VACATION VISITS TO OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY SECOND ISSUE REPRINT FROM Greensboro Daily Record September 4th and 5th, 1911 GREENSBORO, N. C. 1911 0 3 . 1 ^ 3c r \*W VACATION VISITS TO OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY While it is now a well established fact that our citizens take much pleas- ure in the growth of their public li- brary and are always glad to lend a helping hand in its material support, it is also true that there are many who find little leisure from business and household cares to inspect its daily work as a civic and educational factor in the life of our community. So it comes to pass that The Rec- cord, publishes today, under a number of well known names, as many mes- sages of good cheer from our library service, each given from a citizen’s standpoint and descriptive of that feature of library endeavor which ap- peals most strongly to the interest of the writer. Although the library’s call for these papers was made during the heat of midsummer the cordial response which now appears in these columns bears testimony to the unfailing loy- alty of Greensboro in behalf of a home institution. NEWSPAPER FILES By Mayor T. J. Murphy. In regard to the value of newspa- per files in libraries, I wish to say that I consider such files of very great value to citizens generally, ^nd especially to city, county, and State officials; for when they want to know of a fact, law, ordinance, or circum- stance, that has held sway so long that “the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,” and its validity and reason is ever brought in ques- tion, there is nothing so convincing as to draw forth from the archives of antiquity some old age-worn newspa- per and reproduce the original ac- count. I consider it best to have these pa- pers filed in some library and kept by a librarian, or otherwise the party examining will often take a clipping or a copy away and lose it. It is also a well known fact that a person can never find a newspaper that he is especially searching for, even if It be only a few days old, much less one a decade or a century of age. In fact I regard newspaper files in our library as one of the most valua- ble and accurate methods of keeping local history straight. And permit me to say that I regard the files of local and State papers kept in the Greensboro Public Library as being practically perfect in system, comprehensive and accurate. LIBRARY INDEXES By Mrs. J. B. Gunter. A noted writer has said, “The bet- ter part of every man’s education is that which he gives himself and it is for this that a good library should furnish the opportunity and means.” 2 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library Although in comparison with many, our Public Library is small, yet it furnishes' ample opportunity for a lib- eral education and the indexes to be found here as the “open sesame” to its stores are both modern and valu- able. We live in a day when even the small libraries may greatly broad- en their activities through the use of indexes which have been issued in un- precedented number and variety with- in the past decade and it has ever been the policy of our own library to favor as far as possible the purchase of such working tools in order to in- crease the efficiency of the reference service. There may be no short cuts to learning, but indexes certainly short- en the distance to information. They are the keys which unlock the doors of knowledge and make the way clear and accessible. The indexes for general use at our library may be spoken of under three heads. First, The Publishers Book Indexes — among which are: The United States Catalog, Supplement, and the Cumulatives Indexes, giving books in print, the names of publishers, prices of the books, and also of a large num- ber of valuable pamphlets. These are published monthly and yearly. The model catalogue prepared for the American Library Association in the New York State Library and publish- ed by the Library of Congress, with the catalogue of the great Pittsburg library are often of particular service in the comparison and selection of books. The Review Digest is an in- dex which contains descriptive notes, excerpts from the criticisms of the best English and American reviews, upon books of current issue. The character and scope of books, the price, publishers and a concise esti- mate of each book is given. Second, Indexes of the Contents of Books — comprising: Granger’s Index to Poetry and Recitations, giving author, title and first lines; the A. L. A. Portrait Index, A. L. A. Index to General Literature, Anno- tated Guide to American History, Classified Index to Standard Fiction, and, for the children’s department, Wilson’s Children’s Catalog in two parts, part one being a guide to the best reading for young people based upon twenty-four selected library lists, while part two is an analytical subject index covering the contents of five hundred of the books contained in part one. Our library uses the Bul- letin of Bibliography, a number of other very valuable Bibliographies (the most important being that of North Carolina History by Dr. Steph- en B. Weeks), and has several com- plete indexes to separate works, in- cluding Educational Association Re- ports, U. S. Bureau of Education Re- ports, Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correc- tions, World’s Best Literature, Farm- ers’ Bulletin, Year Books of the U. S. Department of Agriculture and oth- ers. Third, Index to Magazines. It has been said “that the magazine repre- sents the intellectual activity in its terminal bud,” and it is certainly true that one of the most important parts played in our library’s life is the daily use of the magazine. This calls for an index, and those to be found at the desk are: Poole’s (listing old maga- zines), Wilson’s Reader’s Guide and the Electic Index, to date. These cov- er the contents by title, author and subject of thousands of miscellaneous articles, and a number of important Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 3 government pamphlets. Of this mag- azine material the library has files of all its own periodical list from date of subscription supplemented by many valuable magazine gifts, mak- ing sets of Century, Country Life in America, Harper’s, Review of Re- views, Scribner’s, World’s Work, etc. Last year’s magazine index gives the field of current literature, dates and events reported in the press as a guide to using daily papers. The children’s magazines play an important part in the lives of the army of children who frequent the library and a pleasing sequel to the campaign for children’s books last fall was the purchase, among others, of a full set of St. Nicholas, covering a period of thirty-seven years. The index to this set is now in the library and whether for reference or to bring some long forgotten story to mind it is of much pleasure and value. The latest bibliographical contribu- tion under this division is the Dra- matic Index, covering the field of the stage, giving real name, age and na- tionality of actors and actresses, plays, and also a portrait index of actors and actresses. The entire list of indexes to which all can have access covers a broad field of information and many sub- jects not mentioned in this account. These