Smyrna times., 1900-04-11
AGITATING THE FREE LIBRARY
RECEIVES AN IMPETUS AT SYMPOSIUM
OF TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB.
Addresses Made By Rev. c. A. Hill, Rev. J.
L. EstIin, W. II. Janney and Others,
Followed by a Reception.

L. EstIin, W. H. Janney and Others,
Followed by a Reception.
The Free Library Movement re-
ceived another impetus on Friday
evening last, at Symposium, given
by the Twentieth Century Club, at
their beautifully furnished room. If
attendance and enthusiasm has any
thing to do with a movement, it would
indicate there is a strong feeling for a
free Public Library in our town.
1t was not until nearly half past
eight o'clock when the President, Mrs.
F. F. Evans, called the meeting to
order and made neat little speech of
greeting to the large audience. She
said the meeting was called to hear re-
marks from the clergymen and others,
and introduced Rev. G. A. Hill, who
spoke for twenty-five minutes interest
ingly on the subject. He said that Ii
braries were the indication of civiliza-
ton in all ages. When Ledyard un-
covered Ninevah fifty years ago he
found evidences of large library in
many specimens of their cuneifOrm
letters. So it was with all nations.
Coming home, he said there were
always objections to improvements
as was always the case to water
works, as against the pump handle,
fire engine as against bucket br1gades,
&C., and it was not surprising that
there should be the same difficulty at
tending a free library. He said
Smyrna had an enviable reputation in
regard to it's public improvements in
that they were owned by the town in
stead of by companies.
Rev. J. L. Estlin, who was then
called on, took strong ground for the
desired improvement. He had found
in travelling in New England that the
best houses, adorned with art in paint
ings, &C., were the public libraries.
made in the highest sense attractive
A feature of New England as stated by
him or some one of the speakers, was
that there were but six towns in that
section that had not free public librar-
les, and all of these were dwindling in
population.
VIM. III. Janney, who represents the
Smyrna Library that was established
here over forty years ago, and who is
cooperating with the ladies of the
: Twentieth Century Club for changing
it to a Free Library, was called on tC
further state the condition of the move
ment and anwer such questions, as fal
as he could, that might be asked. This
took up more time than the speeches o
l clergy, and was an interesting feature
of the evening The question turned
on the matters of taxes, which it wa
stated, would be increased about one
third, or say 40 cents on the 800
which was the rate of assessment for {
number of years until recently, to pa.
= the running expenses of the Free Lii
e brary every afternoon and evening
e This was participated in by VIM. I
e Hall, E. V. Cooper, L. M. Price, II
g B. Grieves, VIM. G. Hill, j. E. Hot
n fecker, j. E. Carter, S. j. Reynolds
If A. L. Hudson, Jr. Rev. T. H. Haynes
and VIM. Fl. Baggs, all of whom ell
ct dorsed the movement.
ID The only lady who spoke, Mrs. j. "
to Anthony, was in response to call, g
n the prime mover of the enterprise. Sh
0, said she was led to advocate this move
1T ment because of the condition of man
youths who had no "open door" but t
IN such places as did them harm. She bt
he lieved this would be remedied by FIRE
DO public library.
ar The Symposium" was ended by tt
bt social feature of the clgb-the servir
ID of lemonade and cake-during whiC
We time the Watkins Orchestra discourse
sweet music.