St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-05-20
The N. G. B. Circulating
Library.

MAY We SO l1I CA8lM yOUI luVu1S0uCC
rs to ask for your cooperation In good
cause? That is IN diffusing knowledge
Of our aims among your readers. with
the resultant knowledge Of books for
homes whore they will tend to benefit
old and young? The influence Of good
book, like the influence Of some noble
character It may portray, has far-reach-
ing, beneficial effects which cannot be
estimated.
The aim Of our association is to increase
the number of'subscribers, enabling rs
to make additions to the Library.
Starting with some twenty five works,
voluntary contributions, (not all Of the
most desirable class,) we have now over
800 vOlumns Of the best current literature
OF the day. Space cannot be given for
Z list Of authors and titles, but care has
been taken to select the b=st known
and most popular works of modern
authors, suited to general readers-also
q series for children. As yet, we lack
the latest works OF Rudyard Kipling,
now the foremost figure In contempora-
neous liturature. Ten years ago his
name was ridiculed in connection with
1 writer that no competent critic consid-
cred worthy Of praise, in the often
quoted couplet. representing . reader
Innujnp fOr 4 climer:
"Where the Rudyards cease from
Kipling
And the haggards ride no more"
The violation of the laws Of nature in
Haggard's fiction crippled his power rs
An author of lasting literature. As
contrast, kipling At the age Of thirty
three has given the Anglo-Saxon read
ing world volumes in number and quail
ty, poetry and prose, exceeding the life
work Of some OF the most famous
authors.
One Of his earliest works 'sSchoolboy
LYRICS" sold at auction in Londol, in
April, for 1876. The incident is mem
toned here as being unique In the sale
Of works Of living authors. The volume
was printed at Lahore, India, in 1881,
for private circulation.
One "unco good" critic considers
fiction s'improper reading" Suce mar
row view Is strictly within the bounds
and scope of . certain Intellectual ca
pacitY most fortunately very rare. The
most eminent divines Of the century,
throughout the civilized globe, have
been writer's Is well IS readers of fiction.
Another critic considers it wrong to
depict evil, or evil doors. Evil must
be depicted, IS well Is good. To quote
from one of the most famous authors
Of the century: Il have yet to learn
that q lesson Of the purest good may
not be drawn from the vilest evil. /
have always believed this to be .
recognized and established truth, laid
down by the greatest men the world has
ever seen, constantly acted upon by the
best and wisest natures, and confirmed
by the reason and experience Of every
thinking mind"
Books are incentives to thought, rs
well n for diversion snd instruction.
The purpose OF fiction is mot only to
form = chain Of interesting incidents,
but Its essential element, that which
makes lasting impression on recep.
tive mind, Is its revelation OF human
nature. We may admire the creations
Of the authors Imagination, II not a.
ways their deeds or motives. Charac'
ters, IS delineated In story, arc repro
auctions of humanlty-the projection
Of personality into events.
1t would be impossible to write a
book, let alone to create 4 library, in &C.
cord ance with the ideal Of each reader
but almost all works OF fiction have Z
certain order Of merit, not recognized
by ali readers alike. The most notable
events OF the worlds history, the hero.
ism Of all ages, the greatest .pochs IN
the annals Of civilized mankind, are
to be found III FICTION. 1t Is the rest
full soiace of world-wesry minds, re-
lief to the care-wOrn man OF business,
student Of science, professional man,
philosopher, divine, or politician. 50
welcome to the soldier in tent or bar.
rack, to the sailor on battleship OF
barge, TO the poor mans cottage or the
villa of the wealthy, to all classes aud
conditions of the brotherhood OF man,
where there are minds to appreciate
and hearts to respond to the better I'm
pulses of the heroes and heroines 81
good fiction. Help US TO extend oui
catalogue. Become subscriber to o1i
Library. THE N. y. b.
Covington, La, May Is, 1889.