volumes are conveniently lo- cated at the central desk where any assistance required in their use may be readily given by the librarian in charge. THE LIBRARY FOR THE BUSY MAN By S. A. Holleman. The average busy man needs di- version as well as recreation. This is imperative mentally as well as physically. The physical demand is so readily felt that various and ef- ficient means are active in almost any conceivable direction. The mental need is not so keenly felt by the in- dividual and is too readily neglected. Philanthropy, endorsed and direct- ed by ' thinking man, realizing this need, has wisely provided splendid mental gymnasiums in localities con- venient to the masses of busy men. The public library is not for stu- dents alone, or children, or the leisure class, but provides also means for mental diversion of the man of affairs who is daily and strenuously occupied by things that too often lead the mind along a narrow channel and tend to dwarf the bro’ader concepts of life. The busy man needs fiction as well as golf, history as well as tennis, bi- ography as well as boating. The one is as essential as the other for keep- ing a sane and successful activity. The library in Greensboro is keenly alive to this truth in having abundant opportunity for mental diversion in the highest class of assorted means open constantly for the asking; If the magazines lead one's inclination, they are there. If fiction rests and re- freshes, there is found abundant choice. Good wholesome biography never fails in diverting but also de- veloping character, and here we have an elaborate supply. There is no need for the busy man to pore. Science and philosophy and even literature may be left to those whose duty it is to pore and study. The busy man needs only that which leads the mind and not that which forces; that which rests, not that which exhausts. Experience has shown the advan- tage of a tired mind refreshed from a pleasant flight of imagination or fol- 4 Vacation Visits to Our Public Liurary lowing character or incident showing results from causes, and with such an excellent assemblage of books — and books — there can be no complaint in Greensboro for a reasonable busy man to say he has not the opportunity. Did you ever put into practice the opportunity of ready reference found there? You may well be surprised. The need for quick reference for re- liable information on any peculiar matter is becoming more and more imminent and not confined to scien- tific research. Scarcely any business exists but that nuggets of immediate and valuable information, more relia- ble than polished, are to be found there; and readily too. You of Greensboro, you who show your appreciation of the library by word and money, you who are too busy, who want it for your children or for the other fellow: Go there yourself a few times and delve a lit- tle and find treasures that are yours for the taking, that will lift you from the drudge of life and ifiake you broader, deeper, and happier — and better. OUR NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY COLLECTION By W. C. Smith. The value of a library to a com- munity may be said to depend upon three chief assets: the extent of its resources, that is, the amount of real- ly valuable material which it con- tains; its accessibility, or the degree in which this material is properly classified and conveniently arranged; and the qualifications, mental and moral, of those who have the library work in charge. Moral qualifications are essential, for, whatever the in- tellectual ability and special profes- sional training ,of the librarians, they will fail in their high calling unless they bring to their work a liberal measure of patience, sympathy, un- selfishness, and tact, and a real zeal for public service. We are to eschew personalities. Of this last factor, therefore, we may not speak save to say that it is a truly vitalizing force in our library, rendering what might by some be con- sidered a small collection of books, an ever increasing source of helpful- ness and uplift to large numbers of our people. But as to the other factors of use- fulness — the extent of our resources and their accessibility — what shall be said relative to the North Carolina history collection? When we take into consideration the fact that our library has had an existence of only ten years; that the amount annually available for the purchase of books is exceedingly small; and that material relating to our State history is both costly and difficult to obtain; we may well con- gratulate ourselves on the large and valuable collection of Caroliniana al- ready acquired. Here are full sets of the Colonial and. State Records; most of the works of the older his- torians, including Hawks, Swain, Gra- ham, Foote, Caruthers and Wheeler; Tarleton’s “Campaigns,” Lee’s “Cam- paigns” and “Memoirs,” Lawson and Fanning in reprints, Jones’ “Defence,” and the “Roster of North Carolina Troops.” The principal works of our more recent historians, Mrs. Spencer, Battle, Moore, Schenck, Weeks, Ra- per, Hill, Ashe, Connor — are all here, as are also the valuable “History of the North Carolina Regiments” and the “Biographical History of North Carolina.” Vacation Visits to Our Public Library The collection also includes: many valuable biographies, as, for example the lives of Caldwell, Otway Burns, Governor Tryon, Coffin, Macon, and Harnett; several Confederate text- books by North Carolina authors; and single-volume studies of special sub- jects such as church and denomina- tional annals, town and county his- tories, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, the Revolution, and Civil War and Reconstruction. Of annnual publications bound in permanent form there are the N. C. Year Books, the Reports issued by the State’s penal, charitable and edu- cational institutions and the volumes published by the N. C. Geological Sur- vey, the State Board of Health, the N. C. Historical Commission, and the departments of Education and Agri- culture. There are also files of the N. C. Booklet, the N. C. Review, the South Atlantic Quarterly, and many valuable numbers of the University Magazine, the Elisha Mitchell Scien- tific Journal, the James Sprunt his- torical monographs, and the Johns Hopkins’ “Studies in Historical and Political Science.” Covering the last decade, the library owns files of the leading college publications including those of the University, the State Col- lege of Agriculture, the Normal and Industrial College, Trinity, Wake For- est, Davidson, Guilford, and Greens- boro Female College. Perhaps the most frequently con- sulted material on local history is that found in the files of newspapers. These include “The Greensboro Pa- triot” for the years 1840-’52, 1857-’61, and 1870-73; “The Times,” 1856-’57, “The North State,” 1871-73, “The Lin- coln Progress,” 1878-’82, and complete files of all local papers for the past six years. Space remains for the mention of but one more feature of the depart- ment — its exceedingly valuable collec- tion of pamphlets. These, more than five hundred in number, consist of addresses, memoirs, biographical sketches and personal reminiscences, most of them first hand studies, and, therefore, the best of all source ma- terial. This collection is especially rich in material relating to Greens- boro