The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-07-22
THE POWER
OF QUIET
By F. A. Mitchell

Did you ever notice the difference be-
tween the quiet OF library and the
busy whirl OF the outside world
Doubtless you have In way It is the
difference between a cemetery and that
| which is without the Enclosure. But
! the cemetery contains the ashes and
! the living souls are elsewhere. while
/ the library contains the living souls,
/ the ashes being elsewhere.
Yet who has not realized the effect OF
situations The influence of the at
mosphere OF library once came home
TO me In very telling effect | am
something of a dreamer. and doubt
less any such influence would draw me
more powerfully than another. But
that is merely matter to be noted. 1t
is this effect OF the atmosphere OF H.
brary upon myself, an effect that in.
nuenced my whole after life, that | am
going to recount
After a season OF hard work | was
enabled to take rest. Instead Of GO
ing pleasure hunting | sought a quiet
country town where there were no pos
sible means Of excitement. The people
living there must have been intellectu-
ally above the average, for they had
established a very good library. 1t
seemed to me that this was the very
place needed, so | went inside. There
was not a person there save the libra
Ran, and, since there was no one 10
disturb, II was not necessary for me TO
tread softly In going to her desk and
speaking TO her in a low voice. She
doubtless had become accustomed to A
uniform tone no matter how few or
how many persons were there.
/ received permission to nose about
among the books and passed the morn
ing doing so.
Frequently during hours when there
was no one but the librarian present
went to her desk, ostensibly to ask
her question about some book, but
really to chat with her. There was
that in her voice, being in keeping
with the place, that added TO Its other /
influences. Under this spell she grew
TO be to me thing of beauty. Perhaps
1t was because she was the only living
thing except myself there. Just as
man chooses a representative-even II
a stone idol-to symbolic his god. so
did | choose the librarian to embody
the myriad of thoughts inclosed In the
silent books. She became to me the
goddess of wisdom, of romance, of sci
anee, of poetry.
/ spent month In the place, and
nearly every day | was in the library.
It is to be expected from what l have
said that l was falling In love with
he librarian. Whether or no l was, |
thought | was. At any rate, | made
owe to her. There Is a difference be-
.ween mere making love and making
In avowal Of love. In other words, l
ooked love and acted love.
One day the librarian asked me to
'ome to see her at her home. l went
u the evening. The house was such
IS a woman would be likely to live In
Who was obliged to give all her time
or a mere pittance of $500 or 5000 a
ear. The furniture was worn, but not
n bad taste. The librarian came into
he room, and the moment she spoke
own fell all the illusion that had been /
rowing up ia me fsr a month.
She spoke in her natural voice. 1t :
7as not harsh. 1t was a fair ordinary
voice, but II was not the mod
lated voice OF the librarian. I must
ave shown the change in me by my
xpression. for suddenly the cordiality
her welcome vanished. | spoke in
he voice | had been used to speaking
! the library. but since my hostess did
OF drop to that tone | at once aban-
oned it. Ii seemed 10 me that my
of those who had tran
ribbed their thoughts in the books had
anished and this person who was her
sx figure had appeared in her place.
/ passed an uncomfortable half hour
18th her, making an effort to be what
had been to her in the library, then
II her.
l did not go TO the library again for I
veral days When ] did go there
God my embodiment OF the shades
authors set up again on the pedestal
! which l had placed her. She spoke
me in her library voice. but did not
eet me with the smile she had often
eeted ne before. I made a few
mmonplsce remarks. then went to an
rove. took down q book and began
read.
But l did no. keep II up was trou-
ID about nv disillusion. ! might not
We been troubled had not the fllu-