The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-04-10
Village Libraries.
BY BARTLETT SINCLAIR.

By BARTLETT SINCLAIR.
A reservoir OF wholesome water
necessary to the physical we'll beIn
OF q community, but no more 50 tina
q reservoir Of wholesome literature /
to the mental and moral we'll beip
OF community. These reservoirs o
literature we call public libraries, an,
y village without well selected col
lection of books and magazine
accessible alike to all the inhabitant
Is at'an overwhelming disad van tave
Nothing stimulates mankind's better
nature as does an atmosphere Of book,
books worth reading.
II one tenth the cost Of maintain.
Ing the family libraries OF q towr
were put into fund for q genera
public library an Institution might bt
kept up Of which this or any otheI
village should be proud. It would be
the source Of infinite good both to
young add old. In times OF advance.
ment, such as these are, q village
without its library can scarcely be
accounted fully alert to its social or
educational needs.
DR.. Lyman Abbott, co.editor with
Theodore Roosevelt Of the Outlook.
gave this advice to a student body:
depend. as many Of the greatest
authors have done, on public librar.
les. Buy only what you cannot
borrow"
Just the spark to kindle into an
enduring intellectual flame and =
moral up-lift may be hidden In the
very book which few boys or girls.
men or women, will ever read else.
where than 10 some public library.
Within the circumscrlbed limits OF
. small home library am able to
converse at any time with the great.
est and the purest men and women
since the dawn OF civilization. I
may listen to Cicero or Demosthenes
oratfoDs; may hear Burke or Pitt
pronounce their finest outbursts Of
sloquence, johnson dogmatize, Scott
Tell his wonderful border tales. !,
muse on the hillside:
I may visit as he com. |
'oses bis inlmltahle tragedies: our
'wn Bryant, I make my boon com.
'anion. aud with Longfellow / ma,
ravel through the Wisconsin, Mich.
AN and Minnesota forests, as he tells
I Hiawatha; and Patrick Henry.
fisher Ames, Webster, Clay or Cal I
oun never tire Of telling me IL
IoQuent words the truths Of history.
'hese. indeed, form pleasures and |
enehts 40 man or woman should br
enied. Put such great souls on the
1elves OF a public library and they
ecome the friends, associates and
le teachers Of US all. without dis
1t Is nothing short OF a
lblic duty to maintain a free library.
Wordsworth says: K
And books. we know
re substantial world both pure and good. :
,and these, with tendrils strong as flesh
and blood.
Our past'me and our happiness will grow s
Says Douglas Jerrold: IA blessed +
mpanion Is q book--a book tha,
~ chosen Is life long friend /" 6
Many a 10y and girl have received =
q public library the right taste as
reading. That, In turn. has led !.
my a youth and maiden TO strong
q useful manhood and pure, modest
a sweet womanhood. Many men
d women have discovered In these
'asure houses Of learning and enter.
|nment how to live useful and un.
Dish lives. The secrets and inspir. -
on OF true, clean, manly or =
manly career have there been -
'ealed to hosts of readers. ~
A public library, above all other ~
titutions, Is the one concerning ~
ich there eau be no controversy az
benefts. The man, woman or 81
ID who helps. however slightly, 10 sc
establishment and maintenance 81
town library is engaged 10 a wise. n
audable and lasting philanthropic pa
vice. WI
Of