and Guilford County. The description here attempted is both inadequate and incomplete, but it may perhaps suggest to those in- terested in North Carolina history that our library possesses in accessi- ble form a truly valuable collection of material which all are cordially in- vited to use. Perhaps, too, it may suggest to some the happy thought of enrolling themselves among public benefactors by making a personal contribution of one or more books or pamphlets which would here be safely preserved and at the same time ren- dered accessible to a wider public than would be possible under indi- vidual guardianship. This is a working collection and the librarians are happiest when it is oftenest consulted. Here the pupils of our graded schools may find ma- terial for their compositions and de- bates; the college students help on their essays and orations; and teach- ears, the data needful to supplement and vitalize their chosen texts. Here the speaker who wishes information on obscure points in our State or county annals, the minister desirous of familiarizing himself with the early history of his denomination, the wo- man who has papers or programmes to prepare for club or society, the edi- tor, special investigator, and general reader — may find much that is of Vacation Visits to Our Public Library value to themselves and their audi- ences. Here, finally, the historian and the writer of historical fiction may quarry at will, and, embodying the re- sults of their investigations in other forms may merit a meed of approval similar to that now bestowed upon Caruthers, Wiley, Schenck, and O. Henry. THE CONFEDERACY By Col. James T. Morehead. At the suggestion of the librarian of the Public Library, I visited the library for the purpose of a cursory inspection of the books and literature specially referring to the War be- twen the States, with the view of forming some opinion as to the his- torical value of the collection, which I had been requested to give. I was surprised at the number and variety of the histories, biographies, periodicals, and personal reminis- censes contained in the collection — from which history and facts upon which to write history could be based. They contain entertainment for readers of a philosophical turn of mind, for lovers of romance, lovers of exciting stories of situations of dan- ger and narrow escapes — in fact for youth and those of mature years. Of course I am not to be understood as vouching for the alleged historical truth portrayed in the several produc- tions — on the contrary the reader must make many grains of allowance for the statements of the different writers, warped and colored by their personal views. No history of important events — especially great upheavals of society and more especially when such changes are accompanied by war and the shedding of blood — written recent- ly after the happening, is reliable: time must have elapsed sufficient to permit the subsidence of passion and prejudice and the mellowing effect of calm reflection. No history can be absolutely relied upon written within half a century of the exciting time of the happening of events intended to be recorded. In fact until the actors in the drama or tragedy and their contemporaries have passed to the “Great Beyond” or at least until their views have been so far sobered, that they can look upon the subject from the point of view of one who is seeking the truth alone. Many of the so-called histories and biographies written within twenty-five years after Appo- mattox are unreliable — tinged and warped as they are by the partisan feelings and emotions of the waiters and still worse many, especially the early ones, were written with the view of making money, and conse- quently the writers endeavored to pander to the passions and prejudices of those for whose patronage they were written and to tickle the ego- tism, party pride or patriotism of the reader. It will require many decades yet to correct in the minds of the average man and reader more especially of the young and many and gross errors contained in these earliest histories and biographies, although within the last few years conservative writers have effected a great change in the views of the educated and non-parti- zan readers and the truth has begun to be recognized. The library contains over one hun- dred volumes of official records and in addition thereto near two hundred and fifty volumes of history, biogra- phies and periodicals to say nothing Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 7 of cotemporary issues of newspapers. Among these can be found “The Rise and Fall of the Confederacy” by Pres- ident Davis, “The War Between the States,” by Vice-President Stephens, “Service Afloat” by Admiral Semmes, “Confederate States Navy” by Scharf, “N. C. Regimental Histories” written by soldiers and edited by Chief Jus- tice Clark, “Confederate Military His- tory by States,” “The History of the Guilford Grays,” written by its last Captain, John Sloan, a native of this city — of great local interest; “Moore’s Roster” not fully complete or entirely accurate but giving a great deal of information. By mentioning these volumes I by no means wish to be un- derstood as intimating that they are the only ones worth reading. There can be found on the shelves also stories and reminiscences of prison life — war poety, etc. There are two books, however, to which I would call particular attention and recommend. Col. Henderson’s “Stone- wall Jackson and the Civil War.” Col. Henderson was an officer in the British Army of a superior education and fully capable of writing on the subject — unbiased, impartial, and per- sonally conversant with many of the events of which he wrote. His work received favorable criticism of Brit- ish and American soldiers and civ- ilians, so much so that he had been solicited to write the history of Lee and his campaign by both British and Americans and was engaged in wri- ting such history when he was called “to cross the river.” In his death the lovers of truth and still more the soldiers of the Confederacy suffered the greatest possible loss. The other work is a biography of Gen. Bedford Forrest, by Dr. Wyeth. It is a revelation to us of the Atlantic States. In fact until the last year of the war when he was created a Lieu- tenant General the Confederate Gov- ernment did not appreciate him or his services, owing partly to the fact that he was persona non grata with one of the commanders of our west- ern army (not Gen. Joe Johnston) in whose reports Forrest never received justice. We in the east knew little of the western campaigns during the war and looked upon the army of Northern Virginia with which we had the greatest personal interest as The Army, but of late years the reputation of the western army has grown to be fully equal to that of the army of Northern Virginia (except as to com- manders), did harder fighting than we did, and had “foemen” more “wfirthy of their steel” than we had. As a military prodigy Forrest was not second to Stonewall Jackson. He was a meteor. The wars of Charles the XII of Sweden, of Frederic the Great, the Napoleonic wars never pro- duced his equal nor his like. Dr. Wyeth’s book is as interesting as a romance. I read it several years since and hope to reread it. It is full of surprises and one’s