The sun., 1908-03-22
noes AND LIBRAhIES.
New England LiteFutufe as = ByIPfooues
o. the Love Of Canine Pets.

~ Nlo Low " NAuiAo Eot3' D..
A tradition Of Massachusetts is connected
with this brQnldion out Of the country
newspaper mans handbook which gets into
print frequently In this season when town
meetings abound: 'The dog fund was
voted 10 the public library
RoSdlind exclaims In one Of her moods
that she hasn't a word 10 throw at dog
She might have shown less soorn for degs
and their relation 10 words, printed words
at least, II she had been New England girl
deoendant upon the town library for her
Light fiction.
For the libraries Of some Massachusetts,
towns are supported in part by the dog.
To be sure It Is the duly licensed and there-
fore respectable dogs that have their being
In the interest Of libraries, and In view of
this fact Rosdlind could no doubt have CAT
q waste word 10 q wandering cur without
setting astir any scruples In the thought
that she had wounded the feelings OF
beneiactor.
Dogs that live under the law in Massa-
ohusetts are licensed annually by the city
or town clerk upon the payment Of q
fee. Twenty cents Of this Is allowed 70
the clerk for issuing and recording the u
oense. After collecting the fees and de-
ductlng his share the clerk turns the money
over 10 the county treasurer, who keeps
q dog fund out Of which ell claims for dam
ages caused by the dogs Of the county are
paid upon the order Of the county commits
sioners.
The ffty-nine cities and towns Of Worces-
ter county gathered over tS5,6OO In dog IL
cense fees in 1907. The total claims and
expenses footed A,iSs.2S, or about II per
cent. Of the receipts, leaving 50 per oent
Of the original remittanoes to be returned
TO the fifty-nine cities and towns
The sums returned cannot be merged
In the cash assets Of the various munich
palitles, but In accordance with state law
must be expended for the support OF either
public libraries or schools. In the cities
one seldom knows for which OF the alter
native objects the money has been used,
unless he has curiosity enough 70 look INTO
the Official reports, which would be deal
OF curiosity indeed In city. In the country
one is less likely TO escape the matter, Tor
year after year in the yard long warrant
FOR the annual town meeting there ap-
pears the item or article: 80
sTo see what disposition the town VIII
make OF the dog fund the ensuing year
As the schools call for definite appro-
priation, II is usually found convenient 10
select the library as the recipient OF the
fund. Some towns make other offlolal
provision for their libraries, but in Others
where no little Yankee sentiment-or lack
OF sentiment prevails and where there "
a tendency 20 regard the library as =
superhuity to be tolerated, and not at all
as a necessity to be olassed with stone
bridges a storehouse for the road soraper
the salaries Of the seleCtmen and other
accredited bulwarks Of the body polite
even the dog money is handed over be-
grudgingly, as far as some citizens are
concerned.
Now and then worthy Of Massachusetts
town will be heard TO declare right before
the assembly in the village store at mail
time that 'the library Ia darned nuisance
anyhow for hasn't he gone home many
time after getting the evening paper to
find his wife reading one Of those proftleas
library books and no supper on the table,
not even the tea being hetf
Even In the orabbedest New England
towns one hears now no religious objec-
ton TO the Libraries as means to
novel reading, although now and then
some middle aged woman OF unimpeacha-
ble rectit,Nde conoeives Il her duty 70 have
some new novel barred by the library
authorities, in order TO protect others
from the immoralties she has found in II.
And as the authorities are usually quite az
respectable as she. the book Is likely to
be out when 1t Is asked for thereafter