The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-04-28

AAAsis w NiAAiltAl W 4olls- 4fhtIltu
Colonel Monroe, but if Mr. Rockefel-
Ter OF any other man of wealth were to
offer to pay the running expenses or
take up the debt of the average Amer
lean city | would give odds that his
proposition would be accepted by de.
cided majority of the voters and tax
payers. There must be some reason
for this. Is it not found in the fact
that such gifts are accepted not with
gratitude, but with the feeling that
they are a form of restitution! | some
times think so. In ancient times rob
Der chiefs endowed churches AID
schools and these donations were ac-
cepted as a matter of course 1t occurs
TO me. however. that in this country.
IN this day and generation, if there
is one institution which should he sup
ported from the public treasury ii is
that of education The citizen should
be made to feel that the opportunity
for the education of his children comes
not as privilege but as a right: not
as the result of gifts from those who
have been uncommonly successful. hut
from the foresight and enterprise of
the community of which he is part"
! You have not answered the question
as to what you would do with a billion
of dollars reminded Judge Sawyer
Il would turn it into the conscience
! fund of the United States government.
with recommendation as to how it
| should he expended" replied Colonel
| Monroe. by adding it 10 this fund it
could be used without that condescen-
sion which goes with charity. Since
billion can be obtained only by the col
! lection of unjust assessments against
/ the producers | should aim to return it
to the victims by a method which I
/ should strongly recommend"
I'D rather have mine in money"
| said Jenkins.
when l get the billion you shall
! have your share in cash, Jenkins, but
the rest of them will get it in books"
declared Colonel Monroe.
You will establish libraries?" asked
! Judge Sawyer
Fifteen million of them" said the
! colonel calmly.
Fifteen million libraries!' exclaimed
/ jenkins. what are You thinking Of
colonel? That's only $66.67 apiece You
| couldn't build much of library with
! that"
"My idea of a library is one of bound
books and not of brick, stone and NOR
tar" said Colonel Monroe.
Il think | grasp your idea said
| Judge Sawyer. You would offer col
lection of books to every voter or head
of family in the country
That would be my recommended
ton"
But you could not buy and dis
| tribute many books for that amount
Of money" objected Judge Sawyer.
THE class of books required could
hardly be secured for less than 50
apiece. Allowing for expenses of dis
tribution, this would permit of col
| lection of thirty books That is a nice
| little nucleus Of library, and if the
books We're properly selected an in
calculable amount of good would re
! suit If | could have had access to
that many books when | was a young
ster l should have esteemed myself
very fortunate. OF course it is your
theory that books acquire an added
value from the fact of possession.
Most people have neither the time nor
the inclination to study books of per
manent value If compelled to seek
| them in a public library And then.
again. the man who owns and has read
thirty good books develops an ambi-
ton to- acquire more. The more
think of it, colonel, the more am i'm
pressed with the belief that your meth
cd of expanding this billion of CON
science money is a good one. Fifteen
million collections of thirty books each
would mean a distribution of 450.O
| 900 volumes
81 had figured Oh 100 books" said
Colonel Monroe. Judge Sawyer looked
up in mild Amusement
"Iou would prefer quantity rather
than quality, L assume" he said. "Of
course this is your billion, and YOU
can do as you choose with it, but |
should prefer few well bound books
on good paper to $50 of the class which
would he obtained for 40 cents apiece"
Il would furnish better books than
now retail for ten times the money"
declared Colonel Monroe They would
conform to the best standards of the
! printing art IN every respect In fact.
they would be as good books as can be
produced for money. The most exact
ing lover Of fine presswork would be
I glad to give room to them on his
| shelves"
AT 40 cents a volume" exclaimed
Judge Sawyer.
AT an average of 40 cents vol
ume," replied Colonel Monroe.
IF you are in earnest, | should like
to hear your solution of this mystery"
said the Judge
81 have an engagement this evening.
but will show you the data at our next
meeting" said the colonel, putting on
his overcoat. Il think l can convince
you that my estimate is well within
reason"
"Td rather have the money than the
| books, at that" asserted Jenkins.
Crooks are all right in thar pIaoo buk