Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-05-13

ed by the large number of free pub
lie libraries scattered throughout the
country. Every city, every town of
a few thousand inhabitants, and in
many places even the village of less
than a thousand souls has its free
public library and the value of the
entertainment and instruction the
people of this favored locality derive
from these institutions can scarcely
be estimated. The publis library
means more to the people Of the
small town in the way Of entertain
ment than 1t does to the dwellers
in a large city. In the small towns
there IS a lack of entertainment and
they turn to the books of the library
to while away the long winter even
ings.
We are nation of readers:
whether we read for pastime and
amusement or for enlightenment and
instruction, 1t is safe to say that
eighty per cent of the American peo-
pie spend at least one hour a day in
reading. The public library, with
its extensive collection of books of
every nature, its reading rooms with
countless magazines and newspapers,
Is a potent factor in the education
OF the nation. Thousands of boys
and girls, especially in the densely
populated manufacturing districts of
the Atlantic states, are compelled at
an early age to leave school and 60
out into the world to earn their own
living and help to support others.
Through the medium Of the free pub
lie library they are enabled to COM
plete their education and become
well informed men and women, cap-
able OF taking their place in the af
fairs of the world What a treasure
the free public library would have
been to such men as Lincoln. Grant
and many other men Of their age,
who fought their way to the highest
places over every obstacle in the way
OF securing an education.
The Boston free public ,ihrorv
founded in 1852, was the pioneer in
the United States of free public
libraries supported by general taxa
tion Next to the Congressional H.
prary In Washington, 1t is the larg.
est and most important collection OF
books in America, and 1t is fitting
ly housed In one Of the most beau,,-
ful library structures in the world
Inc state, by giving part of the land
which forms its site, and many pub-
lie spirited citizens by contribution
and bequests, have united with the
city IN the effort to make this library
representative Of all that Is worthiest
In American institutions. The free
public library is now known in count.
less cities and towns. Travelling u.
oraries are carrying instruction and
entertainment to many lonely
farm house or humble work sbon
SLOWLY, but surely, an appreciation
Tor the best in art and literature &c
permeating the masses and in al,
this work for the lettering Of bu.
manity Boston has been a pathfinde,
ana an inspiring power. The cen.
.raI library of Boston contained q
IeW years ago about 100000 vo,
umes' and besides this there are 70,
or twelve branch libraries each wifi,
an extensive and permanent co,,ec
.'on OF books The. library Is ono,
from in the morning on wee,
DAYS and ? in the afternoon nm srn
days until . in the evening in sum
mer and 10 in the evening DURING N,
colder months. The benefit Of tbt
library to the public can never h,
estimated, II reaches all classes rio,
ana poor high and low. and occupie
place In the life and affairs ~
great city which nothing else ca,
MI, % val
The free public library OF the Of,
OF worcester, Mass, is another plon
eer In the free public library wor,,
, 1t was established in 1859. the f,rs
donation being seven thousand vo,
umes by prominent citizen who 70
allied the benefit Of froo ,rru
library to the public. II has grow,
: from this nucleus until the renort q
the secretary for 1894 showed tbo
nearly 100000 volumes wero o,,bo
taken to the homes Of the resident
or used within the building On,
remember how when q hoy IN wor
eester We made our regular semi
weekly trims to the public library %
. books All the hooks that dellrb
S the heart OF the hoy-the works q