The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-05-09

Since the formal opening of the
Dorchester County Public Library
will take place at an early date IL
may not be amiss to emphasize the
fact that without universal co-opera
ton and patronage, the whole OBJECT
will be defeated.
First of all-Let it be understood
that it is Free Library-open TO
every responsible person over II
years of age, whether they contribute
to its support Or not. That it
matter which each person must set
tie for themselves.
Those who have subscribed did so
as an endorsement of the project,
and it is expected that sufficient
funds from this source will be forth
coming to meet the expenses incident
to the undertaking. The future
growth of the Library, therefore, de-
ponds absolutely upon the number
of those who become interested, and
who will manifest that interest in
material way.
After paying the running expenses
every remaining dollar will be put
into books. 1t is the plan to develop
every department of the Library as
far as the funds permit. Growth
Will be slow or more rapid, as the
public dictates.
The $500 books with which the
Library begins To serve the Com
munity were carefully selected, and
represent every branch Of literature.
There are books of Science, Art,
History and Travel. Biographies,
valuable reference books, the Class
les of Prose and Poetry, and great
deal of sageitent.:: modern Fiction.
Books, however, only. useful in
community when they are read. IF
said Sirstot1u zHersehel,s Il were TO
pray for taste that should help me
under any variety of circumstances
and be an ineXhaustible source of
happiness to me through life, how
ever things might go amiss-it
would be a taste for reading. Prop
erly directed reading is not selfish
waste Of time which might be better
emphasized in the worlds work. 1t
is one of the greatest agencies in fit
ting us for the Worlds Work. II we
hope to be an influence for good in
our community-striving to improve
it in every Way-Surely we must be-
gin by improving ourselves. If we
cannot all be creative can at least
put ourselves under the leadership
of greatminds. The proper office of
literature is to make sentiments
visible. Good fiction is realism seen
through the medium of a vivid imagl-
nation What the world needs most
today is uplift and that we can best
get from those who stand upon the
peaks of splendid vision. 1t is not
possible, within the scope of this
communication, TO consider generally
the Relation of Literature of Life.
Let US instance only few of the
great Life Teachers:
Ruskin teaches us the dignity of
service.
Dickens, the divinity Of kindness.
Carlyle and George Eliot, the su-
premacy of duty.
Browning, the splendid optimism
that comes from unfaltering trust in
God. =! #ks
Many people have the mistaken
idea that Poetry is a useful form OF
writing, that it has no serious reia-
ton to real life We speak of the
Poets vision as beautiful but impos-
sible. There is no poetry in life, it
is said Yet'not only are they great
teachers, because they put into
rhythmic and permanent form the
highest thoughts and hopes of man,
but they count for so much in Ma
tons History.
If by some calamity every formal
History Of the English. people were
destroyed and its poetry remained,
it would be easy to reconstruct the
story of the development of the Eng
lish race. from it's poetry from
Chaucer to Kipling
Darwin said '1f l had my life to
live over, I would hear some, music
and read some poetry every day"
The child who sratifies his love
for stories by reading, enlarges his
vocabulary, 5stinulates his. powers OF
imagination and multipies his point
of contact with human character
Is there any better way to acquire
:, genuine Education? 80, ; .a.--
The adult will find in books a
friend for every mood-an inspira-
n 4, llor,-