The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-05
The Mistaken Idea We
May Have Of Books

7 HAVE BEEN one of ''the book committee"
appointed by the president OF Our library
l to select and purchase the books This has
given me an opportunity to learn what class
of books is most popular in our community.
had frequently dcplorcd the fact that the de-
mand was largely for books Of fiction, including
novels of all classes, stories of adventure, both
probable and improbable, and their ilk. There
were but few readers who cared for history,
travel essays, biography and science. 1t ap.
pcared to me not wholly waste of time to
read fiction, it was to be hoped that such
reading would lead up to higher and more in.
strucive literature. had in my mind that all
reading should be largely instructive and that
increase OF knowledge among the masses was the
deSderat,rm of all public Libraries. But this idea
destined to receive shock. l am now
convinced that among the masses a public Ii
braiy can conserve the public veal in an.
other, more general and, shall ] say, COM
fortng way? This incident is what changed
my mind. One day l OLD man coming
out of the library with book in his hand
lie was quite feeble; his working days had
passed forever. lie had been victim of a mine
explosion: his face had the blue pits which
burning powder leaves in the flesh; one eye
sightess; his step was feeble, and, it seemed
to observer, that his days on earth were but
few. l pleased to that he had book,
and entered into conversation with him. What
brought about the change in my mind to which
| have adverted
I wish that might his simple but striking
language, and tell his story of what books had
done for him; common books, story books, love
tales tales of knowing accident by food and
tcld'' that had whled away the long hours OF
his old and crippled age For years he lad
been nearly a physical wreck and quite poor.
With the help of his children and the little home
lie owned, he managed to live AS he was tenn
pcratc and prudent, his wants were simple !nd
few At first, time dragged very heavily and
the days long; but the doors of the public
library opened, and it occurred to him that he
would avail himself OF the free books and try TO
read. This proved to be the beginning of a
new life. lie found himself in new world, and
each day brought JOY and contenment. lie had
an easy chair the back porch and, when
the weather would allow, sat there and reads
After breakfast he would go out, light his pipe,
take up his book, and soon would be young
again, living the life of his hero in imagina
tion and sympathy, striving with him, laboring
with him, hoping with him, loving with him,
winning with him. He forgot his icebcncss, his
old age his wrecked body. and not the
shadows that falling around him, nor real.
lied his almost grim poverty. And thus the
hours sped on wings of magina tion and the
days were blessed. His health improved, he
still lives, mnstercd unto by books that all
too glibly condemn worthless.
This is not solitary. There are hundreds,
aye, thousands. who filling what would be
otherwise weary hours with mental ecstacy, the
mind living over again its youthful days, disem-
bodied from the physical declcpitude OF old age
Therefore books are not for the wise alone nor
for instruction solely. George S. Kimbal
Clrbondalc, May Q, 1902. |