Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-24

IL Is comforting to know that generous
spirits are still thinking of Il public
library for Richmond--of books for tho
people. and what they mean. The his
tory Of Richmond proves that it's peo-
pie do not forget. even In the suffer-
Ing OF war. their obligation to swceten
and elevate the community life. But
contemplation of their fine history, the
charm OF their social life and the
many calls to civic duty seem to have
obscured the vision of IL serious social
and economic defect. To an observer
deeply sympathetic with all that Rich
nond stands for. the absence of a
public library seems strange
anomaly: because II connotes a curious
Inconsistencies OF the meaning Of a
public library i'm the education and
achievement Of the people.
Indeed. the lack OF appreciation by
nearly all tho Southern people of the
dynamic force of free access to the
best books is hard to explain. The
want OF books means denial OF tho
opportunity TO men and women to con-
tinue the education begun In the pub
lie schools. No institutions arc so
popular az the public and private
schools: and nothing is so neglected
AZ the duty OF providing opportunity
Tor all the people to continue cduca-
ton after school days. Even In the
bnckWoods communities the sign Of
narrowness and sclfshness Is opposi-
zion TO liberal taxes for the schooling
OF children. Every lover of his kind
H. made Glad by seeing the new light
in the eye, the new hope in the life
of children who come from homes
chcerless from poverty. without beauty
and without books. To live IL few hours
each day In school buildings whose
dignity impresses them with the great
hess OF their opportunity and IN nsso-
citation with teachers who impart TO
them aspiration. In school hogs and
girls discover that on books they must
rely as the chief source OF intellectual
progress; that in books are preserved
the best things that men have ever
said or done: aud that. real progress
either OF tho individual or the COM
munity must be founded on this re
corded knowledge. To emphasize the
value of books. to teach what is To
he found In books. and books asa means
OF advancement In mechanics. in COM
mrrcc. in social science. in all that
goes Ia make success in business and
development in culture. we speed mil
lions every year. And ina great de-
gree we succeed in Introducing boys
and girls to books and in having ,hcm
to rely on books AS the chief source
OF intellectual life. Then at the close
or school days. We turn them out TO
intellectual starvation. Thea tho sad
story OF arrested dcvelopmcE: begins.
Link in Education Lost.
Here the lapse in education occurs.
We act Oh tho theory that books as a
means of education and culture are
not necessary after school days arc
over. We teach tho value OF book e
and reliance on books aud then deny
hooks. We present tho vision OF dell
cious food out OF reach. Need we go
rnuch further to account for the def
cheney in mechanical and agricultural
invention and enterprise, and in intel
lcctual produCtivcncsS OF tho South
as compared with other countries and
~ ar lD,u r. 10
Arc not our people Az whole. not
strangely blind To the obvious In an
other respect May the fact not be
stated without irrevcrence that they
have not acquired Il sense OF proper
ton in valuin- churches and public Ii
brarics. Christianity claims the doc
,rinc for itself over the other religions
OF the world that intellectual progress
Is Il necessary concomitant of religion
that the duty to carry light is no
less than the duty TO carry sweetness
Yet throughout tho South in almost
every village. there arc found four or
five church buildings expressing in
consequential shades and tints of re-
iiGious conception, while in tic entire
community no institution or any kind
TX provided OF even thought OF for
the cultivation and illumination OF tho
minds OF the lncn ana women upon
whose intcliic cncc the virtue and prog
ross OF tn" community depend. Allow
ing every bcncnt that can be claimed
for religious or Scctar!an organization
the Christian OF true vision Will not
fail TO perceive that people OF viii
laGc or town have not acquired true
sense OF proportion when they con-
tribute $4,000 year TO support its
purely religious association and nothing
to the education or enlightenment Of
its adult population. True vision also
makes evident the lack OF sense OF
proportion in city which cNpcnds
millions IN the building and support o.:
churches. in Indulgence OF differing re
iigious conceptions, and nothing in
building and supporting public Ii
brary.
Limits Intelligent Discussion.
There is anothc" consideration which
for public library. The thing of
all others which vitaliZcs both the
public and private life OF Il community
Is enlightened discussion Of significant
subjects. Discussion does not mean, as
some persons seem to think, the mere
assertion Of haphazard opinions having
no other foundation than tradition or in
dividual environment. 1t means the
attrition Of minds informed by con-
tact with the best results Of irvestiGa-
ton. and reasoning about important