The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-06-04

| tHient cO-W0rker.
The following comparisons-th fig
ures are from the Maine Register OF
! 1894 and other reliable sources-are
| of interest: OF the 20 cities in the State,
| IA larger than Belfast in population, only
six have libraries of a greater number
of volumes than Belfast; and Of the ~
public libraries in Maine only six exceed
the number of volumes-l3, 4lo-ln our
local library. In the books issued for
home use the past year, q, S01 volumes,
only ten libraries bad larger circula-
ton. In permanent endowment Belfast
stands in the fourth place-Bangor,
SIG, 900; Portland, 100000; Saco, SIS,
900; Belfast, $42, 900. OF the library
| buildings in the State 10 cost more than
Belfast. In conclusion it may be said
that the Belfast Free Library is, without
exception, the best public library in the
State in comparison to the size of the
city. A book man said that he knew of
no library in New England in SO small a
city having so excellent collection of
reference books.
In the classification of books the Bel
fast Free Library uses the Dewey Deci-
NAL System, first used IN 1876, and now
used in majority of the libraries of
this country and also used in Europe.
Under this system the field of knowledge
is divided into 9 classes, numbered from
l to- 9. Encyclopedias, periodicals, etc,
so general in character as to belong to
no one of these classes, are marked
nought and form tenth class.
We quote here from Miss Barr's notes
what she says of the demand for fiction,
how it may be supplemented by more
useful reading, etc:
'Sixty-five per cent of the circulation
last wear was fiction, and from this num-
Der came whatever complaint or dissat-
isfaction was felt against the library.
The reason for this discomfort is mostly
due to the literary quality of the adver-
tized fiction. Of the hundreds of novels
published in this country last year,
very small proportion will be remem-
bered ten years from now. Prof. Cope
land of Harvard said last summer that
he had tried to enjoy several widely-ad-
vertised best-sellers, and failing to find
pleasure or profit had come to the con-
clusion that many of the current novels
were written by the half-educated, about
the half educated, and for the half-edu-
Gated So our people in condemnlng
novels, manifest intellectual superiority,
which in many cases they would be too
modest to claim.
"You ask why we buy novels which
sometimes we know are a poor invest
ment 1t is to satisfy the insstent de-
mand for books which are much dis
cussed and favorably commended by
their own publishers. And another rea-
son is that there are many different
judgments of what constitutes a good
book among the patrons of public insti-
tuition. 1t is worth while to have at hand
a book like 1.-THE Butterfly Man," by
Geo. Barr McCutcheon. When disap-
pointment is shown by some admirer of
the author of Graustark because the
Book Committee have rejected whats
His Name" or some other by that pro-
life writer, we offer ''TheButterflyMa
and even the most loyal follower of Nc
Cutcheon will agree with the decision of
the Book Committee.
ION the other hand, readers of nom
fiction have invariably expressed sur
prise and pleasure at the books to be
found on the shelves. While we approve
of fiction reading to reasonable extent,
since it is the popular form of mental
recreation, we wish that patrons of the
library would form the habit OF using
study card and, with the novel, take
some other book which interests them:
They will be repaid for the trouble OF
taking it home, if they have only time to
look at the pictures and read few chap
tiers of especial interest to them.
The classification of sociology includes
a variety of subjects, few of which are
civil government, labor and capital, tariff
education, social settlement work and
even etiquette. Although these sub
iects at first mention are not those usual
ly selected for entertainment, among
the books will be found many of great
interest. The story of the social settle
ment work of Jane Adams in Chicago,
as told in 800 years at Hull House" is a
narrative which has been much enjoyed.
Another book classified as sociology,
which cannot fail to hold attention. is the
''Long Day." the true adventures of
country girl who sought employment in
New York City. The friends she made
and the different tasks she undertook
form an absorbing tale. DR.. Itemer's
book ION the Trail of the Immigrant"
is another of interest.
''If you care to take time to play at
studyof science you will be surprised to
find how much more interesting is the
world about you. From the books Gee
ography of the Heavens" ''Field Map
Of the Stars, "''The Friendly Stars, and
others similar, may be gained knowl-
edge of the heavens which those who
have acquired think well worth the ef-
fort. The flower books, too. with the
colored plates, lefid an interest to the
most common wild plant by the roadside,
and bring enjoyment Of beauty which
we have always seen, but with unappre-
ciative eyes. By the aid Of the bird
books, too, every walk in the open air in
the spring time may be enlivened by q
glimpse Of some new acquaintance, high
up in the trees or hopping about the
ground.
s'While there are many books intended
for enjoyment, a. well AZ serving q
source Of information, there are also the
essentially useful books; books on nurs-
| ing, agriculture, cooking and various
departments Of domestic economy, books