Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-17

upon rhese shelves we may find sicii
treasures VI Information as will fit lIs
for the highest pleasure and the best use
flilness. We need sometimes TO remem-,
Der that the most We can do and the best
We can do will not be commensurate
with the real beneilcence of this beetow
ment.
After a few brief remarks leading up TO
the subject of the morning, ..Our Public
tibrar:, Rev IL. VI. Ives, pastor of the
baptist church. said. in part, as follows
For our special Thought. TINS forenoon,
plbIic library. We use the word our
public library instead of the iudefiult-
-the." because Il Is ours-yours and mine
Tndoubtedly There isn't III the present
time tx much public Interest," in the mai
ter as there ought 10 be. Nor becausa
81 any natural lack or sympathy, but be-
eauSe We haven't all worked up to the
Fact that II II Our" library II came
into being 50 suddenly and Unexpectedly
that we haven't yet fllly adjusted our
selves to the fact that ii sand that II
is Vtirs Il hasn't cost us anything. We
learn how to value thing that costs US
time ana labor. but When IL comes with
40 cost Of any kind We have To learn
O. appreciate il.
TIE tact j. that "" are IN possession
Of q library building and the beginnings
OF u library OF which many larger places
might well be proud, and an important
work al the outset il to get everyone to
feel that II is theirs. oae good way 10
bring this about Is through the plan now
on foot Of arranging an entertainment.
the proceeds of which shall 70 for the
securing Of new books This gives every II
one a chance to help. The entertainment
to b. given on Nashinstons birthday
merits q crowded house.
Ii Is difficult ut present To estimate the
real value and Importance Of our library
to the community. Time is necessary for
its influence for good to appear. But it
requires no prophet to foresee something
of the inevitable good which must result.
from good reading on the part OF the
many wEo, even at this early stage have
become its regular patrons. one needs
but 10 watch for single afternoon the
large number of our school children wh1
come regularly for books 10 understand
something Of what our library means To
our huEes. Twenty years from now the
men and women, who are now boys and
girls, whether they are still residents of
our place or not, will many of them b.
saying: Il owe much of what ! am To
the influence and inspiration OF the good
book which | read from the Fairfield Ii
brary."
The readers OF today are to be the lead
ers of tomorrow. and whoever lends
helping hand in the interests OF the libra
~ Is helping TO build character in the cit
iZens of tomorrow that Will yield large
and direct returns 10 the community
Thirty thousand dollars are spent in
this town every year for rum. A yolun-
tary contribution of $500 year from our
citizens for books ought 10 be a very easy
thing in order that our library may grow
in its equipments for serving the commu-
nifty Let the library cost US little ami
we shall appreciate it ali the more.
Let us hope that the time may coma
when the good work begun by. our libra
~ may be supplemented BIZ the equally
good and important work Of a gymnasium
with manual training facilities, which
shall direct the energies of our boys to
something profitable and shield them
from temptation during the transitional
period from boyhood to young manhood.