The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-12
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The children,s Library.

tie cry of the few now, let us hope before this century has left its teens it will be the cry of the many, yes, of the world Every student of sociology realizes that we are in a state of transition. Old things are being done away and all things must be new. The family is no longer within the grip or Puritanical usages; the curfew bell does not ring the children to bed, nor yet to the home when nightly allure ments call him elsewhere. It is need less to sermonize as to the why's and wherefores of our present social and domestic conditions; our business is in- diyidually and collectively to lend a hand to improve these conditions. Deal ing in ''glittering generalities" amounts to nothing. Platitudes are but plati- tudes and never lifted a feathers weight. Words are meaningless with out action. What is wanted in the crisis now upon us are deeds, practi- calities. the little we may be able to do today, not the possibilities of what might be done in the distant future. One of the many steps to the end for
 
 hands of the child literature that is calculated to cultivate his mind, purify his heart and refine his nature. To help in this work Is within the com pass of every individual in our city The few pennies of the child. as well as the generous donations of the capi- talist, will aid this sacred cause sacred, We may claim, since upon 1t may hinge the destiny of human be- ing. Some of the great men of our country have dated their first upward step from the reading of single book. It becomes us as citizens of Birming- ham, that our city may be, in its no- blest sense, the Greater Birmingham, to see what manner of book falls into the hands of the young of this commun- ity our to-be men and women. Shall their plastic minds be poisoned at the fountain and yield lives of impurity and depravity, or shall there De im- pressed upon them now, in the forma- tive stage, the elevation that comes by contact with the best literature? It Is not the purpose of this article to sug- gest what books should be given the child, what is needed first is to awaken public sentiment as to the importance of enlarging the children's department of the public library. It holds at pres ent only a very limited number of books adapted to the taste and capaci- ty of the young. Can we not one and undertaking and each according to his l~s14 mess?
 Apropos to this subject the writer of this remembers with enduring pleas ure an afternoon spent in the children's 8 department of the Carengie library of Atlanta. The room is large airy, bright and inviting. A generous space is filled by a great openmouth flre- place copied from centuries ago. The quaint mantle piece of this Is full of suggestions of the Georgia child's pat ron saint, ''Uncle Remusi" Tn ere, carved in bold relief, is "Brer Fox" and"Br'er Rabbit" Miss Meadows" and Miss Tar Baby" holding in too-loving embrac ce her sorely bestead victim, "Brer Rab- bit" and in the midst of these children of his fancy kindly beams the be- nignant face of Uncle Remus" (Joel Chandler Harris). What an Inspiration this is to the ina agination of an im- questionable child. Before him rises the old log cabin and it's venerable oc- eupant, the Little Boy" with his eager face. the deep cool woods peopled with uncanny folk, speaking feeling, acting like human beings. From such a pie ture would he turn to seek books of low morals, stories of cut -throats. brigands. despoilers? No, more likely he would ask for those that would tell him of these strange denizens of the forest and their wild. inviting habita- tions. Standing face to face with the solemn truth that in our molding hands we hold, to a large extent, the destiny of our coming men and women, does there not come to us the thought, what can do>as an individual to uplift them, to make tn em wiser, better, truer than those that have gone before them2
 One way is to give them the best literature. Some man may say, "So do, I have a choice library to which my children have free access," but what of your neighbours child? It takes both money and discrimination to provide good books. your neighbor may have neither Will you not from your full table give him the crumbs that his children may not starve? Just few books from your rich store might prove of incalculable value.
 Some recent newspapers are saying the eyes of all the country are turned on Birmingham, watching the effect of prohibition on it's industries and crim- inal record. would it not be proud day for us to read in these same prints the eyes of all the country are turned on Birmingham. watching the marvel ous development and the beneficient re- suits of its children's department of the public library?
 Speed the day!
 MRS. JOHN SYDNEY WHITE. Chairman Child's Library Committee of
 the Culture Club.