The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-15

present use and future growth. Much
depends upon the presiding genius Of
| this Kingdom, Were all the virtues OF
all the saints of the calendar hers. sh,
e'uld still mourn her shortcomings
Every day tests her tact, her Judgment,
Ter sympathies. her sense. She must
be a good housekeeper and cordial
hostess. She must have wltchful
eye for cobwebs and finger marked
windows, and no matter how pressed
for time. how absorbed IN technical
detail, she must always be gracious
and sympathetic, alert and helpful. No
where so we'll as In library may be
applied Burke's apothegm; ITO bring
the dispositions that are lovely in pri-
vate life into the life into the service
and conduct of the state. Then she
must know her books and know them
well and speedily, Let 1t be spread
abroad that the library is ready to help
anyhody--iind out anything. SO far as
its resources win allow. Then by aud
BY when young men come 10 her for
an outline of their first after-dinner
speech, young mothers beg her TO de-
eide whether bananas are wholesome
before the age of six months, a nros-
pective bride drops In TO consult her
on the most artistic arrangement for
home wedding, boys CONG to talk
over the merits Of different colleges,
elderly maidens for advice on the care
of pets, whether Angora kittens, for
instance, should have bushy tails at the
age Of one week; farmers for the lat
est methods Of poultry feeding, minis
ters for missionary statistics and so on
without number, she may conclude
that confidence has been established
and the lines of library success firmly
laid.
Now, why is public library neces-
sary TO community life? II gives more
clean, wholesome pleasure than any
other institution for the amount Of
funds invested; 1t is refreshing in
fiuence over many who are without
other opportunities, particularly the
young and the homeless, giving employ
ment for those idle hours that wreck
more lives than any other cause; 1t Of
fers one OF the best means Of educating
the children of foreign parents that
problem OF American civilization. it Is
an essential part Of the educational
system, the complement of the public
school, aiding the teachers, broadening
the instruction, giving the boy and girl
with hidden talent the chance to dis
cover and develop It. As Doctor Har-
ris says, '"The school gives the prelim-
mary preparation for education, and
the library gives the means by which |
the individual completes and accom-
plishes his education. 1t gives the |
mechanic and artisan a chance to know |
what is doing in their particular lines
Of work: it furnishes material for study |
to clubs and societies; 1t arouses divine |
in real things, thereby substi-
tuting by natural methods the broad !
outlook and the interesting CONVERSE
tioa for the warped mind and the pet
ty gossip. .....
Its mission to the child. the man Of |
the future, is perhaps the most import
ant of all. Children must not grow
up feeling that all books are text books
the printed page lesson to be escap-
ed, not a Joy and solace, The ideal
library lis OF course in the home; the
child who can browse at will among the
well-filled shelves In his fathers house
ID n fortunate child. | remember so
well hearing man of power and Of
great learning say that 1t was hard
Tor him to tell which had been the
stronger influence in his life, his COL
ege education or the habit of seeing
lis mother read. But we must race the
,act that many homes both of high and
ow degree, are bookless, and 1t Is to
hese homes that the library reaches
tut. AS one librarian puts 1t, "The
JUNCTION of the library is the develop
nent and enrichment Of human life
trough the medium of the printed
'age." To open the eyes and the ears
nd the understanding, to fill that
which Is now empty, to enrich the
tarving, to let them in. these unsus-
,ecting ones, into the companionship
4 the great, this is the mission ( the
'ublic library.