Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1903-04-11

record OF the books drawn and re-
turned and the names of the readers
but the person who does it will have
the satisfaction of knowing that it is
appreciated by at least part of the
people benefited
have been kindly allowed to look
over the record of the books read in
Wa-Keeney. i spent six hours hard
study on it. digging up the data for
this story before beginning to write
it. Il hope you will read it,
There were more than go calls for
books. 1t is probable that each book
was read by two persons, on an aver
age. every time it was drawn out. If
so, then we have the equivalent of
500 volumes read here in the last few
weeks, exclusive of private libraries,
etc
Here are some of the most popular
books and the number of times drawn
out: Daid Harum takes the lead with
IA drawings but Those Dale Girls are
right after him with the unlucky ~
ID. Richard Carvel and Thelma are
tied on H. Then we have Opening
of the Chestnut Burr, Janice Mere
dith, When knighthood was in Flow
er, and Little Men, each taken out
10 times. Strington on the Pike.
Eight Cousins, Little Women and
Felix Holt times. TO Have And To
Hold. Jane Eyre and Trflby each APP
pealed book lovers Joe's Boys and
Timothy'S Quest, each I. All the
others NAV be claSsed as SCATTERING"
1t would take too much space to give
them all but | may add Anew by way
of illustration. Farm Ballads and
Longfellow's poems were each taken
out twice. Rider Haggard's ''She"
and Rev. Shedon's I'm His Steps,"
and five other books were taken out
but once.
You can make several interesting
deductions from the above paragraphs:
Our people try to keep up to date
with their reading. The thistoricak'
novel is popular. Some old books
were drawn often, keeping in mind
the fact that many of them are found
in private collections. Miss Alcott's
books hold their own. Juvenile Stories
are popular even with the grown-ups.
Those who read poetry probably buy
their own books of that kind. Freak
iSh books have a short run.
Now that is the book side of my
story. There is another, a personal
side. 1 could give names and some of
my readers might be Interested in
looking them over but think l would
better not do so.
Ninety different persons drew books
from this little library of so volumes
One reader takes the lead with IL
books. Two persons took 10 books
each and one other got 9. Some drew
only one book and in few cases il
seemed to be enough for the whole
family. Eight teachers and 80 pupils
in the common schools of the town
and country drew books. Teachers
can do much to foster IA taste for good
reading. No doubt some of them
have done so. The boy or girl who is
reading good book is not III mis-
chief. to say the very least of it.
Some of these books were taken by
old gray-haired med and women:
Others by youngsters of ten or twelve
wears, AT least one person took out
books under two names; married in
the meantime you see- Some read
for amusement, or paStime only, but
it is evident to me after looking over
the record. that Others had a definite
and worthy object IN view 1t is sur
prising to find some names on the list
that are there. Some who ought to
read got no books at all. Some of our
best and most Intelligent readers got
no books from this library but they
have plenty of good reading matter at
home.
These books went into 60 different
families and 20, or one third, of these
families live out of town. A few OF
the books went 10 to 20 miles out. One
family leads with 16 books by mem
berS, the next 10 by persons. the
third IA by two girls and the next y
books by two brothers and their sis
tiers. Other families took fewer books.
am little disappointed that some
books were not read oftener and re-
greet that some others were out too
short Il time to be we'll read.
Now do you not think that Il read
ing public would appreciate county
high school? And would it not be a
good place to start good, growing,
permanent library of use to all the
young folks of the county?
THEODORE.
EASTERN whole trunk full of Eas