The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-06-28
Our Correspondent
At the Paris Exposition DiscOurses
Some observations.

Paris, France, June II, 19O0.-
Strange as it may seem, about
the,best 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. Perspection is
necessary in measuring its scope.
I have just returned from visit
to the building where many Inter-
national Congresses, SociOlogic,
Scientific, Philanthropic, Educa-
tional and Religious are held. The
Congresses sit in the large upper
halls where many eminent special
lists 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
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, reformatory
institutions, libraries etc. 1t is in
teresting to know that our country
is ahead of all others in circulating
libraries, and surprising to learn
that Italy comes next. We have
not nearly such large Libraries as
some other countries, but the diff
erence Is that ours are mobile and
useful while these old country Ii
braries are stagnant. The great
Libraries of Europe are for servants,
ours are for the people. If you
doubt this try to get into one of
/, the old world libraries and see
what a mesh of obstruction and
red tape you will have to struggle
through. You will need to present
a written order before you can en-
ter and the man from whom you
get it is more inaccessible than a
U. S. cabinet minister. You can
enter the National Library at
Washington, and / think any Ii
brary 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 improve
ment of the circulating library
than any other man. The idea
which possessed him was that Ii.
brary should not be mere reser.
voir or museum for rare and cur.
ious books but a reservoir with
pipes leading into every household
In other words dissemination
rather than accumulation, has been
his aim and accomplishment. The
broadcasting of wholesome chaste
literature by means of the travel.
ing country libraries of recent in.
vention is bound to have a most
salutory effect upon the intelli
gence of the country and will
doubtless do much to neutralize
the flood of cheap bad books anG
debasing journalism. "Do you
know, said Ruskin, "if you reat
that book you cannot read thii
one?" When we reflect that only
small proportion of the really
good books can be read in a life
time it is literally true that ir
reading trashy hook we are los
ing forever the time to read gooC
one.
1t is auspicious for the future in
telligence Of the citizens of the
United States and especially o.
Italy that these two countries lead
all others In the circulation o.
wholesome literature. 1t means
for Italy completion of her eman
cipation which was only partially
accomplished when Garabaldi en-
tered Rome and overthrow the
temporal power of the Pope. Yes.
terday saw on one of the most
crowded boulevards of Paris 9
long procession of boys OF from
eight to twelve years old marshall.
ed by two men who were in citi
zen's clothes and not as in former
days the long domino of priests
l asked one of the leaders If they
were public school children. The
reply was: "Oui Monsieur, gar,
cons de l'ecole Nationale." could
not help saying "vive e'cole pub.
lique." for the future of France il
more dependent on the education
OF the youth OF the country than