The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-12-21

braries may do to found permanent
public libraries Mr.. Hutchlns, of the
library commission, tells the history of
the little library in Whitehall This
village has population of about 500
people. For a number of years it had
supported 4 subscription library which
was used bI*e little. In December,
1893, the Wisconsin free library COM
mission offered to make it travelling
library station if tile village board
would found a free public library. The
board refused. Then the commission
sent 4 travelling library ON condition
that it and the subscription library
should be made free to farmers as we'll
as townspeople. Within two weeks
from the opening the combined l1Drar-
les had 100 borrowers. At the village
election the people voted OverW helm
irgly to accept the commissions prop
osit.on and to raise 5000 annually for
the library by tax. The town meet
ing of the farmers voted $500. Ine
citizens then raised about 500 and
gave many gifts of books. About $500
was used to erect a neat library build
ing end 800 for the purchase OF site.
In September. 1899, the library was
dedicated and the occasion was made
Z public holiday. In organizing the
library and decorating the room men,
women and children worked enthuslas-.
tically and a trained librarian showed
them how to use the lest mCd III
methods of library work. The hrst
annual report. Of this little library
shows that at the close Of the year 1t
contained 164 volumes, and that none
had reen lost, though the shelves We're
open to all cCmers. The number CT
borrowers cards was 800, OF Whlcn
100 were held in farmers families.
The circulation was GLIB. of which,
il nay be noted, 1925 were OF BOOKS
of travel.
Our Home Poets
It is a good thing to encourage the
literary talent of the state. Even the
smallest community has it's writer's, its
poets-often men and women with
limited opportunity, who feel within
them the impulse to embalm IN verse
the thoughts that arise within. VI
course the greater number OF IneSe
ambitious souls will never strike II.
They will live and die unhonored and
unsung, save as in the honest. dls-
charge of all duty, honor is the prlvll-
eye Of all. Many Of these writer's have
been denied the early advantages,
hopeless barrier for some, not for all.
We are all strangely blind as to our
own merits when it comes to the arts,
it may be Of painting, OF music, OF
writing. We know and Will cOncede
our place as respects business FACULTY,
industry, Judgment of things, but ev-
cry one who plays the piano or sings
has a quiet idea that in him reposes
genius. Painters are blind to the de-
fects that may be obvious to others;
and as to poets-we1l, they may not
sit in Judgment on their own writings.
Every printing shop can tell tales OF
we'll meaning men and women VINO
figure on n book of their writings
the children of their souls, the prod
ucts of night. vigils, and what seemed
to be divine inspirations, but poems
that are detective incredibly lad. But
it is all matter of point OF view. 10
the husky youth who wrote them or,
maybe. the farmers wife, they are
worthy the appreciation Of the world:
The poets eye, in fine frenzy rolling,
Doth glance from heaven to earth, from
earth to heaven.
An Iron River Maiden.
I note that Iron River is Interested
in one of these homemade gen1uses,
Matte Doherty Feldsmith, who Oper-
ates under the name Of "Leda Bond.
She sells her own volume, which she
calls 1.-THE Home on the Mountain
Her first book was ''Dew Drops" The
preface of her "MOuntain Home
book touches a familiar note in pref
aces of local talent 1t comedies that
the scholars criticism may be severe
but turns to the lowly ''thirsting for
knowledge, whom poverty's chains
bind down to constant toll. simple,
although faulty tale, penned by one OF
their own class can reach and touch
their hearts. And for these-my
brothers and sisters in the worlds
stern battle for bread-my little book
is written"
The Old Mans Dreams.
One of her poems is given-sThe
Old Mans Dreams"
Yes the clouds are dark in the western
sky,
And the winds in the leafess branches
And the snow birds chirp in a sadder
tone,
And the old man sits at the hearth
alone,
And smiles in slumber.
He races again the vine-wreathed porch,
At the twilight hour, and the firet1y's
TORCH
IS all that illumines the happy scene,
That comes each night in the old mans
dreams,
To fade at morning.
For the sweet young wife with golden
hair,
Who knelt each night by his side in
prayer,
Has long since gone to her quiet rest.
But her spirit waits mid the pure and
-. blessed,
His own late coming
And the baby hands that clasped his
own,
Are folded away meath the sculptor's
stone.
And the empty house in it's silent gloom.
And ghosts of the past. is living tomb.
And still he slumbers.
Again he smiles at happy sight;
For ha sees his home a0lOW with light