The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-08-17
LIBRARY DEDICATED.
Exercises Wednesday Evening
Largely Attended.
CONGRESSMAN WADE SPOKE
State Librarian johnson Brigham in
Attendance. After the Ceremonies
Interior is Inspected.

Interior is Inspected.
The beautiful new Carnegie library
building was dedicated and thrown
open to the public last Wednesday
evening. The dedicatory exercises
were held in 'front.' of the building on
platform erected for the purpose. The
street in front had been provided with
temporary seats which were we'll filled
with those who had gathered to wit
ness the exercises, as was also the
Presbyterian lawn just across the
street from the library The exercises
4 began shortly after seven o'clock. On
the platform were the speakers, the
chorus, members of the library board,
the mayor and city council, and other
notaoles. Several fine selections of
music were rendered by the chorus of
forty voices under the direction of b.
j. Sibbert
The meeting was presided over by
D..
pronounced by Rev. Emory Miller of
the Methodist church, and after a
song by the chorus, Prof. H. II. Saw
age, secretary of the library board,
gave brief history Of the movement
which has finally eliminated in the
present magnificent building for the
housing OF our public library. He told
of the generous offer of George w.
Schee of Primghar, Iowa, to donate
$1,000 for the purchase of books for
the Denison library provided the citi-
zens would raise So 500 more; of the
generous response from the leading
men of Denison, and finally of the gen
erosity of Andrew Carnegie, who,
through the good offices of Congress
man Conner was prevailed upon to
donate $4,000 for the erection of a Ii
brary building ana later to add $4,000
so that gift.
Prof Savage was followed by John
son Brigham, president of the Iowa
library commission who made an ao-
dress on the mission of the free public
library. Mr. Brigham is a man of fine
appearance on the platform and is a
fluent speaker. He began by saying
that the greatest city is not where the
largest buildings stand. The great
ness Of d city does not depend on the
census reports, but upon the greatness
and goodness of its men and women.
He said that the city OF Denison has
set pace which will be haid for our
sister cities to follow and may be hard
for ourselves to maintain. In all his
travels about the state he has never
failed to find behind the splendid Ii
brary movement the hands and the
brains and the hearts OF the women.
Referring to the object OF the free pub
y lie library, he asserted that The educa-
tion of our youth is not merely the ac-
ausition of knowledge, but its purpose
is to align them on the right side of
every question that they may amount
to something in the future and be en-
of civilization Between the ages OF
thirteen and fifteen there comes cru
cial period in the lives of children when
they begin to feel the oncomlng OF
manhood and womanhood, and when,
if they are not properly guided. they
are liable to withdraw from the public
schools. The public library is one
great factor in instilling proper ideals
into the minds of the growing youth
and keeping them in school. He then
quoted statistics of our own schools
showing how small a number take ad-
vantage of our wonderful educational
opportunh seompared with the mum
bess. ot.aose within sch5ol age and
urged upon every citizen to see to II
that the high school is better support
q ed. Agar we have founded in our
midst, in the public library, great
uniyersitY: and after all, as Carlyle
SAWS, the greatest university is col
lection of books. The public library is
the poor mans university. There are
oaly few who are privileged to at
tend a great university and even few
who attend the high school. Besides
he pointed out, an education Is not
merely matter Of d few years but
matter Of life time. The public Ii
brary is the only institution in oul
midst, aside from the churches. which
recognizes the fact that we are stu
dents from the cradle to the grave
The life that now is but moments
space of time, but with the aid OF books
our life may be indefinitely prolonged
throughout all the ages past, and the
best thought and best living of all the
ages may be brought down to US. hr