West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-06-28
OUR PARIS LETTER.
The Palace Of Congresses and His
terry Of Religions
The United States Leads the World In
Circulating Libraries aud Italy
Comes Next.
from our SpeCial Correspondent,

Comes Next.
From our Special Correspondent
PARIS, FRANCS, lune "a, 1000
Strange as it may seem. about the best
place TO study the United states az the
present time is in the Paris Universal EN.
position. When you arc very close to- a
big thing you cannot sec H. pcrSpection is
necessary in measuring its scope. have
Just returned from visit to the building
where many International Congresses.
Sociologic. Scientific. Phianthropic. I'D
ucational aud Religious are held. Tho
Congresses sit in the large upper halls
where many eminent specialists from all
parts OF the world are met to confer aud
discuss. Ian the lower halls are exhibits OF
various countries, and the exhibit OF the
United states is in the second room to the
right In all the rooms Of these buildings
are displayed pictures. tables. maps and
models OF hospitals. schools rctormatory
institutions. libraries etc. II is interest
ing to know that our country is ahead Of all
others in circulating libraries. aud sur.
priSing 20 learn that Italy comes next. We
have not nearly such large libraries as
some other countries but the difference is
that ours are mobile and useful while these
old country libraries are stagnant The
great libraries OF Europe are Tor savauts
ours Tor the people. II YOU doubt this try
To get into one of the old world libraries
aud ses what a mesh OF obstruction aud
rcd tape YOU will have to struggle through.
You will need to present written order
ssa a..I -
whom you get Il is more inaccessible than
L. =. cabinet minister You can enter
the National Library at Washington. and
think any library in the United States. and
read without formality OF card any book on
the shelves. Mr.. Melville Dewey of the
state of New York has done more Tor the
Improvement of the circulating library than
any other man The idea which possessed
him was that library should not be
mere reservoir or museum FOR rare aud
curious books but reservoir with pipes
leading into every household. In other
words dissemination rather than accumu.
lation, has been his aim aud accomplish
mcnt The broadcasting of wholesome
chaste literature by means of the travelling
country libraries of recent invention is
the Intelligence OF the country and will
doubtless do much to neutralize the flood
OF cheap bad books aud debaSing Journal.
ism. do you know, said Ruskin "if you
read that book YOU cannot read this one
When We reflect that only small proper.
ton of the really good books can bc read
Ia lifetime it is literally true that In read
ing trashy book we arc losing forever the
time to read good one.
IL Is suspicious for the future intelligence
OF the citizens of the United States and
especially OF Italy that these two countries
lead all others in the circulation of whole
some literature. IL means for Italy com.
pletion OF her emancipation which was
only partially accomplished when Garabaldi
entered Rome and overthrow the power
ofthe Pope. Yesterday saw on one of
the most crowded boulevards OF Paris
long procession Of boys Of from eight To
twelve years old marshalcd by two men
who were In citizens clothes aud not as in
former days the long domino OF priests I
asked one of the leaders II they were pub.
lie school children. The reply was: "Oui
Monsieur, 6arcons dc lccolc Rationale
could not help saying "vivc cole :" for
the future OF France is more dependent on
the education Of the youth OF the country
than its great army
shall have more TO say about this Palais
OF Congresses and the questions considered
by the eminent specialists who are now
here 10 my mind this, while the least
FRAPPANr. is really the most important part
OF the Exposition. II means more for hu.
man amelioration than the latest thing in
plows automobiles or electricity. though
! must mol be understood as munifying
their usefulness learn that there will be
no Congress of'Rcligions such as was held
at Chicago. bat there Is on the program
I'd Historic DIES Religions" to be discussed
from the 3rd to the 9Th Of September in.
elusive and this will doubtless bring up the
subject ia it's breadth There will be no
participation by the Roman Catholics.
As the very intelligent Frenchman NJ.
Emile Bourgeois OF the Office OF the Sec.
rotary General said The Catholics do
not like discussions" For reasons of
policy the Catholics took part in the
Chicago symposium II had to be done or
the utter un6tness Of the church for inteili-
gent modern humanity and christianity
would have been accenuatcd in a way to
seriously injure this great politico.rcligious
organization In the United States. but there
was an cWlre nous understanding between
the American hierarchy and the Vatican
that the determination OF Cardinal Gibbons
and others at Chicago was for effect. and
their leyity on this occasion did not m the
least affect the ancient policy Of Rome
Indeed IL was quickly followed by a ret
rogressivc encyclical from the Pope and
reaction against "Amoricanism" or Heck.
erism. in other words reaction against
common.sense as applied TO religion
There IS not in France or la French poi
itics any reason why the Catholic Church
should make prctense Of liberaluy as she
did in the United States at Chicago.
just as an attempt TO appear abreast with
the age would hep her in a country where
religionists think II would injure her pres.
tige and her power with a people who in
matters Of religion, at least. have had Tor
ages all thought rcDrcssed.
Herring
Correspondence Of Tie Argus.