The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-07-10

tney choose TO avail themselves OF the
opportunity, they may do so, Of
course. But, by the way, in order to
avoid all controversy based upon un-
lawful discrimination against them, I
would have reserved for them the
use OF that portion of the ground
floor suggested in my former COM
munication, SO that, whenever they
apply for ii, under such terms as |
have mentioned, they may <avc the
benefit Of it.
The enterprise is not a very diff
ficult one, and il need not be cXpen-
sivc; but it is one requiring prompt
and energetic action. ! f it is not put
into shape within Il month or SO, the
opportunity will be lost both for a
fine library and for rcstin" place
for our ncighbors and visitors, and
ais" for that intercourse between the
people Of the town and the people out
Of town which, I think, would prove
both enjoyable and beneficial to the
ladies Of the whole county.
The ladies' who have charge of the
existing library are the fittcst per-
sons to take the initiative in the mat
ter. If they are willing to abandon
the small business they now carry on
III one small room for Il much larger
and more useful work in Il commo-
dious suite of rooms, they may agi-
! tate the enterprise So as TO enlist
many other women and Il good many
men in the movement, and form an
organization sufficient 1u carry out the
scheme. | presume that their present
club connections need not stand in
their way, but may be severed whcn-
ever it suits them. l suggest that
they call public meeting, to be held
in which the project shall be dis
cusscd, and through which the neces-
sary steps shall be taken to cOnsum-
mate plan. 1t is for them to deter
mine whether they will move at all.
IT they choose to confine their cf-
forts within their present narrow
quarters and their present contracted
sphere of operation, ii is none of my
business. Rnt ! feel ii my duty to
the people of this town and To the
people OF this county to urge the
establishments Of such library. read
IN" room and rest place as I have adj
vocated. A public library is a prime
necessity for our people. Considering
their mental capacity, their opportun-
tiles, their means, their responsible
ties, and their interests, the white po-
pulation of the South is the most ig-
norant in the world. This is because
they have not realized the value of
books and the Importance Of reading.
Books arc The storchouscS Of know
ledge. the schools of thought They
teach what the "rca1 minds of the
world have learned: and they furnish
t" our minds the material and the
StlmulantS for progress in all depart
mcnts Of human activity. Perhaps no
man or woman ever grow 10 he GOOD
or wise from mere reading: but the
wlScst OF us can derive great assist
ancc from the study Of other men s
discoveries and thought, and the aver
age man or moman can be Informed,
and stimulated to greater thought,
and lifted to Il higher sphere OF taste.
sentiment and morality by the read
ing of good books. In this case. as
IN many others. thc supply creates
| demand. Nothing leads men to read
SO much as having books before them.
The establishment Of libraries has.
everywhere, been followed by incrcaS-
cd reading. The food they furnish
does not satiatc, but whctS the appc-
ti'c. The reading peoples are the
! influential peoples Of the world--as
witness Prussia i'm Europe, Scotland.
| in Great Britain and Massachusetts.
in the United States. We in the
: Sonth are in practical bondage. not
only in literature. but in pnlilical
! knowledge, financial business, agri-
; cultural science, and the many mat
1rrS Of everyday affairs, because we
d" not keep abreast with the rest of
| the world, and apply to our affairs
;what we may learn from the outside
The other half Of the arrangement
! | have proposed is Of equal import
anrr with the library. and Of even