Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-19
The Ownership 81 Books.


cheap books and a wealth Of the bes
in the public libraries to be read freel
by any who will, there is tendenc,
among the pessimistic to contend tina
they are aid nauseam. and that readin,
Is coming into disrepute. This is not
tenable position. but 1t was not to con
trovert that that this article was be
| gun.
There Is certainly an incentive t,
study in the mere ownership of books
| 10 man whose delight in such owner
slip dates back to his youthful days
can fail to remember the eagerness
| With which he clasped the first boob
| ought from his own earnings or peck.
Ct money. and the desire of possession
Y hich then took hold Of him There
may be books in ones library, no mat
ter how small the collection, into
Which he does not glance once year
yet as he runs his eye along the
lelves and notes each familiar cover
nd title, it is like friendly nod to an
"a ,quaintance whom he but seldom Wis
Is, yet who would be missed if not met
II his accustomed walks and places.
There is degree Of affection and
regard in the ownership of books
hich long outlives their first reading
and which is far more real than any
ntiment which may grow from a
nere knowledge of their contents
gained through their perusal in pub
lie places.
There is no gainsaying the great
ilue. the educational value. of public
libraries. they have wonderfully strong
erect in the Improvement of the COM
nunity. and afford means Of compari-
81 and teXtual examination which
but very limited few of the people
can possibly provide for themselves:
a; the same time there can be little
d ub. that their value is greatly en-
h2nced if they are supplementary to
the private collection, no matter how
small or large the latter may be.
A youth whose mind stores 10 the
things of value to be gained by con-
sulting good books, should be encour-
aged to add to the store of his possess
SONS by occasional if not frequent
purchases. and be left measurably free
To make his own selections. IL his
n. md has been given a proper trend by
home talk and home instruction, there
is little fear that his books will be OF
harmful nature, even il his pur-
ci.ases do include some works of fc-
ton. and if among these an occasional
waller back" creeps in, depend upon
ii. the influence is nil. and the book it.
self soon forgotten or weeded out to
make room for one of more permanent
value.
There is nothing in home life which
bel tier serves to direct the young mind
INFO correct channels than frequent,
nay. almost constant, discussion of the
things read by them in their young
days, and the parent who neglects
such an important part of child's
education is remiss in duty they owe
that child in aiding to shape its future.
Denunciation and emphatic dictum
are not wholesome methods of divert
ing young mind from pernicious
books. On the contrary, they should
be calmly and dispassionately dis
cussed, their errors pointed out, and
their rejection suggested rather than
demanded. Such a course will more
certainly and effectively influence the
child, even of very tender age, than
IotiSlN CS WIFI uO IlOl dppcdi
to the child's reason; and bear in
mind, even very young child has the
reasoning faculty in much greater de-
gree than is usually conceded them.
The great advance in the art of
the use of labor-saving
and reproducing processes.
serves to put the possession of the
most valuable books within reach of
the very humble student, and the re-
suit on the nation is bound to be bene-
fetal. True. the first of the very
cheap books. and even yet, large
of those sold for merely
prices, are not of such char
acter as to make them desirable in an
way. but it should be re-
that most of those who buy
such books are those who would other
wise find their only source of informa-
al newspaper; and the purchase of
even rocky" stuff sold as books
will implant in the minds of many a
desire for and a habit of reading which
gradually leads them away from the
fire. brand toward a higher type, and a
rejection of the feverish stuff which
yields to the better.
When such valuable matter as the
unabridged dictionaries. encyclo-
poedias, and reviews. are produced by
the hundred thousand instead of the
single thousand, as was the case a
generation or so ago. and sold for not
only very moderate prices, but upon
terms which allow all to purchase the
ultimate good is certain to be pro-
nounced and permanent. The fact that
such works are produced in such large
numbers is certain evidence that there
is or can he created a demand for the
better class of books by persons who
have the desire of ownership, else they
would not ne undertaken. nor would
new editions be at all possible. 1t is
one of the most hopeful signs of
American progress, and While the cur
riculum of the schools may be altered
or even destroyed, there is progress
sive movement for the education of the
people, which, if continued, will go far
toward lessening the percentage of IL
literacy to the minimum.
Give the boys and girls books and
wholesome periodicals and encourage
them to buy them and own them in
their own right, and not alone through
the benefits of the open library which,
as before said is but the auxiliary, no