St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-01-02

The dedication of the Cobleigh Public
Library was held in Music Hall, Lyndon
Vile, Saturday afternoon, followed by
reception in the library building. Music
Hall was fairly we'll filed at 2 O'Clock
and DR.. ]. W. Copeland presided on this
occasion. On the platform with the
donor, Eber W. Cobleigh, and the speak
ers were the local clergy, officers of the
Womans Club, members of the building
committee and the library board and
Mrs. Walter P. Smith of St. Iohnsbury,
representing the Vermont Free Public
Library Commission.
After the invocation by Rev. William
Shaw and a piano solo by Mrs. Charles
G. Norris, the following presentation adj
dress was read by Rev. l. W. McLaugh-
lin, Mr.. Cobleigh not feeling able to adj
dress the assembly.
Having the interest of the town of
Lyndon at heart, wished to do some
tU1lS lOl It's DCHCul, anu am Slcid W
know that the library building is appre
ciated and will be benefit to the town.
You all know that Lyndonville is recog-
\ nzed as one of the leading villages Of
northern New England having among
other things Village Improvement So
ciety second to none. | am glad the la
dies are interested in the library and
know they will carry out their plans all
right for the good of the town. hope
that all who visit the library will feel
that it is to be a place for study and
pleasure and that much good will come
from it in days to come, Hoping it will
be received in the same spirit that it is
given, will close, hoping that all will
enjoy themselves when there.
still remain, yours for all that isgood.
E. W. CoBLEIGH.
The address OF acceptance was given
by Mrs. E. ]. Blodgett who said,
In accepting this beautiful gift on
behalf of the town of Lyndon, today,
the first fact which impresses itself
strongly upon me is the inadequacy of
the English language to express the
emotions of the mind. To those who
have hoped and toiled and sacrificed
to this end, 1t seems meager indeed
to say merely that this occasion
I marks the elimination of years of
hope and toll and sacrifice, and yet,
had thousand tongues aud a throat
of brass, words could express no more.
We who have nursed and watched
over our library from its feeble in
fancy, through the vicissitudes of
4 childhood, until its blossoming into
Z this noble maturity, feel that words,
mere words, but feebly express our
N delight at this consummation of our
N endeavors. Words, mere words, can
not begin to show our gratitude to
our generous townsman for this
a superb gift of a beautiful building
which now crowns our labors. We
thank you, Mr.. Cooleigh, for this
muniticent gift, and will try and
show our appreciation and gratitude,
not only by words, but by the foster
ing care we give this institution, the
Al interest we take in it, and the value
and help we get from it. And our
@ gratitude is due, not only to Mr..
AZ Cobleigh, but to all who have SO gen.
erously assisted in the upbuilding of
this library. We thank Mr.. Vail,
s whose aid, both financial and artistic,
mas been of so great value to us; we
thank you Mrs. Fiuney, as represen-
tatiVe OF the Woman's Club, whose
sei1,denlal and energy both gave the
neeueu impetus to the movement for a
library building, and helped to en-
DelllSn /. complete. We thank all the
men ana women who have helped
toward this end. We are all par
takers IN today's triumph, not one but
mas given according to his ability. l
cannot name al the living men and
@ women who have helped, but l want
~ 10 pay one word Of tribute to the
memory of our esteemed friend, Isaac
oanoorn, who gave to this end accord
ing TO his means, and would so. re-
loice today if he could see the accom-
pllshment of his wishes.
Our library is unique in that it has
peen gradually built up from small
beginning, here a little and there a
iittle, and is thus ple-eminently a
norary of the people, the result of
tnelr work and endeavOr. Starting in
1875 with the gift of hundred books
from the state of Vermont, it has
grown slowly but surely until it now
numbers over 5000 volumes. A few of
these books are gifts, but the great
majority have been purchased year
by year from the appropriation of
the town itself. But as noble soul
Is hampered in its efficiency by a
crippled or feeble body, SO our library
mas failed Of much of its usefu. mess on
account of crowded and inadequate
building has been the dream Of Years.
now crystallized into reality. This is
not great achievement, but it means
much. 1t means that faithful and
persistent work for better conditions
WIN not 60 unrewarded and that
somehow, sometime, that for which
we are fitted will come TO us. And 1t