speaker. lie said that It
was shame that Brooklyn had no public institu-
ton Of this kind 1t a stigma. too, on the
escutcheon of the fair fame OF this city, that 1t
had never taken public funds aid in the lifting up
OF the lower classes OF Brooklyn's citizens in the
way of a great free readng-rooH. Il Just
essential he said. and just proper that the minds
OF the young children OF this community SHOULD be
nourished 1t that their bodies should be
looked after.
Il mean from the standpoint of the state" he
continued The establishment Of free library
would not be looked upon in the light of charity
young and old Every child in this city has the
right OF demanding better privileges in this drec-
ton
LETTER FROM THE REV. THOMAS MLEOD.
The following letter from the Rev Thomas Nc
Leod who had been invited TO be present and speak,
read
II Is hard for ne to understand how any
intelligent person can withhold sympathy and
slightest promise in 1t Of help and benefit TO his
fellow but such enterprise your society
ccntemplates must assuredly command the suffrage
and the purses of all and that without a moments
II Is already, under the control of rapidly
growing cities What our future city Will be- that
our country will be: and that the destiny of
natural life will be. And | am CAD that so many
striving to make provision against 1t. our people
must be moral and intelligent, and to that end |
hail with hope the present movement 10 supply
young and old poor and rich stranger and native
money and without price. A free public library Will
be welcomed by all a strong ally TO The church
and the public school.
Letters OF regret were also received from the Rev
Theodore L. Cuyer and Father s Malone. Among
those present were Miss +. J. Carr. Miss Emma X.
Rev. and Mrs. Malcomb Dana. Mr. and Mrs. j. A.
Collier Mr. and Mrs. S. Gieur, Mr. and Mrs. John
A. Taylor. Mr.. and Mrs. c. A. Nelson, OF Columbia
College Library: Mr.. Charles Philips. Mr.. and Mrs
Sanger Snow. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Perry and 8. r.
Sampson.