Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-03-14
MIR. Kerl's Criticism.

To the Editor of the Press:
have read the communication
from Hon. T. T. Kerl, published in
last Saturdays press, in which criti-
cism is made Of list Of books re-
Gently purchased by the library com
mission for the Occur d'Alene public
library. While not pretending to
speak for the other members of the
commission, individually / want to
enter my solemn protest against the
adoption at any time OF a library
plan under the limitations prescrib-
ed by Mr.. Kerl According to this
plan he proposes to eliminate from
the library all books which have any
bearing upon events which ante-date
a period of fifty years. This would
wipe of the map of investigation and
study the history of the world, of
the human race, the early develop
ment and progress OF civilization, the
achievements of man in the realm
of arms, or arts, of sciences and let
tiers. Under this dictum the word
taboo" must be written across the
works Of Shakespeare. The immortal
struggle of the Anglo Saxon through
darkness up to light-through OPP
preston up to liberty-must be
closed to the sight of this and sue
ceeding generations. The founding
and development of the American
nation through the period of the
revolutionary war into the first sew
enty years of American independ-
ence must nevermore be the subject
of investigation and study of man.
No longer shall Washington's fare
we'll address be allowed to inspire
the American youth to higher and
nobler deeds. Indeed, in five years
more must the curtain be rung down
on the drama of the civil war and
Lincoln's immortal speech at Gettys-
burg be relegated to the limbo OF
forgotten things-if Mr.. Kerl's sug-
gestion to confine the study of our
youth to the limitations of a period
of fifty years past is to prevail The
proposition is too absurd for serious
consideration. Surely Mr.. Kerl can
not find in all the world a public
library built up on the plan he has
suggested.
Mr.. Kerl seems to be about as
badly mistaken as to the cost of the
books which he calls "old stuff" as
he is in his other suggestions. In
the bill referred to, amounting in all
to about $3.50, less than $500 was
expended for what Mr.. Kerl calls
''old fashioned and out of date
books. His partial list of old stun, =
comprising "A Friend of Caesar, :
Alexander the Great" Greek He
roes, Lays of Ancient Rame. =
Roman Life in the Days of Cicero, :
Private Life OF the Romans" Life
OF Caesar" "Sir Roger de Coverly
Papers" and Early Roman En-
LOoA tut sum Va
$40. Even If they are Anticipated
rubbish" the financial loss to the
city of Occur d'Alene is not so great
that any very loud noise need be
made about It. 1t is but fair to the
library commission. however. to say
that In the selection Of these and
the other volumes OF a similar
character to which Mr.. Kerl objects.
the commission were guided by the
Recommendation Of. the highest
state educational authorities, as
well as by the proper teachers OF our
local high school. Their judgment
ought to be as good as Mr.. KeFi's,
The above comprise a few points
which may make 1t clear TO the
minds Of the people of Occur d.
Alene that the limited fund which
they have provided for the support
and maintenance of their public II
brary. 50 far as its expenditure for