interest never flags. I fear, writing currente calamo, I have already exceeded the limit though I have not suggested one-half the pleasure and information one may get by visiting and using our public library. SOUTHERN LITERATURE. A Suggestion as to the Use of the Material in the Greensboro Public Library. By C. Alphonso Smith. It has been said that in Germany it takes you three days to get a book Vacation Visits to Our Public Library out of a library, in England three hours, in America three minutes. The comparison is fairly apt, because in America we do not look on libraries as cold storage plants but rather as storage batteries. They are for ser- vice, prompt and efficient service, and they are serviceable not in proportion to the number of books that they house but in proportion to the num- ber of books that they send out into daily use. The time will come, I think, when the entire community will go to school to its public library, when it will be considered bad form not to give something or bequeath some- thing to the public library, and when every public library will be as fire- proof as the bank-safe. As to the topic assigned me, it is a pleasure to say that few libraries anywhere are better supplied with material for a systematic study of Southern literature than the Public Library of Greensboro. There are few universities, North or South, old or young, that would not cast covet- ous eyes upon some of the volumes on Southern literature that the au- thorities of the Greensboro Public Li- brary have managed to secure. Among these may be mentioned Bas- kervill’s “Southern Writers” (vols. 1 and 2), a series that marked the be- ginning of a critical effort to under- stand the literature of the South; Davidson’s “Living Writers of the South” (1869), a quaint but highly en- tertaining account of literary activity in the South in ante-bellum days; Mrs. Mary Forrest’s “Women of the South Distinguished in Literature” (1861) and Mrs. Mary Tardy’s “Liv- ing Female Writers of the South” (1872), in which for the first time the groupings are by States; Miss Mil- dred Rutherford’s “The South in His- tory and Literature” (1907), an un- wieldy book but indispensable; Miss Louise Manly’s “Southern Literature from 1579 to 1895” (1895), badly put together but deserving all honor as a pioneer; Miss Emily Mason’s “South- ern Poems of the War” (1867), a pa- thetic collection but one that en- shrines the living spirit of those war- rior years from 1861 to 1865. But these books are not all by wo- men. In fact only a very small per- centage were written by women. Carl Holliday’s “History of Southern Liter- ature” (1906), Mims and Payne’s “Southern Prose and Poetry” (1910), W. P. Trent’s “Southern Writers” (1905), C. W. Hubner’s “Representa- tive Southern Poets” (1906), W. L. Weber’s “Selections from the South- ern Poets” (1901), and Alderman and Harris’s “Library of Southern Litera- ture,” (15 vols., 1907-1910), show that Southern men as well as Southern women have recognized that here was an undeveloped field. It is undevelop- ed, however, no longer. The ground has been covered in a general way, the leading facts have been ascer- tained, accurate summaries have been made, bibliographies have been pre- pared, and the histories of American literature that are now coming from the Northern presses show the result. Three times as much space is given to Southern writers in these histories as was ever given before. The effect has been felt also in foreign lands. In Engel’s “History of American Lit- erature,” published in Leipsic in 1897, the only Southern writers mentioned are Washington Allston, George W. Cable, Joel Chandler Harris (two lines), and Thomas Jefferson. In Flugel’s “History of American Litera- ture,” published in Leipsic in 1907, no Southern writer is omitted who ought Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 9 to be included and none included who ought to be omitted. The material, therefore, already col- lected and published, has been used and used to good advantage. It should be said at the outset that Southern literature is just as national and just as American as New England litera- ture. It is called Southern simply to designate the place of its origin. The name does not imply limitation of appeal or sectionalism of purpose, but only the circumstances of birth. American literature as a whole is com- pounded of the literatures of five great sections: the New England States, with Massachusetts as the lit- erary-center; the Middle States, with New York and Pennsylvania as the litreary centers; the Middle West, with Ohio and Indiana as the literary centers; the Far West, with Califor- nia as the literary center; and the Southern States, in which no one State takes precedence as does Massa- chusetts in New England. These great sections are thoroughly and equally American and no history of American literature is worth the name that does not take into consid- eration the contribution to literature that each has made. The reason why the writers of the South were so long omitted is simply because their works were scattered and inaccessible. Three methods suggest themselves for using the material in the Greens- boro Public Library. First: Let a brief study be made of what each Southern State has achieved in litera- ture. The material can be found in the “Library of Southern Literature,” and the librarians would take pleas- ure in grouping all the writers in these volumes according to States. A few evenings given to North Carolina, a few to South Carolina, a few to Georgia, etc., would result in an in- teresting survey of the whole field and would give the club or reading circle or school or private reader a better knowledge of literature in the South than could possibly be obtained through any one volume yet publish- ed. Second. Put the emphasis not on States but on kinds of literature. Let the question be: What has the South done in (1) lyric poetry, (2) epic poe- try, (3) dramatic poetry, (4) oratory, (5) short stories, (6) biographies and autobiographies, (7) essays, (8) nov- els, and (9) histories? This also would furnish a bird’s eye view of the whole and would give the reading club or individual a first-hand grip on what had been read. Third. Confine the reading and study to North Carolina writers. There is no history or even handbook of North Carolina writers but the ma- terial can be gathered from the books named, especially from Mrs. Tardy’s “Living Female Writers of the South,” Hight C. Moore’s “Poetic Literature of North Carolina” (1907. a bibliogra- phy), and “The Library of Southern Literature.” This would be a mote intensive course than either of the other two and would doubtless lead to more definite and permanent re- sults. Why should it not lead to an accurate “History of North Carolina Writers?” The work will surely be done by some one. Why not by some reading club or literary circle of Greensboro? Let the work be under- taken collectively but be well organ- ized and under the direction of some competent leader. Let it be under- taken not for the purpose of showing that North Carolina was first on Par- nassus or last at the Pierian Spring but let it show, as it will show, that 10 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library her literary output has at least been underrated because