Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-31

The utility of free public libraries is
admitted by every thinking man and
woman. No argument is needed to con-
vince our people of the value of such in
stitutiOns. All experience shows eon-
clusively that as public educator, use
full alike to the old and the yonng, no
si' ~'o "onnnr o"complishes more dAsir-
a: lry
unuoi vi gt,5. iCSuIiu.iu. Iss = IN
of reading matter and gelIol, .,;aIage-
mer- The sole question. for consider
att sdal .a3if.l1 - citizens establish
and maintain 81. .,,r adt ~ .1i6Hn at an
expense that shall effect rqf+r ii re-
suit with the least burden - alton
to the individual? SpasmOu. rts
have been made heretofore in general
way to establish such library; bequests.
prompted by the best of motives and
full intention to do the city signal
service, have been made for like pur-
pose by conditions or legal complications
as not to be available at present, and
the subject has been permitted to lapse,
not through any question as to the de-
STABILITY of such library but rather
through lack of united and systematic
efforts.
We think now we see in the present
agitation of the matter prospects most
promising both as evidenced by the
general sentiment favorable to the pro-
ject, and also, by the character and
standing of the men having it in
charge. meeting of all persons in
terested was called Monday afternoon
for an interchange of opinions and
also to consult together as to the best
way Of formulating a plan 10 be present
ed at the general mass meeting to be
held in Turner Opera House in the even
ing.
Turner Opera House was filled Monday
evening with a large and intelligent
audience who had gathered to hear Miss
L. A. Stearns, of Milwaukee, and Mr.. f.
A. Hutchins Of Madison, the efficient see
retary of the Wisconsin Free Librar Y
Commission, who had been announced
as speakers in the interest of establish
ing a Free Libary in our city. President
Ernst, of the Northwestern University
had been wisely selected t. preside, and
the University Band always liberal with
their services on public occasions fur
nished the music to introduce the even
ing exercises, fill in the time between
the others had had their say. President
Ernst in formally calling the meeting to
order stated briefly but p0intedly the
object of the meeting and in quiet
but convincing way gave his reasons
why he favored the establishment of the
library and why in his opinion others
should feel likewise, closing by inSro-
ducing Miss L. A. Stearns. The lady
sketched the origin and growth OF libra
rieS. Between humorous illustrations
historical facts and good logic she showed
the Importance of the contemplated I'M
prOvement. The lady is a ready talker
and her familiar talk evidenced the
fact that she is thoroughly c0nversant
with every branch of the library question
She stated that the increase in the num-
Der of libraries established in Wisconsin
WAS frufa one to three par week ana sng-
gesti1ely asked why it is that There is on
" one city with over 5000 inhabitants in
our state without Free Public Library
Quoting Franklin's response to request
to donate towards the purchase OF abell
that people preferred sense to sound. she
gave the history of the first Free Public
! Library in the United States; the Frank
$ lin Library at Philadelphia. In contra
, distinction to the large Libraries. the
Free Public Libraries are to use books
not to keep them. There should bt
picture books for the youngest children
books of science to fill a regular
e might lead him. The location should b.
@ near the Post Office and ON the first floor
S The books should be classified ant
t arranged within convenient reach o
/. children. The leading newspapers, mag
4 ezines and periodicals. of the day shOui
|. constitute an essential part Of the /
S brary as we'll as books that contain tn
l. best thought Of all the ages. The litr;
a rian should be the best woman in tn
j. community, one interested not only i
k the work but especially interested in til
II welfare of the younger class OF patron
r. The Library as the peoples Universit
e is the center of pubiic happiness. "Yo
le do not realize what you have been den
80 ing yourselves in not having a publ
h library. 1t is the small libraries that a.
doing the most good for the pe0pl
At the conclusion of Miss Stearns' a
dress the President introduced Secretal
80 Hutchins. The Secretary's remarks ha
~ ~ special reference to the agency of bool
- in developing and forming characte
= and in this view, he thought it desirab
o. that books of biography, the lives
-, good men and women, be accessible
y the young. He said millions of dolla
are expended in teaching children
read and in the exercise OF this know
re edge, if good books were not attainab
IN bad books and papers would supply t
want. He spoke at length of Lincoln
,e, early life and the influence that boo
had in giving direction to his ambitio
of "The book boy reads for pleasure dc
more to determine his character tn;
of the book he studies. He sketched t
lives of three boys: one, who read on