The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-12-07
OPENING OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARY
Addresses Made By a Number Of
Clergymen and Laymen.

of the Oakland Public School Library
which consists of $50 volumes, with
more to be added soon.
The exercises were opened with a
program by the school Literary So
ciety, which was rendered with much
acceptance and credit to the young
people participating, Mr.. Draper
Vaughn, the president of the Literary
Society, presided with much ease and
grace.
AT the close of the program Mr..
Turner announced that Revs. Man
ges, Workman and McClelland were
pres ent by invitation to speak to the
young people on THE Use or In
fiuence Of Good Books"
Rev. McCleilard was called upon
first. He said in opening that be did
not see WHY he should be first called
upon, except for the reason that it
was the custom of every well regulat-
ed society to call upon the best look
ing man first, which created some
merriment for thosepresent. He spoke
Of the Library and its advantages to
the young people day, and their
privileges compared with some of the
great men Of our own country.
Rev. Manages followed with an ex-
cellent address on how to use and
make companions Of good books.
Rev. Workman followed along the
same line and spoke of the influence
book may have on the life of the
reader
DR.. Bartlett and Prof. Browning
also added some very happy remarks
IN their usual good style.
Mr.. JOS. E. Harmed was next called
upon, and spoke of his interest i'll this
undertaking. 1T is to Mr.. Harmed
that the Library owes its inception.
For some time he has had the matter
on his mind, and after taking his
friends into bis confidence the matter
was set on foot. Mr.. Harmed in his
usual humble fashion wished to give
the credit to the people who rallied
about his standard, but we all know
Mr.. Harmed was the leader and so
motion was made and carried to call
the library after its mover.
The books are all by standard au-
thors, and cover a wide range of read
ing in history, science, and biography.
All who have contributed in any
way to the library are to have the free
use of its shelves.
II is indeed an upward move in the
history Of education in Oakland and
it is to be hoped that the Library will
be fully appreciated by our people,
younger and older.
Let us have more school trustees of
the Harmed type and we will soon
have higher standard of education.
At the close of the exercises cata-
logues of the books and an openIletter
to the patrons from Mr.. Harmed we're
distributed. Mr.. Harned's letter fol-
lows:
7othe Patrons, Friends and Pupils
of the Oakland Public School.
OAKLAND, Md, Dec. 1, 1905.
For many months | haye been en-
deayoring to devise plan which
would result in developing a personal
and deeper interest by all in the Oak
land Public School. 1t is very plain
that the BEST work can only be ac-
complished by hearty cooperation
of school official, parent and child.
Something is necessary to arouse. in
US a sense of duty along this line or
We shall fail in reaching the highest
possible attainment in ours school
work.
Largely on this account has the
idea of Public School Library pre-
scented itself as a possible means of
accomplishing the desired end. Again
most boys and girls.f find time toiread
something besides their school text
books, When we consider the nu-
merous blood and thunder stories
and Objectionable fiction which is
flooding the country and poisoning
the minds of the young, it seems all
the more important for us as parents
and school officials to study the siSua-
ton carefully that a remedy for the
evil may be found.
After thoughtful consideration up
on existing conditions we believe the
question to a large extent may be
solved by placing interesting and
helpful books in the hands of the
children. With this end in view our
efforts have been crystallized into a
fund and our best Judgment has been
used in selecting a Library compris-
ing some of the very best literature
the world has produced.
eve desire to express our most
hearty thanks to all those who have
so kindly assisted in making possible
the establishment of the Oakland
Public School Library, and we want
every patron, whether or not it has