The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-29
LIBRARY FUND
CAMPAIGN IS
NOW CLOSING
Those Who Have Not Given
Are Urged to Help
CLOSE MONDAY NOON
Girls Who Have Been Canvassina
Have Found Greatest Generosity
Among the Poor.


being made ready to go to France In
a few weeks our new army will be
quartered in thirty-two cantoments
and numerous training camps.
Hundreds of thousands of vigorous.
active, earnest Americans have been
suddenly snatched from life of civil
liberty and as suddenly plunged into
a new life of military restraint with
out any of the pleasures of entertain
ment OF their former surroundings.
The cantonments and training
camps are TO great extent isolated,
and in nearly every instance they
are far removed from the home states
of the troops to be assembled.
The Government will see that moth
ing is lacking in equipment and ma
terial to make the new soldiers eff
cient fighting men.
But all of their time will not be re-
quired for training and drill Some
provision must be made for their
hours of leisure.
In establishing these canton
ments and training camps the War
Department has taken careful precau-
ton to remove every dangerous in
fiuence common to military camps of
the past. But this is not enough.
The Department recognized the dang
or that might arise II the lives OF
these young men were suddenly
changed to a point where they were
denied practically every pleasure that
had entered into their civil life.
Therefore, the United States Gov
ernment through the Library War
Council asks those who stay at home
to help make the life of these boys a
little brighter by supplying the means
to furnish them good books for their
dull and lonesome periods.
According to the plans of the War
Department, each camp or canton
ment is to be a real city, the aver
age population being 10000 to $4,000
men. Provision has been made for
post Offices, churches, Office buildings
and even banks. Only libraries are
needed, and these the relatives and
other friends OF the soldiers are asked
by the Library War Council to pro-
vide.
The Library War Council, after a
careful survey of the entire field into
which its efforts must be directed to
,,aaka for cornnl cucnaoo nf tho I'm
dertaking, has determined that one
dollar is the amount necessary for the
purchase, maintenance and circula
ton OF one book, and that at least
one million dollars will be needed to
give every American soldier every,
where the companionship OF books
One dollar, 1t is figured, will furnish
book, keep II in circulation until II
is worn out, and replace 1t when re
tired for physical disability. One
dollar apiece from the stay-at-home
will give to those who are fighting
our battles mite Of the pleasure
they crave, relieve the pangs of home
sickness and lonesomeness. keeI
tllthh III tVu'u WIN lic iiic thcy HaNt
vacated. and bring to them inspira
ton and encouragement.
The field to be covered by the II
braries embraces the widest range, II
cluding service for recruits. for mer
in training, for men in mobilization
garrisons, outposts, for the men II
their rest periods. while on tn,
march. and even for the men at Tn,
front. The libraries will serve tn,
crippled and manned mea returned
from service. wounded soldiers enc
prisoners OF war, men awaiting III,
muster.out, sailors on shipboard ant
sailors at the various naval stations
not man In any branch of Uncl,
Sans service is to be neglected
Shall we nor take as much care 4
provide our 40 diers with the righ
scrt Of books es with tao right sor
Of food? We cannot depsdd cntirel
unon oontributi ms OF books from th
private libraries of our people. Il,
perience has shown that the selectio
Of such books is too often carelessl
made and is apt to contain an undu
proportion OF books which have ou
| lived their usefulness
The soldier in camp needs fresl
entertaining and attractive book
even more than those who stay O
home. Good books are one of IN
few comforts of home which we ca
send to him. Therefore they mus
be carefully selected TO appeal I
every mind. They must nclud
books which are amusing and ente
tanning. books which are instructiv
and educational and books whic
viii give help and comfort.
| Who will deny these soldiers VIII
| are going TO fight our fight the greI
good and the great pleasure thes