The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-11
A Public Library
For Richmond
By DAVID L. PULLIAM

destiny and great usefulness. and suppreSs-l
cd the ambition and emulation of uielt,
whose efforts and talent would have been
of priceless worth and excellence in the
affairs, the labors, the enterprises, tho
achievements aud the influences OF this
community. Men desiring to gain Il
broader technical Instruction, to acquire
large information. To pursue some pecti-
liar and important lead OF scientific or
historic research. etc, have been con-
strained to leave Richmond, oven Vir-
glnia, and geek other cities and States.
which afforded them these facilities, and
have consequently. given their powers
end energies. great minds and gupcrb
culture, powerful executive abilities. and
inventive and constructive genius, to the
cities and States where they found q
habitat congenial to their talents. tastes
and needs. and they have thus been lost
to their native city and State.
This thread OF his manifold woof can
not he followed farther, else this paper
will be made too long; but the illustra-
ton of the truth of these statements
needs but the confirrnatory proof of the
names The achievements and the excets
lencies of the great multitude OF Virgint
ans, who have been compelled to Ieays
Virginia for the very reasons assigned
and who have glorlfied every domain Of
OF renown In other States and countries.
A study of their careers would be rnost
fruitful of good In convincing our peopla
OF the short-sghted policy and niggardly
treatment of great public movements fof
tho enlightenment and cultivation OF ouf
people, which have found n fashionable
vogue. Richmond Is at that point In
nor destiny when she can no longer ar
ford to deal with these momcntous issuel
in this spirit and temper. She must
awaken to the Importance and intense.
ness Of these demands and meet them
with sagacity and literality.
g. We need in Richmond public
library-a finely selected and correlated
collection of works ON mechanics, draft.
ing, mechanical engineering. civil enc
cheering, woodworking, iron-workng,S
carpentery. decoration. practical builds
ing, painting, etc. These things. so prac-t
teal and so necessary, are almost in4 {
Vulnerable. But does there not dawn
upon your vision ut least faint concep-
tion of what such Il collection of booka
would mean to the young men of thia
community? 1t would open up to them
employments and fields of usefulness now
entirely closed to them, and instead OF
having to send off and import men we'll
trained and fitted In these practical
things, we would soon have our OWE
people working, and succeeding in them
And thus the manufacturing, commercial,
inventive and industrial spirit and geniu.
of the people would be melted and in.
vgorated and the enterprise business. ad
vancement and opuence of the city ane
State built up, fostered and assured, un.
til we could successfully compete witt
the great and growing energies and sue.
cesses OF other people.
public library should lie, and usually
Is, where properly managed. and mads
attractive to young men. u great pro-
moter of the morals and good order OF
a city or community. Rendered accessible,
brightly lighted and well heated, with
fine reading rooms, courteous and ap-
proachable officials. q home-like and hos.
pitable flavor pervading all of its depart
ments. young men will seek it's well
coming portals and be profited not only
by what they actually gain, but by the
protection from evil and the abstaining
from frequenting places that would de-
Inoralize and debase. Reading good boocs
always has tendency to elevate the.
mind nnd heart, and to employ tina
higher faculties OF men and women.
Constant contact with and ABSORPTION OF
these great moral influences and noble
examples build up In the soul lofty IDEALS
splendid patterns. The young men thus
become influenced for their bettermcns
and their leisure moments are used in
useful and purifying converse with great
minds and fine characters, and they ara
charmed from the coarse and perniclous
associations and associates that despol
and lower them What they read en-
lightens and strengthens. while it ee.
Yates and purifies. II boys begin in
this way they may nevsr cultivate hahits
of dissipation and vice, but remain pure
and uncontamlnated. This function OF
public library Is one OF its most potens
and beautiful and valuable benefits. The
city could make no moro excellent In
vesnnent than in the prevention
or restraint OF the bad habits of he4
youth. This splendid and refining i,ll
flucnce on the people should compel this
establishment of fine library in this
city. II nothing else does. It has been
exerted In other places. and its success.
full operation there. show It's adyanta ges
and should convince all OF Its usefulnesa
hero.