The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-30


The extension of the immediate ad-
vantages Of public library to subur-
ban localities. wherever practicable, is
II movement which should he fostered
and encouraged. A central library,
like the Albright library is Il focus for
the diffusion of culture to thousands
VINO could not otherwise come within
it's influence. Ii lies open to all who
have the desire to reach it; there is
nobody who has not the time to do so
who has also the inclination. Man does
not live by breaG alone nor in its pur-
suit solely does he fulfil the ideal of
life. The individual who is wilfullv
stranger to the brightest and highest
thoughts and aspirations of his age,
as thev are enshrined in the master
piecse of the English language, or en-
bedded in it's commonplace books, is
sincerely to be pted.
We have now reached a stage in our
national history. or at all events we
are nearing It, when a knowledge of
literature will be as essential to sue
cess i'm life as a knowledge of reading.
writing and arithmetic was to the
sChoolmaster of sixty years ago in the
humble pursuit of his humble profess
sion. With the advent OF the public
school. we have severed the shackles
Of ignorance. The nadir of mental des
titution synchronized with the zenith Of
physical drudgery. This is no mere
conceit OF strained illustration. Edu-
cation makes for the DEVELOPMENT Of
all the arts and sciences, and science
and art are the progenitors of the ma
terial progress of the world. A boy
who has studied the elements of chem
istry, electricity, geology or any of the
physical sciences carries the wand OF
Prospero under his arm. knowledge
does not come by intuition. and IL
genius is not exactly the capacity of
taking pains hard work Is no bad sub
stitute for it in mental discipline. There
are some old fashioned people in this
country vet who would almost be as
little perturbeG at seeing a bottle Of
whiskey in their chidren's hands as a
book of light literature. a story. as II
novels were the emanations of Satan.
This narrow prejudice, however, Is rap
idly being outgrOwn.
When you hear "A father say that If
his boy or girl must read, there are
the sChoolbooks. YOU may take it that
he is Offering them brick to safe
their mental appetite. Home lessons
have their place; hut it should be a
definite and circumscribed place in the
hreside curriculum. Almost all these
youthful hobbledehoys and hoydenisl,
girls whom DR.. Moffat never fails tc
lind at all hours of the night in the
streets of Scranton might with the
proper stimulus and opportunity have
acquired taste for reading instead
of a taste for straw rides and sleigh
rides and other nocturnal frolics "A,
morally dangerous as they are waste
full If youths golden opportunities, /
the taste Cor light literature Gomez
FIRST, it will lead to a taste for NOR,
substantial reading. Better any liter
AIRY taste than none,
We cannot too highly commend tn,
movement on foot to extend the faCil
tiles of the Albright library to the sub
urbs. which are stretching out rapid,
on all sides. The West Side Philo
sophcal society has taken up the move
ment energetically. The directors o
this institution are prepared to donat
their valuable collection of books 4
the trustees of the Albright librar.
upon the sole condition that a brancl
Of that institution be inaugurated TO
tine public in it's place. Librarian Car
is not only willing to undertake tn
added responsibility Of its Inauguration
in this or any other locality, but he I
anxious to do so If he is given tn
financial facilities. without which, o
course nothing can he done. 1t wi
not do to extend the movement at tn
expense Of the central library.
\ branch library is very much need
cd in Providence. II is the most re
mote of anv of our suburban district
from the center of the city. With
branch library on the South Side, on
in Green Ridge, another in course c
formation in the West Side. the es
tablishment of another in Providenc,
the literary circuit of the city will b
complete and brought into direct com
munication with the Albright librar
and its cultured librarian. May We nc
hope TO see this unquestionable loct
form of expansion soon consummated
A future awaits Spain If her states
men possess the courage TO grasp I
Spain has been taught that ignoranc,