never presented en masse. One is safe in saying that Mary Bayard Clarke, Hinton Rowan Helper, Theophilus H. Hill, John Charles McNeill, Christian Reid (Mrs. Tiernan), John Henry Boner, Henry J. Stockard, William Sidney Porter, Walter Page, Archibald Henderson, and Edwin Anderson Alderman are names that, to mention no more, would enrich the literature of any State. LESSONS IN LIBRARY PICTURES FOR THE CHILDREN. By Mrs. Lucy H. Robertson. Stepping over the threshold of the Children’s Room of our well appoint- ed City Library, one is impressed by the evident thought and care that have been expended in making this a place of inspiration as well as of instruction. Amidst a variety of ob- jects tending to the above named re- sult, nothing more strongly appeals to the appreciation of the visitor than the handsome pictures adorning the walls, each speaking its own story, and making its appeal through the eye that most effective of all avenues to the inner consciousness. These pictures are all the valued gifts of friends, and a glance around the room will reveal to the discerning eye a unity of purpose, which at a casual survey one would scarcely think pos- sible from the apparent diversity of subjects. The wall on the left as one enters is an illuminated page from history, filled with lessons of patriotism and heroism. As the eye rests upon the dignified and noble portraits of those two fine types of manhood and wo- man hood, George and Martha Wash- ington, a volume of Colonial and Rev- olutionary history is unrolled before the mind, while the beautiful picture of Mount Vernon, that ideal home of General and Mrs. Washington, re- calls all the finest traditions of the elegant social life of the Old South in its palmiest days. Just beyond these portraits the eye is arrested by a fine picture of that pioneer in public schools, Rev. Calvin H. Wiley, and thus we have a con- crete example of another of the great departments of human life and inter- est, that of education, for truly this man devoted his life to that cause, and through it to the uplifting of the people of his native State. In him is represented a bit of local history, for our own county of Guilford proudly claims him as a son, while his State- wide connections and influence is fit- ly symbolized by the rich and grace- ful folds of an unusually handsome silk flag of North Carolina draped above his benevolent face. Just be- yond Dr. Wiley is a handsome por- trait of the peerless Robert E. Lee, whose splendid military bearing and noble face must appeal to every Southern heart, and to all true hearts everywhere which recognize the great- ness of glorious achievement both in the days of war and of peace. On the right of the entrance a fine photograph of the naturalist, Audu- bon, opens a broad field in natural his- tory, for the little ones who look in- to his face and learn something of bird lore from the handsome colored charts close by can but receive some vision of the great world teeming with its varied forms of life, and learn the lessons which Audubon would teach of mercy and gentleness to all animated creatures. Philanthropy next claims our atten- Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 11 tion in the strong yet gentle face of Frances E. Willard. The story of her life is that of one of the greatest re- forms that has ever swept this coun- try, and reached out with world-wide waves to the farthest shores. Her winning personality is remembered by us of the older generation, and we trust that the sweet, womanly face beaming so benignly from its place on the wall may inculcate in our young people her ardent zeal, for the cause of humanity. In their own especial niche on the opposite wall three exquisite water- color panels, representing scenes and characters from Uncle Remus’s folk stories, most charmingly introduce lit- erature as a factor in the development of child-life. In the panel on the left is strikingly presented that classic of the nursery, “The Fox and the Tar Baby,” wherein is laid the snare for that most wary of all the beasts, Brer Rabbit. On the right Brer Coon is represented in all the dignity of the brave who scorns the coward, while in the central panel we behold the hero himself, Brer Rabbit, standing- in exultant attitude as if in reminis- cent enjoyment of how his native wit has once more enabled him to escape the pitfalls laid by his enemies. Sure- ly the children, and those of child- like hearts though older in years, owe a debt of gratitude to Uncle Remus for his gentle humor and his simple mirthful stories of the queer ways of those creatures of the imagination which he contrives to make seem so real. Religion, the golden clasp that binds together all varied interests in one harmonious whole, is typified by the calm and tender beauty of Mul- ler’s Holy Night. From its place on the eastern wall this picture leads our thoughts to the “Wise Men” of old as they follow the Star of Bethle- hem to the manger-cradle of the in- fant Redeemer. One can scarcely im- agine a more beautiful object lesson, or one that will influence more benefi- cently the lives of the little ones whose early impressions are being formed by contemplation of the pic- tured story of that great life that had its beginning in the manger of Beth- lehem and its closing on the cross of Calvary. The visitor turns away from the Children’s Room feeling that fortun- ate indeed are the children who have evere before them such beautiful and inspiring lessons presented in such attractive forms. A LITTLE MUSEUM. By Mrs. W. C. A. Hammel. A feature probably uinque in library service is to be found in the Greens- boro Public Library — “The Little Mu- seum for Children.” This small col- lection of local minerals, bird eggs and nests, Indian arrowheads, moths and butterflies, is usually surrounded by a circle of boys and girls who hang over the cases by the hour, some curiously, some studiously observing the specimens, in many instances bringing bits from their own collec- tions for comparison and identifica- tion. The value of this adjunct to the li- brary is already apparent in the grow- ing demand for books on nature study and on history. The young readers’ tastes are diverted from fiction to na- ture books, to books of travel and ad- venture, biography, science, and his- tory. The children’s inherent inter- est in nature and their investigative attitude of mind lead them to seek 12 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library further information about these inter- esting specimens. “Those who come to stare remain to study,” and they naturally carry their investigations beyond the walls of the library into the fields and byways to study at first hand and in their native environment these and other things not in the col- lection. Their interest in real things is fostered, they renounce that blind and slavish subjection to books which means arrested development, and they learn not only to see and to investi- gate for themselves but to make sys- tematic and intelligent use of books as aids or tools to their investigations and researches. Graven in the marble wall in the entrance to Bowdoin College Library are these lines which bespeak the broadening tendency in modern li- brary work: “Who reads and reads and does not what he knows Is one who plows and