The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-03
A COUNTRY LIBRARY
Subject Discussed by Wake
County Teachers.
PROF. POTEATS PAPER
INTERESTING MEETING HELD
YESTERDAY
STANDING COMMITTEES APPOINTED
The Next Meeting of the Association Will b'
Held in May and There will be Bas-
ket Picnic on the Centennial
Cchool Eyoundc
School Grounds.

School Grounds.
The Wake County Teachers Associa-
ton yesterday held the most interesting
and largely attended meeting since its
organization.
1t met at II o'clock in the Centennial
Graded school. The general subject dis
cus.sed was Libraries"
The discussion was opened by Prof.
w. l.. Poteat. of Wake Forest College.
who read most excellent paper on
the 'Use and Value of Circulating Lib
raries.''
Among other things. Prof. Poteat, in
this admira BILE discourse. said:
THE isolation of families in the coun-
try is physical barrier which does, in
deed. seriously hinder their development
in certain directions. But it may be
fairly questioned whether we have not
taken it for granted that this barrier
was insurmountable. surrendered out
right i'll IT'S presence, and SO excused
ourselves from any effort TO improve and
brighten rural life. The graded school
is the hope and pride of the town. but
for the country it is impracticable; so
runs our conclusion registered before de-
bate or trial. a system of lectures IL
in high favor for the town, theoretically
SO at least: but who thinks of it as feast
bile in the country? What delight and
stimulus is the town reading club; but Il
country reading club? OF course, that
is a failure before it begins. and 50 it
does not begin. a town that is alive TO
it's higher needs would as soon think of
excluding market wagons as of giving
up its library. But a public library in
the country? Preposterous! Who ever
thought such a contradiction in terms
could be realized in fact. except perhaps
certain Missionaries in Iowa and the we'll
meaning but impractical enthusiasts
who, l understand, will presently make
us a report on the subject.
but something must be done TO
quicken and lead out the intellectual life
of the country. And that, for the sake
of the country itself.
Fine men and fine women says Mr..
Froude in one of his delightful volumes
of colonial observations, are not to be
reared in towns among taverns and the
aires and idle clatter of politics.
They are natures choicest crea-
lures own conditions, under the FREE
air of heaven, on the green earth, amidst
woods and waters, aud in the whole,
some occupation of cultiyating the soil.
'And yet, with all this natural adapta-
ton to the production of what Is o.
most worth in manhood and womanhood,
the country wants the power TO hold
what it produces. 1t is ever emptying
its wealth of original strength into the
lap of the town. This is we'll enough
for the town, but for the country it Is
prodigality and must end in poverty. 1t
is a settled truth among farmers that. if
all which the soil produces is taken off
and no part of it in any form is returned
to it, the soil sooner or later loses its
power to produce anything. Now. this
constant losing of its best material is an
index of the existing poverty of coun-
try life as well as the cause and
prophecy of still deeper poverty to fol
low. Our civilization would. / fear be
discredited if a test proposed by John
Burroughs should be applied to it. He
says that country life is perhaps one of
the best tests of civilization.
Against this dreary alteration of Ia
Dor and ennui or dissipation there must
surely be some provision. And here we
come in sight of some Of the special needs
of country life.
THE first Of these needs which !
mention is a widening of the horizon and
a larger outlook of human interests. The
penalties of specialism are nowhere
more manifest than amongst farmers.
"A second need of country life Is the
elevation of its sole business by putting
more intelligence into the conduct of it.
SO that we may come to feel IL to be as
creditable to ones mental abilities 10
succeed on the farm as 10 succeed i'll the
office. A better fertilizer than "the
Owl Brand is brains, which contain.
believe. high percentage of phosphorus
When the calling is SO dignified, it will
not be so difficult to retain on the farm
the boys who are ambitious of intellec-
tual distinction.
But the great need of country life,
to make it attractive and resourceful, is
intellectual food and intellectual com
panionship.
''These needs ought to be recognized
and met, not only for the sake Of the
country, but also for the sake OF the
town.
Il need not dwell upon the great world
movement of population from the coun-
try to the town. True, it dates from the
time Of Cain, who went ont from the
presence Of the Lord after killing his
brother, and builded a city, but in the
present century it has been more active
than ever before, and in the decade from
1880 to 1890, outran the record for any
previous decade of the century. | dare
not hope that the census OF 1900 will
show any abatement of il. The depress
ing statistics Of this drift are generally
accessible and are probably familiar t.
you. mention but one item. Even il
quiet old North Carolina, during the
ten years preceding 1890, there We're as
many as 1870 townships, about - pei
cent. of the whole number, which ac
tually decreased in population. Many
serious questions emerge from tins
state Of things, but my only purpose now
is to call attention to the stream Of hu
mainly which is pouring out of the coun
try into the city.
Families waste and die out. 1t has
been said that when New York was
buried in snow by the fearful blizzard