Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-12-05
AT THE LIBRARY

WHOM the Sew YORK public library
recently asked the eity fer e large ~.
rrrrrtstfor Robert Mcintyre head
IN thc bureau 90 investigation and
statistics began an inquiry into the
value ~ tho public library system
Ife discovered that between so and
so ucr cent ~ the literature eirculal-
"a biz tho public libraries ~ Sc"
YORK CITY consists 0f fiction and ro-
nance So hc suggested economy ht
cutting 90 the supply 81 fiction Iha
has raised most interesting series
81 editorials ia the leading neN spa
uers oyer the country. When such
papers as tho San Francisco Chruni-
cle OF Chicago Tribune give a whole
mage once i week 10 the subject ~
new books. which are mostly fiction
and the Ncv York Times gives a
whole supplement 20 reviewing new
books they must consider 80 a cues
tIou ~ Importance 20 their readers.
AN at these papers have comment
"a and lu most eases somewhat Ga u.s.
ticnlly on this question ~ the ehW Il
nation ~ fiction from The public IT.
brarv Newspapers like the Sew
YORK Evening Mail and the Indian
apollo News assert that statstclans
who condemn our novels ~ uda9
have no understanding 81 culture.
George Douglas commenting in tho
San Francisco Chronicle says IN
defens,. of fictIon' In defense Of our
daily bread Does II sound SO pre-
sumptuous. so absurd. and above az
things 70 upcrfluous2 Great scott
than whom there is no higher deity
IN tho olympus OF romance. What
would our libraries be u Il were not
for ficuon2 where IS there NE. or
its evidences iu torn backs and greasy
pages. Il not in the novel department
~ such q collection, Who are these
people who would 30 beyond ndvlslnk
the public what IL ought 20 read anu
into the despotism OF dcCreeing what
10 shall and what q shall not read
who arr these ccnsors OF peace 80
much more 90 Dee feared than the cen
apra ~ war; II lt not bad enough 70
have tho newspapers without having
an literature put upon "a war footing :
Are libraries solely for The purpose
81 instruction. Libraries should DO
= reflex aa we'll as an Interpretation
~ life. and lie. thank heaven, rs not
all in the pursuit Of knowledge Some
time for some OF us there Us liltle
room for enjoyment. and IL my en-
ioymeut takes the form Of an hour
or two with a favored author AT the
public library. what long haired as.
retie has the right 90 say nae nay
Viewed merely as an educational iac
/ tor. fiction. good fiction. has intro
I duced more men 20 the reading OF m
/ formative books than all the preach
/ ing Of an the apostles OF culture. T'
know good fiction is a liberal educa
Z ton ii / we're called upon To choose
4 between mere Information when
have acquired from serious prose
aud my insight into human natur
derived from ThaCkcray, Dickens
HARDY Balzae. Bret Harto and Lon
don there would not De moment
hesitation
a prominent educator in New Mex
u ico. "a man who reads three OF lou
. hundred books "a year Of various klno
poetry. drama and fiction. stated j
"a speech during tho recent teacher
! association held here that not UNI
more 81 the good OF the modern writ
rts was put into the English rcadln
! cnurbes ~ high school and colleH
would there bc Tho interest taken !
reading that should be-. That ever
modern novel worthy OF It's pamt COZ
ltnlned "a valuable lesson or some u
! formation regarding human aitail
that tho reader could drdmntze mi
his oun lie He mentioned sever
! modern novels which had given M
great pleasure warmly pra'ai
fockes beloved Vagahond' and SCI
eral which contained valuable lessor
q for the youth II as he said the less
y was taken 60 heart Adam heu'
he STAGED had had lasting ere
upon him which mndo him des
that every youth Va the country re.
y aud got IT. lesson
Is FICTION and arraBnment OF iicNo
"a Why shouldn't folks read tictlon
they want "a aud are sensible ado
Ilt9 When We set ourselves UP 70
ceusors about things other folks
We have 20 go right SLOWLY For
must know conditions. must gel =
other fellows point of view, a
ought 90 be able 20 see the RESI-
upon him Conditions differ ~ q
fcrent places. here in Alhuqucrq
where there are several thousa
people who must have something
take up their time, What rs more ~
urn than that they should turn
the public library For folks v
are away from home and their o.
libraries Do ia @ godscnd, and most
them consider tt as necessary 10 IN
n comfort as to ho properly housed
" owl. d.