Newark post., 1912-12-25
THE VALUE OF
A PUBLIC LIBRARY

Mary Antin, A Jewish woman who was
born "'within the Pale in Russian Po-
land and came to America with her pa
rents when about eleven years Old, has
written the story of her life for the
Itlontic Monthly. The following clip
ping presents strong arguments for a
pa5lic library and is an inspiring apprec-
iation of our great land Of opportunity.
1t was my habit to go very slowly up
the low, broad steps to the palace en-
trance, pleasing my eyes with the maJes-
tic lines of the building and lingering
to read again the carved inscriptions: ::
Public Library. -. Built by the People,
Free to AL.
loved to lean against pillar in the
entrance hall, watching the people go Ill
and out Groups of children hushed their
chatter at the entrance, and skipped,
whispering and giggling in their fists, up
the grand stairway, patting the great
stone lions at the top, with an eye on the
aged policeman down below. Spectacled
scholars came slowly down the stairs,
loaded with books, Needless of the lofty
arches that echoed their steps. Visitors
from out of town fingered long III the en-
trance hall, studying the inscriptions and
svrnbols on the marble floor. And | loved
IN stand in the midst of all this, and re-
mind myself that | was there, that | had
a right to be there, that | was at home
there. All these eager children, all these
high.browed women, all these scholars
going home to write learned books
and they had this glorious thing III com
mon. this noble treasure house Of learn
ing. 1t was wonderful to, This IS mtne p;
it was thrilling to say, This is ours.
Here is where | liked to remind my
self Of Polotzk, the better to bring out
the wonder of my life. That |, who was
born in the prison of the Pale, should
roam at will in the land of freedom, was
a marvel that it did me good to reailze.
That I. who was brought up to my teens
almost without book, should be SET
down in the midst OF all the books tha'
ever were written. was miracle as Srea'
as any on record. That an outcast should
become a privileged citizen, that beg
par should dwell in a palace-tms was
romance more thrilling than poet ever
.nnq Surely | was rocked in an enchant
ci cradle.
From the Public Library to the STATE
House is only step, and found my way
thare without guide. The State HouS'
was one of the places | could point +
and say that | had friend there to wei
come me. do not mean the representa-
tive of my district, though ! hope he WA
worthy man. Ny friend vas no les
-r-tlIdn than the Honorable Senator hot
from Worcester. whose letters to me
written under the embossed letterhead o
tbe Senate Chamber, ] could not help e2
hibiting to my admiring schoolmates.
How did ] come by Senator? Throug
being citizen of Boston. of course l
he a citizen of the smallest village III tt
| nlteu states which maintains
school and a public library, is to stand
the path of splendid professions OF OF
portunity. And as Boston has rather De
ter schools and rather finer library tina
some other villages, it comes natur'
there for children in the slums to suinmo
gentlemen from the State HouHe to |
their personal friends.
1t is so simple in Boston! You are
school girl, and your teacher gives y'
= ticket for the annual historical lerta
in the old South Church, on Washington
Birthday, You hear stirring dlscour
on some subject in your country's hi
tory, and you go home with heart hurs
ing with patriotism. You sit down al
write a letter to the speaker VINO