The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-06-28
PARIS LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

THE PALACE OF CONGRESS AND HISTORY
OF RELIGIONS.
Strange as it may seem, about the
hest place to study the United States
at the present time is in the
Paris Universal Exposition. When
YOU are very close to big thing you
cannot see it, Perspectlon is neces-
sary in measuring It's scope. | have
lust returned from a visit to the build.
ing where many International Con-
crosses, Sociologic, Scientific, Philan-
thropic, Educational and Religious are
held. The Congresses sit in the large
upper halls where many eminent
SPECIALISTS from all parts of the world
are met to confer and discuss. In the
lower halls are exhibits Of various
countries, and the exhibit of the Unit
ed States is in the second room to the
right. In all the rooms OF these build
ings are displayed pictures, tables,
maps, and models of hospitals, schools,
relormatory institutions, libraries, etc.
1t is interesting to know that our
country is ahead of all others in cir
culatng Libraries, and surprising to
learn that Italy comes next.
We have not nearly such,arg librar-
les as some other countries, but the
difference is that ours are mobile and
useful while these old century librar-
les are stagnant The great Libraries
of Europe are for savants, ours for the
people If you doubt this try to get
into one of the old world libraies and
see what mesh of obstruction and
red tape you will have to struggle
through. You will need to present a
written order before you can enter
and the man from whom you get it is
more inaccessible than U. S. cabinet
minister. You can enter the National
Library at Washington, and | think
any library in the United States, and
read without formality or card any
book on the shelves. Mr.. Melville
Dewey of the State of New York has
done more for the improvement of the
circulating library :han any other man.
The idea which possessed him was
that library should not be mere re-
servor or museum for rare and curl
Gus books but a reservoir with pipes
leading into every household. In other
words dissemination, rather than &C
cumulation, has been his aim and ac-
compishment. The broadcastng of
wholesome chaste literature by means
of the travelling country libraries of re-
cent invention is bound to have d
most sautory effect upon the intelIl-
gence of the country and will doubt
less do much to neutralize the flood
of cheap bad books and debasing
journalism. "Do you know" said
Ruskin, IF you read that book you
cannot read this one?" When we re-
fleet that only small proportion of
the really good books can be read in
lifetime it is literally true that in
reading a trashy book we are losing
forever the time to read a good one.
1t is auspicious for the future in
telllgence OF the citizens of the United
States and especially of Italy that
these two countries lead all others in
the circulation of wholesome literature.
1t means for Italy a completion OF
her emancipation which was only par
tlally accomplished when Garabaldl
entered Zone and overthrew the tenn
poral power of the Pope. Yesterday
saw on one of the most crowded
boulevards of Paris long procession
of boys of from eight to twelve years
old marshalled by two men who were
in citizens clothes and not as in form
er days the long domino of priests.
asked one of the leaders if they were
public school children. The reply
was: "Oui Monsieur, ,garcons de pecole
Rationale" l could not help saying
''vive ! e'cole publique: "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 thi!
Palals of Congress and the question!
considered by the eminent specialists
who are now here. To my mind this
while the last /raRbank is really the
most important part of the Exposition
1t means more for human ameIora
ton than the latest thing in plows
automobiles or electricity, though
must not be understood as muniiyinl
their usefulness. | learn that thert
will be no Congress OF Religions sucl
as was held at Chicago, but there i
on the program "dHistorie des Reli
glons" to be discussed from the 3rd II