Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-31


John Cotton Dana in the New Hamp-
shire Library Commission Bulletin says:
| have known many libraries and Ii
brary assistants. old and young. and ev-
cry one of them has testified, directly or
Indirectly to keen delight in his work.
Few leave the profession. and they al
ways with res rets. The position is not an
easy one. ant. ne pay is not larse. our
calling would seem to have strong attrac-
tons Tor people of a certain type-and SO
it has. OF the many which may be men,
toned / wish to speak here OF Two only;
the opportunities it offers for the promo
interests. Attractive careers in the field
of altruism are not open to every one.
The worlds work must be done. That Il
may be done well. those most competent
must do IL. That the most competent
may do 1t. they must compete with the
less competent and must win the day;
Here. then, are war, victory. defeat. and
the spoils of conquest. Nature. red in
tooth and claw. comes perforcv into every
factory and every market, and comes to
stay. Sympathy softens the aspect of this
strife, and temperS the SufferingS of the
defeated But the strife goes on: and
neither legislative ENACTMENT nor public
opinion. even though born vi generous
sentiments. can stop it: and Il they are
carried beyond certain point they but
forbid the supremacy of the most compc-
tent and work us harm. BUSINESS must
be done: most must engage in business
therefore, most must do battle day By
day.
it is impossible now to question this: and
If free, unsupported libraries are good
things. and today it is not easy to ques-
ton this. then We have in the librarian, 5
calling field in which competition is
simply joyful one over efficiency in good
works. 1t is not-and this cannot be
said too Often-a question of making 9TH
ers good They who are much given to
improving the low morals of others ar"
already Pharisees. The whole question
of librarianship is one of JOY. of pleasure,
of fullness of life. of happiness. If the Ii
brarian of the country village. for OK
ample. can see that her little collection of
to its owners. wisely meeting the needs
it's own active presence arouses. makes
this one and that one. old and young.
here and there, see more things, know of
more things, care for more things, take
the broader view, loose the bond of big
otry, open the eyes of charity. teach 'of
lf-satisfaction to ambition; and add
sparkle to the daily grind-thcn is she
not Il friend of society and OF some good
This mere mention of the Character OF
the librarians career shows it at once
to be helpfuiy unselfish in its essence. as
few careers in the worlds field of work
can be. 1t calls attention. also. 10 the
second of the two attractive features in
the librarian calling which | wish here
to. emphasize; the variety of its interests.
Perhaps alone of all the world 8 teachers.
the preacher-and he only when he has
babe farewell to all creeds Whatsoever
of human interests as does the libra
rtan.
All knowledge is the librarians prov
inCe. None can explore this domain thor
oughly. but any one can realize. if only
vaguely, its immensely. can look upon ii
reyerently and can venture. with timoroui
delight, into corner here ana there.
Some one should write us an essay, or
perhaps a poem on Our pleasure in the
books We cannot read What joy there is
as we walk among the shelves, in the
contemplation of the knowledge and wis
dom that we know ale here. and here.
Some day We shall have the Ballad of
him who joyed TO know that other;
And the work to be done. First. In the
library itself: no matter how small 1t
may be-. the librarian gets pleasure in APP
plying to its management every latest
method of arrangement. classification.
cataloguing. shelving. delivery. access.
her peculiar case; 1t soon takes on for
her the air of a home. she says of it.
That which my people enjoy when they
visit my home fireside, that they, shalt
find and enjoy here. Light. fresh air,
pictures, neatness. refinement, hosp tality.
cheer-in all these things my library shall
town which owns it. This is not an Of
flee or store or factory: it is the cho-
sen home of the good and wise men who
wrote these books; it is constituted and
maintained to help my acknowledges II
find life easier and brighter and more
worth the living; II shall speak at once tn
home making and library management
two of the best and most delightful of Oc-
equations. both in one
Looking abroad. she sees the EDITOR, the
preacher. the teacher and the scholar.
and SAYS at once: These are all on my
side and mus work with me. Their work
is not mine. bat mine is surely a part o:
theirs She frs they meet her halfway.
and more. Her books have allies in their
. work. ney become mobile and move
through the community on the wings of q
few spoken shrewdy here and there my
these their friends.
The pulpit speaks. and the press and
the teacher and clubs and Sunday
schools and sCciables: and every chance
and the treasures on her shelves come
forth and move about, among the people.
ahd their mission is accomplished, and
the library has well-wishers and advo-
Gates and promoters and berefa ctors.
And the children come. to the very
good books hurt children. and children
who hurt books are few and SHY cured
Thus with all knowledge for her prov
ince, with old and young of every kind
and of every trade and calling in her
community for her field of WORK. and the
promotion of human happ:n.sS for her
aim, the librarian takes up Per Gaily task
each morning with enthusiast N and lays
1t down each night with regret.
The state of New York has at the
present time. in round numbers, %, 200
insane patients under care. which i'm
plies an original capital outlay Of s2O,-
OC0, 900 for hospitals and their equip
fnents. and an annual expenditure of
S. 600 600 for the care and treatment of