plows and nev- er sows.” A museum in the library is just one more help in the movement for a broader, fuller education. This mu- seum may become an integral part of the apparatus for elementary in- struction in the public schools. The community benefits by its influence for culture and betterment, for it stimulates studious thought in older people as well as in the children. It is a means to the extension and dif- fusion of popular information and ought to lead from a vain pride in lo- cal resources, whether natural or his- torical, to a wiser, more profitable use and conservation of them. These small beginnings are full of suggestions for their further develop- ment. A full collection of local min- erals, woods, flowering plants, insects, birds, etc., would be an impulse to the study of these from an economic standpoint as regards their value or their detriment in agriculture, in the manufactures, etc. To these might be added with profit a permanent ex- hibition of local manufactured pro- ducts showing mounted specimens il- lustrating the results of the various stages in the process of the manufac- ture, say of cotton goods, from the raw material to the finished product. This would undoubtedly encourage the study of the development of the in- dustries, of the scientific principles and processes which they involve, and of the inventions which have brought them to their present state of perfection. Then, there might be special mu- seum days. An Indian week, for in- stance, when the townspeople might be asked to loan for the week any Indian relics or articles of Indian handicraft in their possession. Special historical occasions might be illustra- ted in a similar manner. Thus would a receptive field be ready for the com- ing of the proposed national traveling museum when that shall eventually come to be. If all these things should come to pass, however, they would soon over- tax the capacity of the library build- ing as well as the patience and strength of even the most helpful of librarians. Perhaps before that stage is reached there will come a popular and insistent demand for a town mu- seum to be conducted in co-operation with the library. This, in a locality so rich in historic, natural, and in- dustrial resources, is just what Greensboro ought to have and what in its turn would enhance the ever- increasing usefulness of our library. Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 13 WHAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SHOULD MEAN TO THE CHILD. By Mrs. E. Sternberger. Have you ever stopped to think how little thought is expended on the child as a factor in life? We treat children as toys; we amuse and pre- serve them, but few of us think seri- ously that they are the men and wom- en of tomorrow. We sit and reflect and how fondly do we think on our childhood scenes, the home, the friends, and even the games we play- ed. Realizing this, should we not include the Public Library among our children’s early haunts. There they will find pleasure, at the same time developing thought. Let any of us do a thing a few times, it soon becomes a habit: what better habit than the Library habit, what better friends than books, and here are our friends judiciously chos- en and under proper supervision. Let all of us concern ourselves with and learn better our Library. In Greensboro, we are most fortun- ate in having such able, broad-minded, excellent people in charge of this important institution. May I ask more of the mothers to visit the li- brary with their children, and see what we have to interest and instruct as well as entertain and please the children. A delightful, sunny, pleas- ant, well ventilated children’s room. Would that the mothers might get so well acquainted with the library as to know its needs, and help supply them. Children imitate the grown- ups, let’s bear that in mind. Every child loves a story and long before they can read do they enjoy pictures. Where can they get this so well as by becoming interested in and ac- quainted with minerals, historical events, etc.? We must determine to make our children’s room the best possible, and help them enjoy this privilege at the same time make the “afternoon nurse is out,” a joy to ourselves and the children. The child having learned to love the place, in just a little while is it a necessity to him, especially dur- ing his school period, then still later, he will feel such pride and interest in this worthy institution that every- thing that concerns the library will mean much to him. I hope that each mother will go with her children and together they will become acquainted with this place which must and does .mean much to all. READING FOR OUR BOYS AND GIRLS. By Henry W. Wharton. It was my pleasure, recently, to take a look over the children’s depart- ment at the Carnegie Library of this city and I was delighted to learn the extent to which this department is used by the young people. I think as a rule, when we think about chil- dren’s books and magazines, we in- stinctively think of fairy stories, Un- cle Remus and other delightful litera- ture but seldom does it occur to us that there are books and magazines that not only interest, but actually bear directly on the future occupa- tions of the reader. It was interest- ing to learn that a great many young people are constant visitors at the library for the purpose of studying along a large variety of technical lines of thought and that this line of study is all the time increasing as the 14 Vacation Visits To Our Public Library equipment of the institution is en- larged. I find that the following magazines are received regularly and are read with eagerness by the boys and girls: “Popular Electricity,” “Popular Me- chanics” (which treats of every- thing along mechanical lines, includ- ing flying machines), “Shop Notes,” which is on the order of The Scien- tific American, “American Boy,” “Youth’s Companion,” and “St. Nich- olas,” the last three being purely for amusement. In this list of first nam- ed periodicals almost every scientific subject is treated and it is by read- ing things of this kind that a boy often “finds himself;” by this I mean that in reading and studying along certain lines of usefulness, a boy will discover the calling that he is most fit for. I am of the opinion that one of the most difficult things for parents is to get boys started in life in the voca- tion best fitted for them. So often we hear men declare that their early years have been thrown away be- cause of starting out wrong. In the old days every one who could, went to college and studied the same things, read the same books and came out after four years prepared to be- come a doctor, lawyer or preacher and after trying one of the three vo- cations for a few years would discov- er that he was fitted to be a black- smith, farmer or railroad engineer. With the equipmen at our libraries and other institutions today it is pos- sible to avoid the mistakes of our forefathers. In speaking of the list of magazines for the young I did not intend to over- look the charming books of every description in this department. There are books on almost every subject a boy or a girl could possibly wish to take up ; if a boy wishes to study birds or animals, there are a dozen or more illustrated books on this sub- ject; if