The Newtown bee., 1908-08-21

Here's the book," heard him say, "I was reading yesterday p'
 As with eagerness The took
 That meek circulating book
 Murmuring softly, "This find
 Most refreshing to the mind.
 Wisdom deep and charms unique
 l am grown to tired to seek;
 What l fain would read instead
 Is what every one has read.
 Haply to regain the touch,
 Lost by wandering overmuch,
 Of the universal heart,
 And become thereof a partl"
 Then, with him, blessed the tonnes That go in and out of homes,
 Envying not the titled great,
 And content to circulate!
 Such was the first library associ- ation, library of books that really circulated. And as such it lasted thirty-fve years, from 1852 to 1887, and provided in its history some twelve hundred books, quite a number of which are still exlsung Tn the charge of the Gum Memorial Library. Those who organized it are to-day few among US, but we take off our hats to them and to it to-day. Their work was good, and that which has come forth from their work is good as we see it to-day. They were the real founders of this Gum Memorial Library.
 The tendency of the library move- ment in Washington has continually been to lengthen it's cords and strength en its stakes-to spread out in service and usefulness. It was this tendency which brought about the change from the Washington Library Association to the second generation, the Washington Reading Room and Circulating Library Association. c. B. Gold was the pro- moter of this change, as he has been of so many progressive matters amongst us. I find in the old records the letter which he wrote to the old association making the first proposals of change. The letter is undated, but from the minutes l gather that it was received on October 4, 1882. The mainlpurpose of the change was the establishment of a reading room..in connection with the library, and prop- ably, though lit is not mentioned. the more frequent opening of the library and the larger availability of the books than was possible by sale or auction once month. At least these were the two great benefits that resulted from the change. The proposal seemed momentous to the stockholders and I gather. both from tradition and by the records, that the waters were troubled when the children passed through them, and that if any Egyptians had followed them they would surely'have been swallowed up. It took three years to make the passage. But fin ally the old stockholders landed safely as life members in the new organiz- ation, and their books passed over to the new organization, to be held in trust, while new members were ad- mitted to the new body on payment of three dollars fee and one dollar year dues. The first president of the new body was Deacon Galpin. The first work of it was to establish a reading room and library which should be open at frequent intervals; these inter- vals varied from two to six and seven times week. John Taylor Platt was the first librarian, and served efficient ly for number of years. Following him, Mrs Lena Fenn Nichols, Miss Elizabeth Baker, Mrs Lillie Gum Smith and Mir Atwood have served it as librarians. The history of this sec ond organization is familiar to all. Under its care the library grew and fourished. It more and more made it. self a public institution instead of private society. This it did first by adopting a change advocated by MT Truner-namely, the opening of its reading room freely to all, and not only to the members and subscribers of the body. This was in 1891. Eight years later, this wider service of the com, munity was still further increased by turning the organization into free li- brary. Withdrawal of books and mag azines, use of reading room, every use of the library, was made free to dwell lers and residents in the town. The motion to make this free library was made November 8, 1S9Stha was the one thing your historian has done for the library), and being carried, the proposal was put into effect January l, 1899. The former charge of dollar year to all who desired the privilege of drawing books, also the charge of
 two cents week on each book drawn. were abolished. This action multi