The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-08-03

are the first step In the building OF great
city. IL has been said that Chicago. after
the great fire. had a brilliant opportunity
10 once and for all time lay out noble
and splendid city. This she failed to do.
Paris laid out broad boulevards and thor
oughfares when these had to 40 through
stone and mortar. Scores of examples Of
the most beautiful ecclesiastical churches
OF the Middle Ages were obliterated to
make room Tor broad. straight avenues,
open squares and new, beautiful build
ings. Honolulu has no such sacrifice to
make; her recent fires have created an
opportunity; all she lacks Is the spirit Of
modern enterprise and municipal funds.
IL may be said that the sphere of mu-
ncipal activity which relates to the De-
partment of Education is one of the most
far-reaching In its results The schools
ant the library are the two great institu-
lions OF education. 1t takes funds to
operate the technical school. municipal
funds 10 equip and conduct a public Ii
biary. The library must be regarded as
al effective and important factor of the
educational system. 1t Is said that not
more than one in five hundred i'm the
State of Massachusetts are without free
public library facilities. This should be
the condition everywhere. The charter
should provide for the municipal owner
ship OF the Public Library and branch
libraries. The little library OF 5000 vol
umes In Los Angeles. Cal. has the third
largest circulation in the United States
little city of 10000 inhabitants. The IL
brary Is free with. i'm the last year. two
branch libraries. THE effective librarian
of today" says Mr.. j. C. Dana, realizes
that books are tools. are not sacred things
and ind their best end in being worn out
by reasonable service" And the Public
Library. with it's volumes under lock and
key. or under prohibitory surveillance, is
"a back number. ~ collection of books.
however well chosen. however well hous-
ed, however attractively arranged. Is of
little value. has little vital force, and does
not count for much in the community
says Mr.. j. G.. Dana. unless there is
added to IL the right kind of a libra rian
the librarian Is more than half of good
library. Realizing this fact, she tries 70
I've up 10 her opportunities and interest
the public in her books. This she does in
many and various ways. striving always
TO make the library "a center" The mod
ern library idea calls for an equipment
OF municipal funds. a library of 20.0t
volumes represents a certain amount OF
money: to properly conduct such a Ii
hrary. with its force of fifteen or twenty
attendants, requires special municipal
fund.
"a splendid city. Wherever one turns OF
the Continent, North America. South
America, one Is confronted with the splen.
did modern city, whether II be Rio d.
Janeiro. a Buenos Ayres. Glasgow OF
little modern Athens; the nineteenth cen
tury idea of reconstruction is abroad
achieving the noble. the beautiful, the
sanitary, for the worlds centers.
10 Is through their great cities tha
countries grow. These are the lungs Of
the country through which they draw anC
make their own. the thought of the world
the knowledge OF the work of the world
~ Is by their great cities that countrie;
are judged. Magnificent public equipment
splendid systems of sewers. streets and ed
uCation challenge the admiration of tn
world. because these stand for the grea
achievements of civilization. And tina
municipal government which through tn
perfection OF its workings makes possibl
an ordered life for the greatest number, i
accounted the best.
= ANNA ALWARD EANIES.
= Wahiawa. Oahu, n. T.