he wants to know how to build a boat, a house, a tent, or in fact anything a boy is interested in, there are Dan Beard’s splendid books which give minute descriptions of how to make them. There are also books of travel, history and fiction that delight the heart of the young and if the boys and girls who read this are not taking advantage of all this wealth of reading matter I am sorry for you. When I was a boy a good book was a luxury that one talk- ed about for days and it makes me almost envious now to see the splen- did profusion of books for the young almost thrust on them. It is hard to believe in view of the above that there are a lot of young people who never take advantage of our library, but there is possibly an excuse for some who do not avail themselves of this privilege; some do not go because they have never been before and have an idea that in order to get a book they have to show their ignorance of books in general; they do not know what to ask for and for a number of reasons have never started using the library. It is possi- ble that in some libraries a visitor may not feel at home but never in ours. If you want to find a book or magazine that will be of help in writing a composition on any sub- ject, all you have to do is to ask the librarians and they yvill do the rest; suppose you want to see what prog- ress is being made with flying ma- chines, they will load you down with all sorts of information on the sub- ject. In closing this paper, I would urge parents to take their children to Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 15 the library and let them get ac- quainted with the librarians so they will feel at home when they go there by themselves. The children’s room is just as attractive as it can be made and even if a child does not use the books he will enjoy visiting this beau- tiful room with lovely pictures, bird eggs, birds, butterflies, and lots of other interesting things. One of the saddest things one meets up with is that so many people have never formed the habit of reading and learn- ing to use useful information when they were young. Reading is a habit that is rarely acquired when one be- comes old. If these lines shall have the result of bringing one child to the acquaint- ance of the pleasures to be found in books, I shall feel repaid for what I have done. NATURE BOOKS. By Virginia B. Douglas. Little known but most attractive is that group of books in our library which deals with out-of-door life. A number of these books are wise- ly put in the children’s room, and it is hard to find more helpful summer reading; for they introduce the chil- dren into a new world — almost a dream-world in its marvelous beauty. Fancy itself can picture nothing stranger than many forms of animal and plant life; fishes that carry their own lanterns around with them to furnish light in the eternal darkness of their deep-sea homes; ants that live in regular cities and go to battle with other ant cities as disciplined armies under their chosen command- ers; beavers that build cunningly constructed houses and plaster them with their tails for trowels; birds that can fly straight home no manner how far away nor in what directions they have come; and so on through an al- most endless list of strange and won- derful things. Nor do these books tell only of great wonders of nature which are many miles away. The bird books and flower books, especially, aid us greatly in understanding and enjoying the woods and fields which lie imme- diately around us. And then, too, col- ored illustrations and accurate de- scriptions give almost a personal in- troduction to our wild neighbors. These books are by no means alike, but varied to suit the most divergent tastes. A natural history gives infor- mation to those seeking simply in- formation; Thompson Seton teaches the ways of the animals by introduc- ing us to individuals as characters are introduced in a novel; Old John Burroughs, scarcely less of a poet than a naturalist, shows us the beau- ties as well as the facts of nature; Mathews has reduced the songs of the well known birds to musical no- tation so that at home on the piano we can learn their calls; Blanchan and Reed have worked out sets of natural color plates by means of which we may recognize them at sight; Gibson’s “Eye Spy” is an ex- cursion into the homes of every-day insects; while Sir John Lubbock, the well known British scientist, shows the interwoven relations in wood life and the beautiful harmony existing throughout nature ; with numerous other authors treating the subject from various viewpoints and in vari- ous ways. Of course no amount of reading can take the place of a personal acquaint- ance with our neighbors of wood and field, but until one is able to bring to 16 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library the aid of personal observation at least a certain amount of knowledge of the subject, the great out-of-doors is almost too vast and intricate to be properly appreciated as a real friend and companion. SUNDAY SCHOOL HELPS. By N. L. Eure. In a few words I wish to call the attention of the Sunday School teach- ers and workers of the city to our public library as an aid to the study of the International Sunday School lessons. Most of our church denominations furnish excellent helps for such study and many of the teachers supply themselves with other useful litera- ture for the purpose, but I am quite certain that no Sunday School teacher in Greensboro has a Sunday School library that will compare favorably in all respects with that portion of the public library which may be used for the study and preparation of the Sun- day School lessons. In the public li- brary you can get the lessons in some short notes specially prepared for busy people or you can call to your aid many books and periodicals which will give you a comprehensive outline of the lessons and every phase and setting of them in detail. I am quite sure that it would be a considerable task to search out and name all the books and periodicals in this excellent library which may be found useful in the study of our Sunday School les- sons. A few of them, however, which I will name are — Peloubet’s Select Notes, Mrs. Tarbell’s Teacher’s Guide, the Sunday School Times, a compre- hensive commentary of the Bible, a Bible encyclopaedia illustrated, con- cordances and Bible dictionaries, the new Encyclopaedia Britannica and other reference works, missionary and temperance literature in abund- ance, history contemporary with sub- ject of lesson text, and many other books and works too numerous to mention. The public library is a fine place to visit. It is quiet and home-like, and you can hardly conceive of a more ideal place in which to prepare your lessons. If your subject is about missions you find quite Jiandy almost a complete missionary library which touches upon nearly every phase of missionary work. If your lesson is about temperance you have only to reach up and pull down the latest statistics on the subject, and if you desire the last word uttered on tem- perance the librarians, by their fine index system, are able to hand you the same at a moment’s notice. And in fact the public library has ample reading matter to fully enlighten you on all Sunday School lessons and sub- jects and on every phase