Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-17

partments at Washington who have come
here and built their homes and are an
honor TO the public service
There are III students in the Bliss
Electrical School. They have come from
every state in the Union, and some from
foreign countries. To these young gentle
men library such as this will prove
godSend. Convalescents in the Walter
Reed Hospital near Takoma. suffering
from nostalgia, will find the books OF TINS
library source of enjoyment that viii
compensate to some extent for their en-
forced absence from the longed for home
circle. A homesick soldier suffering from
wounds or disease, is an object OF sym
pathetic interest to all patriotic citizens.
There are few situations in life somber
as not to be relieved by the gorgeous
draperS of poetry and romance
"A large printing office here owned by
the Seventh day Adventists employs nine
ty-four young men and women In the
Sanitarium there are eighty-two surgeons,
PHYSICIANS and nurses. Their university
has ia teachers and pupils. all of whom
earned the right to use the library by
contributing literally to the purchase of
the ground on which this building is To-
Gated
OF Value to Pupils.
There are 49, pupils in the public
schools above the fifth grade, and high
education in the city. whose homes are
in Takoma Park There are many grad
yates of the high school who have found
employment in the city in the brief inter
val between their graduation and their
marriage, for our girls marry young in
this Arcadia.
The first of the branch libraries could
not be more favorabfy located than here
Just a word of advice to the boys and
girls. The library will contain books
that are as nutritious to the mind as good
honest bread, meat and potatoes are to
the physical system. Such books form
the granite foundation upon which the
superstructure of your characters must
be erected. The study of history. begun
in school, should not cease when you
have graduated from the high school.
but should continue until you are thor
oughly familiar with the rise and prog
ress of your own and other countries
Col. Kniffin In closing expressed the
thanks Of the citizens of Takoma Park
to the library trustees and to Librarian
Bowerman for their efforts that have
resulted in the installation Of the branch
library.
Keys Are Delivered.
Mr.. Noyes next introduced Gen. John
A. Johnston, U. 8. A., District Commits
sioner. who. acting for the Takoma Park
branch building commission. transferred
the keys to the institution to the library
authorities. Commissioner Johnston, in
happy vein, spoke of the failure to give
to Col. knidin his proper title. where
upon he advanced him one grade, to that
of general" He expressed his pleasure
at his opportunity to represent the chair
officially announcing the completion of
the building on this occasion. These
keys" he concluded. must be known as
the holy Of holes to this the heaven on
EARTH" as he turned and presented the
chairman Of the committee on branches.
Mr.. Bell responded in an appropriate
vein. saying that his good friends in Ia
koma Park would help in a great many
tons and the necessity for establishing
branch libraries in the various sections.
George F. Bowerman, librarian of the
Washington Public Library. concluded
the program by outlining the system
to be followed in the operation Of the
new library. He said:
Here Is beautiful and, we believe,
we'll planned building: the books, as
good and as many as present resources
will AFFORD. are here; trained and
central library. is in attendance. A
mere announcement OF the opening of
the branch would no doubt be sufficient
to bring eager readers of all ages from
practically all homes in this neigh
borhood.
I'VE are not tonight beginning a new
work. We are not opening a new
library. We are. indeed, opening a new
library building. The partial library
within this new building-that is. the
books, the organization and the skilled
force of educational workers-is all a
part and will continue an organic part
of the municipal institution. now some
fourteen years old. chiefly housed until
now in its single central building in
OF Its development our free Public
Library has gathered a collection of
nearly 10000 volumes. circulates year
ly 100000 volumes into the homes of
Washington. and $4,000 visitors an
nually come to US for books for home
use or for study in the reading rooms
Until now. however. lacking branch
buildings and STATS and the ability to
secure them. the library as a vital
educational force in the community
has been to a large extent 'cabin'd,
cribbd. confin'd to what could be done
In and from the single central build
Ing. For the work done there We be-
lieve we may Justly claim a high de-
gree of educational efficiency.
Library Brought to Doors.
In opening this new building, there
fore We are enabled to bring the mu-
nicipal free library to your doors. A
part of 1t (aS much as we could now af-
ford. selected with the view OF meeting
your needs. according to suggestions
cleaned from our conferences with GER
tain OF your citizens. we have brought out
here TO form permanent collection, to
q hone