Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-25
FULL OF GOOD THOUGHT
Superintendent H. S. Youker's
Address at Appleton Teams
With Excellent Advice.

With Excellent Advice.
We are publishing extracts from the
excellent address delivered by Supt.
H. S. YUuker, at the di6icatory
services of the Carnegie Library, at
Lawrence University, Friday after
noon. Every sentence of the address
expressed a valued thought: every
paragraph conveyed lofty sentiment.
1t was difficult to separate any portion
Of this address, but since space pre-
vented US publishing it entire, We
have endeavored to re-publiSh few
thoughts which might be read with
value, and applied with ease by every
reader.
Grand Rapids has excellent libraries.
The Scott public library is well pat
ronized by many. but it has books
upon its shelves that might be read
with profit. as we'll as pleasure by
large number Of people who have
never used the privilege offered by
this institution. Many people
especially young people-frivolously
fritter away precious time that migh
be employed in valuable use of this
free institution.
The students at the Lincoln High
school may well feel proud of the ex-
eellent library placed at their dis
poSal, and it is hoped, as we'll as cOn=
tidently believed, that they are acting
on the good advice Of the city Super
intendent Of Schools. included in the
following timely and appropriate re-
marks:
1.-THE teachers Of Wisconsin con-
gratnlate you on the possession of
this splendid library building. We
feel that this occasion is significant
because this library will be great
uplifting force in your university, in
the City OF Appleton, and in the great
state OF Wisconsin.
"ThiS building represents the gen.
eToSitY Of great man. A generosity
which has placed throughout this and
other counties hundreds of these
library buildings These libraries
each stand as center where one
may live with the great minds of all
the ages. They each stand as a cen=
ter where men and women are lifted
to higher and better things. In
large majority of cases these libraries
would have been impossible but for
the wisdom. aud the farsighted gem
erosity of Andrew Carnegie.
"This library adds to your power to
adequately train for us men and wO-
men, prepared both in learning and
in character, to carry on the work of
teaching in the public schools Of this
state. We need men and women of
broad scholarship, But we need far
more than these men and women of
power who can carry the message of
the higher life to the children of
Wisconsin. We need as teachers,
men and women who having them
selves known the benefit and the
pleasures of using a library will in
Spire the children of today to form
this same habit of using the library.
Then when these children become
the citizens of tomorrow, they will
be strong men and women for the
habit they have formed of living with
great writer's and being inspired by
great thoughts.
x x 4 X
ga majority of the boys and girls
who are now in our public schools
will in the future build the roads, dig
the bitches, till the soil, do the me-
chanicaI work in the factories, or will
be engaged in some other occupation
where the work itself offers little
that is inspiring, or that makes life
worth the living. If the leaders you
send TO these children, inspire them
with a love for books and for reading
of the right kind, il will place in their
lives much that will in the years to
come, make hard life better wort
the living. This habit of eading will
constantly place before them higher
ideals, which will finally become a
part of their character. 1t will keep
their attention fixed on the better
things or life and there will be less