The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-01
Sunday Opening.

The talk about opening the Carnegie li- brary in this city on Sundays has by no means died away. On the contrary, there appears to be a growing desire on the part of the people to have this institution opened on this day, for the reason that there are so many people who cannot get there for books on week days. It Is point ed out by some that 1t is the custom everywhere that public libraries exist to open their doors on Sunday, both morning and afternoon, and 1t Is stated that that day finds far more people in attendance there tban any other during the week.
 The sentiment in favor of Sunday open ing of the library was fairly well ex- pressed by one lady, who said: 'As l understand it. the library was given to us by MT Carnegie for the good and benefit of all the people, and in order to fulfill it's mission it must be opened every day in the week. This will certainly be no hardship upon the librarian, In view of the comparatively short hours during the week, the hours now being fixed so that she has only to remain at the in- stitution eight hours per day. and 1t can not be denied that those who have to work ten and twelve hours per day, and who still love to read, should be given the opportunity to do so on the one day of the week which they have for them selves"
 A gentleman stated yesterday that in his opinion the library committee should look at the question in broad and liberal minded way, and provide such hours as will guarantee te everybody an oppor- tunity to enjoy the benefits of the library and not run 1t for the benefit and grati- fication of a few only.
 It is hoped that the committee will hasten to fix the hours in some way to give the greatest possible number of people the opportunity to enjoy the li- brary. If the committee decides 1t too much work for the librarian to keep the place open at the usual hours, 1t will cost but little to give her the assistance needed
 But whatever provision is made by the committee to this end, the sentiment ap- pears to be almost unanimous that the regular morning and afternoon hours Of the week shall prevail also on Sundays
 At last the patrol wagon has a real bell, and one that does not fail to respond when the driver puts his foot on it. The wagon was built in good style, and when 1t arrived in the city it was found that it was minus the very necessary bell Of course this state of affairs caused good deal of talk throughout the city, as 1t was maintained that no flrst-class place would tolerate police jumper" that could not afford to ring the bell any oid time. To clap the climax, the man in Bir- mingham that Built the wagon stated dur ing an intervieA regarding the best make of patrol wagots, that he did not think a city the size of Bessemer needed a bell on the patrol wagon. from the fact that If the outsider or a stranger hap pened to stop over In the city for just one night and heard the unearthly noise that that bell makes, he would naturally decide that the city was strictly up against it for amusement, and for that reason he made the request of the com mittee that had the building of It in charge that they leave the gong off. Of course, old Farmer John Harless could not see it in any such light. and as he was one of the purchasing commit tee 1t was finally decided that gong should be added, and by the way, it sounds just like the old bell did that use to bring him running from the field at Il 30 each day.
 Since the gong has been purchased and since the city has gone in debt for it, we feel that 1t is up to the citizens to re- spect the noise, but everyone is com pelled to admit that every time that old gong rings they are reminded of the fact that his house Is on fire and the premiums are still unpaid.