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

tura, bringing murder. lust and finally
ruin upon beth gods and mortals but
nohler. rarer treasure. the knowledge
and wisdom which the kingly and
qeeenly ones OF all generations have
beQueathed us. This, too, cannot he
without effort, A man must tlght for
It, not with his brother. but with him.
self, Andrew Carnegie we'll says Il
chose free iibcarie$ as the best agen.
cies for improving the masses Of the
people, becauce they give nothing for
nothing They only help those who
heln themselves"
II was in this spirit that public lhra-
rics conquered the land. canno, trace
their development nor even suggest
their beginnings, Some were estab-
lished by agreement Of the community,
others by the henitieeace OF some one
Individual. others BY the insistent heat
ing at the doors of subscription libra
ries by the people themselves But in
one way or another free libraries have
become as much q part and parcel Of
Amarican life as the public schools
They have grown and mul, lplied. plan
ned on the same general lines, all own
ing the same distinct ideal of the mis-
sion of books to the people. and car
rytng It out in the way best fitted TO
! the conditions of the locality. The i'm
pressive work OF The public lihreries
in the large cities is familiar to us, the
main building of administration from
which radiate In all directions net
work of various activities. branch IL
braries delivery stations and home H.
braries. all with the sole aim of get
ting the books, the right books. irto the
hands of the people. There is no wait
ing in dusty seclusion for readers these
days, but q searching of highways and
hedges, compelling them to come in.
Mahomet won't come to the mountain,
the mountain cheerfuliy goes 10 Ma
homet
The small library OF town on Village, |
while cha-ishing the same ideals, is |
upon a different basis. 1t Is or should |
be the civic center around which the |
local interests and industries should re-
volye, all classes Of society. all creeds, |
all nationalities should hnd welcome !
and help within its doors. Its spirit |
should be thoroughly catholic, thor
oughly progressive and thoroughly In |
sympathy with the people. for It's only
best test of success If its usefulnes. |
1t is fortunate If it has a room set 1
apart for meetings Of various kinds,
where the womans club, or the natural
history club. or the Audubon society.
or the local camera club can hold its
statei session within quick reach Of
book shelves, or where a teacher from |
the grade school or high school can
bring her class for an illustrated talk
upon a particular subject. And be it
ever so small. it must have a corner
set apart for The children, with low
shelves for their own particular books.
and few small chairs or a captiyat-
ing photograph or two, or careful
bulletin made from pictures cut from
old magazines, which will invite G ri-
osity on birds or earthquakes or the
Of cotton-any interesting
or timely topic.
In addition, give a we'll selected
though small collection OF books, COM
prising books Of wholesale entertain
ment, few necessary reference vol
umes, particular attention being paid
10 local trades and industries. and
few of the best current magazines,
both literary and scientific, and the