The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-10

vcrtIsins matter.
with very few elementary farming
books to start with, the agricultural
department of country library could
be made quite compete with the gov
eminent publications supplied % every
applicant, generally through Congress-
men.
Tho government Issues many
books on scientific subjects, which
would greatly strengthen the country
library, and probably the Carnegie In
stitution will be source of the free
supply of some such tkoSs
All these three classes OF publications
would be appreciated in a library In
which there are no time hiling read
ing--no reading for pastime.
If one Will stop to think he will be
surprised at the large proportion of
the really essential books in existence,
which Is contained in this small library
recommended as standard. begin
ming in all the sciences and arts, and
all history. Is really the beginning In /
all learning.
such library would do far more
to promote the intellectual forge than
I the school proper. Through 1t the
country boy would find his way to the !,
tree Of knowledge. 1t would provide
the books absolutely necessary to the
beginners in reading, and point out the /,
few others that 1t would be desirable |
y
chase for himself These few books, |
| we'll conned would be far better than a
| large library in which the reading Is
! superficial. 1t may be we'll questioned
| II such library Is not of about as
J much advantage to n community as ono
much larger.
! He who is in need Of education and
wishes to pursue knowledge, must be-
ware of the pitfalls Of a large library
with its thousands Of worthless books.
one who falls into the seductive habit
OF reading fiction Is lost to intellec-
tual progress and In danger of losing
brain power. Habitually dwelling III
the unreal, the untrue, and, for the
time at least treating 1t as true and
real, destroys the logical balance Of
the mind and deadens the inteliectual
force. 1t no doubt tends to perpetuate
most of the primitive weaknesses OF
the intellect
No one can doubt the value of hav-
ing handbooks of the arts and occu-
patons in country library. Merely
as an aid to young men in choosing an
, occupation they would be invaluable.
. ! They would be practically, books Of
reference for the whole community as
! to the multitude of things which must
I be done without professional or techni-
, cal skill and training in the country.
, The country reader Is In position
to study the sciences to advantage.
/ Most of the sciences have some APP
/. plication to the practice OF farming
Y In its various branches Botany and
h zoology. biology and geology are capa-
bile Of application by observation or
: the face OF nature by every
r country resident. In fact, 9
: country reader of good quality would
q easily become scientific man through
= the facilities afforded by the stand
: ard library, and perhaps few added
II books bought as needed
= In one great department OF learning
Y the library is the only appropriate Or
y practicable school. 1t Is plain that
history and it's allied studies are best
4 pursued by private study in library
: In the time that can be afforded at
: school, history must be learned out OF
Is abbreviated textbooks that are entire
:. ly inadequate. and which make the
ID most interesting of studies dull and
: lifeless. The standard country library
.! would furnish chance for much
Q better foundation in historical studies
Or than any historical course In any col
y, lege
~ History Is moreover the universal SCI
~, ence of the people. The CULTIVATION o
-, founded in history. For the duties
-, citizenship, history is the one neces
's sary and proper study aside from tn
daily contemporary history In the news
: papers. For the public man, the ma
who, in the popular idea, is the mos
successful, history and It's cognat
studies are the practical branches Q
knowledge. The public man. well
yersed in these, need never k9ow any
thing OF languages or mathematics.
Z, Historical studies naturally lead I
=. studies In ethnology, archaeology an
ew anthropology,. thus making one
:" knowledge Of the race and It's pas
~ more and more complete. THE prope
~ study of mankind Is man"
- Out of history also comes studies
Ice politics, clvlcs and economics. Thes
studies give one knowledge OF IN
90, present condition and progress OF u
In race; and give all the aid that book
M can give in public affairs
To With the general establishment
nj such country libraries and the cor
~ tinued Improvement of the city
~. braries. we could discontinue ever
no high school, every academy, and 9th
60 secondary school, every college ar
a. university, and Intellectual progre
would continue at higher rate thu
before, and economic progrNss wou
se- be much accelerated. The libra
an should be the only school after sixte
'eh at which age the youth should go ir
es. apprenticeship to his future calling.
uld w. ALDRICH.
at Jefferson. Va. Feb. II, 1907.
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