Arizona republican., 1898-03-15

fort is what we need for this battle and journey of life.
 And where can We look for th's means of thought and knowledge, and all that feeds aspiration, but to books? And it is to a collection of these prec- iOuS monuments of genius that the ladies of the Friday club prompted by an efficient and broad minded president propose to direct their energies, for the purpose of esta blishing public li- brary in Phoenix. It seems to me the very name carries an eloquent appeal to public interest and that an under taking in behalf of such an object could not be otherwise than met with a cordial approval. We all admit the great power of the public school as a factor in our growth of wisdom and social efficiency, and surely the pubic library should rank next, if not equal to this. An able writer calls the li- brary a laboratory of general learning in that the study of books underlies. or at least accompanies, the study of all other things.
 Another speaks of the effect which is likely to be produced by a good col lection of books on a society of young men. He says: "There is no judic- ious commanding officer of regiment who will not tell you that the vicin- ity of a valuable library will improve l perceptibly the whole character of a mess. I we'll knew one eminent mili- tary servant of the East Ind a com pany. man of great and various ac- complishments, a man honorably dis ! tinguished both in war and in diplo- macy, a man who enjoyed the conf dence of some of the greatest gener- als and statesmen of our time When I asked him how, having left his country while still boy, he had been able to educate himself. His answer was that he had been stationed in the i neighborhood of an excellent library; that he had been allowed free access to the books, and that they had. at the most critical time of his life, decided his character and saved him from be- ing a mere smoking, card-playing. punch-drinking lounger."
 We want to have the library of ! Phoenix a place of beauty and refine ment where ''all sorts and conditions 1 of men" may go and feel that encour- agement of bright thought and pure pleasure which is the vocation of the true library to foster. Where every taste, be it musical or literary. artis- tic, philosophical or scientific may be cultivated toward the development of qualities so desirab ble in any commun- ity as society. We want a library for all these purposes, and so we have de- term1ned to make what has been a fond dream to some of us here, a grand reality. It is a long way from the collection of a few dozen books which we have made since the agita- tion of the library subject began, a few days ago.
 It seems very long road to that connexions hall with it's well filled shelves and art-covered walls. it's easy chairs and polished tables, but such spaces have been traversed tefoIe and with fewer facilities, perhaps, than we have at present in Phoenix. And now 1 for some mention of the difficulties tc be encountered and then brief sketch of the plan formed for surmountine l them, in this formation of a public library.
 In the f1rstplace we must have books well called the first power of a li- brary. In the second place we must have suitable habitation for these 1 books when a sufficient number are | obtained to warrant their circulation These two difficulties overcome, what follows in the way of mechanical and routine work will be comparatively easy, as to the catalogueing, the de- l livery service, etc. And now, for the plan, which is necessarily incomplete owing to the shortness of time in it's formation, and subject to changes, as all plans should be, if they are tried and found wanting
 The idea Is to interest the people Of Phoenix in collecting or donating as many books as are available in thni, various circles, or neighborhoods, and these books may be handed over to any member of the Friday club. who will carefully note both gift and donor tc the credit of the future library. This is one way of obtaining the books but money will also be needed for the buying of many more before even 6 start can be made in their circulation and with this in view a series of after. moons have been proposed, the socia reunions of which are to bring the peo. pie more closely in touch with this plan for public library There seems to be no lack of liberal response so far shown in behalf of the library enterprise, two gentlemen well knowI for their public spirit having come for ward with proffer of a handsome sun of money. Several years ago there was established in London one of the grandest philanthropies of this age rich as it is in works of great benevo lence. It was the noble result of z great English novelists's idea that there is duty besides that Of charity for the sick and destitute, besides that of retaining the vicious or semi-crim inal
 It is duty to the young, tht