The Newtown bee., 1903-02-27
TOWN TOPICS,
FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
BY o. o. WRIGHT.

and perhaps never shall. do not read many books, and why should I take any interest in the matter? Why should 1 be taxed to support the public schools? have no one to send to such schools. Why not let those who want them pay the bills? Why should I be taxed to support poor, people who come to want and have to be helped by the town? I am able to take care of myself. Why should be taxed to maintain public highways? I do not Keep a horse. I am able to go on foot, across lots, and do not care to ride. All l need is the right of way, and trail. Why not let those who need roads make them and keep them up to suit their own convenience? Leave every man to get around the country as it pleaseS him, in his own way and at his own expense. Is it fair to take my hard earned cash to mend highways up in Lake George district where l have never been: or over in Hatter- town where I go but once a year? Could we not get along well enough without these public things? If man wants books to read let him buy them. If he wants school let him have one in his own home.- Why should education be forced upon us all alike whether we want it or not? If man is sick and poor and cannot support himself let his own family and friends care for him, or if there is no one to help him, let him have the privilege of depart ing this life, because we all believe that the future life will be better than this. Why do we waste our money trying to keep folks alive when we are sure they would be better of dead?
 Let us get down to first principles. If it is every man for himself with no regard for others, let us do away with all public considerations and retire to private life strictly. We can get along with very little if we please. Books are not absolutely necessary. Schools could be dispensed with, on pinch. Roads are of little account if you are willing to stay where you are. Pau pers are needless. We could live with out houses. As to clothes we might go back to sheepskins in winter and palm-leaves in summer. A hole in the ground, the shelter of rock; pork and potatoes; the necessities of exis- tence are few and simple. Why should we pay taxes for anything?
 There is just as good reason for be- ing taxed to support public library as to support public schools, public highways, public poor, or anything else public which by common consent ministers to the welfare of the people of the community. It is because civil ized society wants these things, and needs them, and knows that it pays to have them, that we should be taxed to support them. And we simply cheat ourselves, and put the whole cOmmun- ity to a disadvantage when we fall short of the standard of the common wealth of which we are part.
 Next to schools, the use of good books is the best means of education, and general intelligence. Books em. body the wisdom of the worlds exper. fence. They are the records of the progress of the race. They are revela- tions of characters. They tell the se crets of the success of the great an6 good in all ages. They contain stores of useful knowledge. They furnish the best ideals of noble conduct. They afford the companionship of the right eous and pure in heart. The reading of good books is one of the richest sources of real happiness. Moreover the knowledge of books has high com mercial value. A superintendent o1 one of the largest railroads in the country once said: "When I want ; trained man try to get hold of on' | who is used to books" What then i
 money good for if not to furnish thi people, young and old, with the fre'
 use of library?
 But if we have free public librar.
 how are the people to get the books
 It is folly to assert that if the publi
 want books they will pay the fee ant
 go to the library to get them. It i just as wise and just as easy to sa
 that if the people of Newtown ha'
 wanted a free public library the
 would have had it 50 years ago. w
 are not born with knowledge of books
 and we have to learn the value of reac
 ing. We do not always want what W
 need. What is best for all the peopl
 is the question. What will enrich an
 benefit the town? By having deliver
 stations at Sandy Hook, Botsford an
 Hawleyville the people of all quarter
 of the town can be easily supplie
 with books. These are the princip;
 centers of the population. The wes
 side of the town centers in NewtoW l Street where the library is permanen , ly located; the East side centers Sandy Hook; the north side has il center in Hawleyville, and the sout
 side centers in Botsford. Each fami
 having catalogue of all the books ar
 as many cards as they wish to use, the
 will select the books by numbers place
 on the cards; the books will be put |
 with the cards, in boxes suited to tl purpose, and sent to the delivery room
 in charge of responsible keepers, whe
 the people can go or send and get the
 once or twice each week as may be d
 sired. And in this way the libra
 will be made available to everybot
 who cares to read.
 P.F. Madigan, a former Sandy Hot
 boy, now has 6 responsible positi'