The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-10

is essential that they seek that nice adj
| justment between the demands Of home
ana those of humanity, which will he'o
and strengthen both. The woman VINO
takes an active sympathetic part in the
Ire OF tho community wears away by 50
doing the sharplned edges OF selnshness,
OF false sensItiYencss, and of self-seeE-
I Ing, and slarpens the dull cages or SELF
4 fOrgetfuucss and generosity. The nome,
more than any other place, should oe-
rive benefit from this enlarged exist
cuce.
"The lives Of the different classes I'm
each community here iu America is
every year being more closely knit to-
gether. All classes OF people, read more
the Same literature. think more the same
thoughts, and feel more OF an interest IN
the same things than ever before. IL ls.
therefore. more necessary than formerly,
that q mutual understanding inspire the
separate classes. so that they may nave
"a basis OF sympathy. The only way IN
which this can be achieved b. by credt-
ing a common ground upon which all
kinds OF men and women may meet con-
sclOus OF the same need, ana working To-
ward the same desired end. Mhen people
meet IN this manner class distinction,
personal acknowledgement condescenslon
disappear. IN their place the nigh cause.
the unselfsh devotion, the truly demo-
cratic spirit are 10 be- seen. To work Tor
the better and purer life OF the commu-
nifty Of the city, is 20 create common
ground OF interest, basis of sympathy
for all classes. is TO make them better
friends and better citizens.
zone phase OF civic work, ana one not
generally thought Of as such, that OF
travelling libraries, should be Of speclal
interest In Virginia, because the Oppoi-
tunitics for this work ana the need OF IL
are exceptionally great IN our state. No
thing has ever been inaugurated which
so brings the people Of the p0or and de-
serted country districts and the towns
people together I'm common interest as
This system of travelling libraries. Large
sections of Virginia, once populous ana
wealthy are now almost entirely given
over 10 the poor and Ignorant. A CLEAN
from the outside world rarely reaches
these districts, the people there continue
from year 10 year uncheered by any
message OF hope, unenhghtcned as 20
Lfes larger and brighter possibilities
Most of these people must remain where
they are now located and work out LIES
problems as best they can. The only
chance which they nave OF obtaining
some brightness, some hope for their
duh lives Is that which books always
carry with them. In most instances,
however. these people are utterly unable
to procure books for themselves This
situation has fortunately been relieved in
many Of the States, books being furnish
ed 10 the inhabitants Of the remote and
lonely country regions by the civic clubs
and other organizations.
For many years Mr.. MeiVil Dewey. di-
rector of the New York state Library
has advocated a scheme of State distri-
button Of books by way OF loans TO insti-
tutions and TO groups of taxpayers on
payment of O nominal fee. His plan in
cludes a system OF central control and su-
pcrvisiOn, under which small collections
OF popular books are 10 be sent from
point 10 point, kept in charge Of resDon-
slble persons, and circulated freely
among the residents OF each locality.
The State OF New York made an apprO-
priatiOn for such a system OF library
10 rfu n
so annually since. Michigan. Ohio Iowa,
and one or two other States have fol-
lowed in New NOrks footsteps in estab-
fishing state systems of travelling libra
ries. The most interesting development
IN this direction Of work has been I'm
Wisconsin, where the work has been done
entirely by q public-5plrited citizen. the
Hon. j. H. Stout Mr.. Stout. seeing that
the more remote country districts in his
part OF the state We're destitute Of books.
undertook 10 supply, at his own expense,
a group Of Libraries of thirty volumes
each for circulation I'm one county. BY
the time the little libraries were ready
TO start on their Journeys, there were
sixteen associations OF farmers and VII
layers IN the country which had COM
piled with some simple requirements an
nounced by Mr.. Stout as the condition
precedent 10 obtaining the use OF the
books. That the books provided by Mr..
Stout actually get into the homes OF the
people for whom they were intended,
those familiar with the enterprise. SINH
lar work IS now being done IN the forest
towns and clearings OF tho northwest
and west, and in the country districts OF
some Atlantic States, Georgia being the
one Southern State whore the system Is
in effect Sometimes the State renders
assistance TO the work, sometimes II IS
undertaken by public-sDirited citizen.
as in Wisconsin, but more frequently,
tho Woman's Clubs. through their civic
department, have the matter IA hand,
and are conducting it with wisdom and
ability. Special effort IS made 10 place
these travelling libraries IN the very
poorest and most destitute portions OF
Inc country. The cross roads. rather
man tho villages, are sought as centres
~ infiuence, and. II IS said. that in these
nlaees the libraries are quite as highly
valued as IN the more populous neigh
s.,rhe work OF travelling libraries has
been supplemented by that Of travelling
collectious OF pictures. This work was
stsrted In Wisconsin by Miss Mary L.
Tanner. q teacher OF art In . normal