The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-05-14


Colonel Monroe but II Mr. Rocketel
Ter or 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 Il not found Ia the fact
that such gifts are accepted not with
gratitude but with the feeling that
they are d form OF restitution? | some
times think SO In ancient times rob
Der chiefs endowed churches and
schools and these donations were ac-
cepted as matter OF course. IL occurs
70 me. however. that In this country,
in this day and generation, II there
IS one Institution which should be sup
ported from the public treasury il Is
that % education. The citizen should
be made to feel that the opportunity
for the education OF his children come.
not as privilege, but as right, not
as the result OF gifts from those who
have been uncOmmOnly successful. but
from the foresight aud enterprise OF
the community OF which he IS a part
You have not answered the question
as TO what you would DO with billion
OF dollars" reminded Judge Sawyer.
Il would turn 1t into the conscience
fund OF the United States government.
with a recommendation as TO how Il
should be expended" replied Colonel
Monroe. by adding Il to this fund /,
could be used without that condescen
sion which goes with charity Since a
billion can be obtained only by the col
lection % unjust assessments against
the producers should aim 70 return Il
to the victims by method which
should strongly recommend"
I'D rather have mine in money.
said jenkins
When get the billion you shalt
have your share Ia cash, Jenkins. but
the rest u them viii get it In books
declared Colonel Monroe
You vii establish libraries ?" asked
Judge Sawyer
"Firteor million OF them" said the
colonel calmly.
Fifteen million libraries exclaimed
Jenkins. What are yon thinking Of.
colonel? That's only $40 - apiece You
couldn't build much Of a library with
that"
My idea Of a library Is one Of bound
books and not Of brick. stone nd NOR.
tar said Colonel M.nroe.
. Il think I grasp your idea" said
Judge Sawyer "You would offer col
lection Of books to s.ery voter OF head
Of a family in the country
THAT would be my tscommeuda-
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 Tor les4 than 81
apiece, Allowing for expenses Of dis
tributlon, this would permit Of. a col
lection Of thirty BOOKS That is a nice
little nucleus u a library. and II the
books were properly selected an In
caiCulabie amount Of good would re-.
suit. II I could have had access 10
that many books when | vas young.
ster | should have esteemed myself
very fortunate, OF course Il L. 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 Der.
manent value II compelled to seek
them in a public library. And then,
again. the man who owns and has read
thirty good books develops an ambt-
ton IN acquire more The more
think Of It, colonel tho more I an Inn.
pressed with the belief that your meth
oil ~ expanding this billion Of con
science money Is a good one. Fifteen
million collections ~ thirty books each
would mean a distribution Of 10000
90 volumes"
4 had figured on $50 books" said
Colonel Monroe Judge Sawyer looked
up IN mild amaznmept
You would prefer quantity rather
than quality / assume" be said. "Of
course this IL your billion. and Won
can do a. you choose with 1t. but I
should prefer o fov well bound books
% good paper 10 l5O Of the class which
would be obtained FOR 30 cents npicce."
I would furnish better books than
now retail for ton times the money"
declared Colonel Monroe. They would
conform 10 the best standards Of tho
printing art IN every respect In fact
they would be as good books M can be
produced FOR money. The most exact
Ing lover ~ fine presawork would be
glad to xiv" room To them on hlz
shelves"
"At 40 cents a volume" exclaimed
judge Sawyer
al an average Of 20 cents a vol
urn"'' replied Colonel Monroe.
III you are In earnest. I shonld Ike
10 hear your solution Of thla uya,erv
said the Judge.
have an engagement this evening
but viii show yon tho data at our novt
meeting s7.d fh" colonel putting on
his o1"r"pat 81 think can convince
you TINT my estimate IL well within
reason"
I'D rather have the money thnn IN.