New Britain herald., 1927-02-09

weeks. A contest was finally ar ranged for this evening, but had to be called off last night when 1t was learned that Ray was still not in the best of condition. that Bergen would be forced to drill, and. worst of all, that Freddie Miller had broken a finger. This may put Miller out for several weeks. The team will try to patch up a lineup and complete its schedule. but it's chances of winning the title again have been severely shaken up by these injuries and the long lay-off. Prizes Awarded
 At the chapel exercises yesterday at the high school Miss Drake awarded the prizes given by the Literary club for the best essays on the town library. Elizabeth Bras tow received first award of s3; Viv- ian Davis, second of s2, Howard Purdy third of s1, and Charles Diggle, fourth of s1.
 A summary of the hardships un- der which the library is laborng, and criticism of it's lack of facili- ties, together with a plea for the townSpeople to do away with these by showing more interest, are con- tained in Howard Purdys essay. which won third prize. It is as fol- lows:
 Probably very few. it any pub l lie libraries have gone through such struggle for existence as the Plain vile public library
 "1n 1894 a library was formed by few subscribers Of one dollar each. but was later made a public insti- i tuition SC as to receive aid from the state. II was hard to find a suit i able place for such an institution, 1 but it was finally opened to the townspeople. Jn 1917 fire swept through the town hall and burned the biggest part of the books in the then existing library. but through the efforts os Mrs. Henry Trumbull and others the institution was re-es- i tablished in the present town hall While in this place it went through hardships because of lack of inter
 est by the townspeople. but enthusi-
 asm was aroused and the library
 rooms became too small to accom-. the library finally had the books
 moved to the Byington block, where they now remain.
 "The library at present is In rather shabby condition and there Is lack
 of reference and new books. It i: now housed in what was once a tene.
 ment. and while it has two rooms which can be used for book-racks. ii is not a desirable place for such ar institution. The Plainville public library is lacking in large capacity because Of want of interest by the i townspeople.
 1 "A good library is Of use 10 every { body in the town or city in which it | is situated, for men in all walks of i life may find references that can be relied upon when needed. Go into any good sized library and note the number of patrons who enter not | only for novels and similar books. ! hut who get q reference book from the shelves and in @ few minutes have the required knowledge. On the other hand. note the patrons who come in to glance over the news papers and read some of their pop uIar maga zines: yet in Plainvile we Frd that because Of the lack of in forest the library is closed nearly all tho time.
 Not only is a library of use to business and working classes. but also it is absolutely necessary to tho average grammar and high school student. For instance. an English assignment is given out 10 look ID and know the works of Bacon oy some other nearly forgotten man, how many students are going to have their lessons prepared unless they have access to such an institution as Q public librar.'?
 Parents. Show more interest in such an enterprise not only for your own sakes but for the sake of your children. Look at it from a stu dents standpoint and realize with despair what 1t would mean to be a student If there was no such an institution as public library. AS I have said before. the Plainville public library needs new building, new books of all kinds, and, last. but most important. a new house of interest shown by the townspeople."
 Spring Is Here
 Spring must be at hand. The first organ grinder appeared in the cen- ter today, charming the merchants and passersby with soured strains from all the latest musicals late as "Tipperary," at any rate. Not only that, but a scissors grinder and nm- brella-mender was in the same ter ritory at the same time and did a good business.
 Legion Auxiliary Meeting The Ladies auxiliary to Brock Barnes post. American Legion, will meet tomorrow evening in the Le- zion rooms. This will be the last Thursday meeting; in the future the auxiliary will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Tickets are going rapidly for the en- 1 tertainment and dance Saturday night.
 Bugiel Resigns
 | Steve Bugiel announced today that he had resigned as trainer of the Businessmen. In the absence of Manager Ralph Thrall, Acting Man ager Mickey Levine issued state-