of them. In entreat you to visit the library often and to study every side and aspect of it, and if you have not done so already, I am sure you will discov- er it to be one of Greensboro’s great- est and most useful institutions. MISSION STUDY. By J. T. J. Battle. Some time ago I was interested in looking up statistics in regard to mis- sions in the foreign fields, but soon found myself completely at sea for the want of literature along this line. Since the opening of the library here I had visited it, up to this time, very seldom. Thinking I might find some- thing to help me out I called and made my wants known to the libra- Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 11 rian. Very soon I was astonished and much gratified at the information fur- nished me, so I had at my finger tips what I had considered was out of my reach. That incident taught me to appre- ciate our library, and on many occa- sions since have I realized what a splendid collection of books we have, and what a mine of information is there waiting for our citizens’ use. I frankly admit I did not appreciate what we have here until driven to it, and doubtless many are now failing to take advantage of this opportunity because they have not investigated for themselves. The attention the library so cordial- ly extends to the patrons is calcula- ted to make us live longer, read more and digest it better. If any of our citizens are not visiting the library, they are missing many pleasant and elevating moments, as well as an op- portunity to add to their fund of knowledge. DOMESTIC SCIENCE. By M. D. A. Staples. A little homely shelf in our fast growing Public Library, that probably attracts as many old housekeepers as new and up-to-date ones, is that re- served for Domestic Science — and naturally so; has not one of Eng- land’s popular peers, poets, novelists, prose writers — Sir Lytton Bulwer — “Owen Meredith” — said, “One may live without poetry, music, art, con- science, ‘heart,’ friends, books, hope, ‘love,’ but where is the man that can live without ‘dining’?” Now, since “civilized man cannot live without cooks,” consider these shelves and be wise, dear Miss or Madam, for unto each of your lives, at some time or other, in some way or other, comes Prince Charming, the way into whose heart, we’ve been told, is through his creature comforts. Home making largely consists in the comforts of this life, even though they be, by no means, all of it! Some have naturally more ability than others, even on this line, domes- ticity — yet dear girls, think not the mantle of your mother’s ability will fall gracefully around you without be- ing prepared for it. Before the wed- ding day, read “Just for Two,” by Amelia Langdon, that you may keep house “so charmingly, home will be the greatest magnet to the other one.” Marion Harland’s comments, in be- tween the lines of her recipes, will stand reading aloud to “him” even, they are so intelligent and entertain- ing, whilst the “hints” themselves for “All over the House,” help to make the machinery of the household move on so smoothly! Here’s “Break- fast Dishes,” “Dinner Dishes,” “Des- serts,” “Luncheons,” “Cakes and Cookies.” Next is Olive Green’s “Everyday Dishes,” and the question answered “What to Have for Break- fast?” ’Tis the French, is it not, who say they can live on the waste of an American kitchen? That we have shown we need not be prodigal of re- sources, Mrs. Rorer shows in “Made Over Dishes,” “Every Day Menus,” and “Canning and Preserving.” For the utilization of the resources of modern science, to improve the home life, the ideal home life of to- day, unhampered by the traditions of the past, the simplicity in material surroundings which will most fill the spirit for the more important and permanent interests of the home and of society, what a compendium one 18 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library finds in the twelve volumes of “The Library of Home Economics,” includ- ing “The House,” by Bevier, “House- hold Bacteriology,” “Household Hy- giene,” “Chemistry of the Household,” “Principles of Cooking,” “Food and Dietetics,” “Household Management,” “Personal Hygiene,” “Home Care of the Sick,” “Textiles and Clothing,” “Study of Child Life” and “Care of Children.” Next is “Domestic Encyclopedia,” which speaks for itself. Then turn to the tables, and find those periodi- cals so dear to the womanly heart, “The Delineator,” “Woman’s Home Companion” and “Ladies’ Home Jour- nal” — a new joy for each month, and all the time! And last, but by no manner of means least, our own Normal Bulle- tin — The Domestic Science Number — by Miss Jamison. Illustrations show “Where Household Arts are Taught,” and “The Domestic Science Labora- tory.” Every woman in Greensboro, and of the “Old North State” for that matter, should read this charmingly written and instructive number of the Bulletin by this member of the Nor- mal faculty; it is certainly a compen- dium of every day, home usefulness, giving courses on Home and Hearth, Household Bacteriology, Food and Dietetics, Household Chemistry, Household Sanitation and Economics, Textiles, Serving, Dressmaking, Milli- nery, Household Decoration, Hygiene, Physiology, Physical Training, and oh! so many receipes for everything, all having been tested at the college. So much has home-making become a profession, it is now rated among the education correspondence courses, the bulletin of which you’ll find on the tables of the library. So great, they remind us has been industrial ^evolution, there has been as great a revolution! Factories now supply what the once over-burdened housewife was com- pelled to do; so that now the family of moderate means, may have the luxuries beyond the purse of the rich of long ago; may have, scientifically and hygienicially, planned, construct- ed and conducted homes from the least to the greatest! The center of national and social life is home — the center of home is woman! Put your heart into it, dear woman. Everything happens here that makes for the welfare of soul, mind, and body. The conditions of society are such that as yet, for every influence in the home, there are many outside, against that influence; but do your best, there all the honor lies, and “he that goeth forth, even with tears, sowing good seed shall, doubtless, come again, bearing his sheaves with him.” GENERAL REFERENCE WORK. By W. C. Jackson. An old teacher of mine was accus- tomed to tell his classes that college students were not expected to know very much, but they were expected to know where and how to find anything that they did want to know. The vast multiplication of knowledge — the ma- terials of minds — makes it impossible for even the most learned, to acquire but a meager part of it. This multi- plication of knowledge, and this de- mand of the student — in college or out — to know where and how he may find anything and everything that he might want, has produced the General Reference Work — the Department Store of Modern Literature. In a community such as ours, the Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 19 Reference Department of a Library should serve a greater variety of pa- trons than any other department. And the value of a library to the commun- ity can be determined in large meas- ure by the amount and character of the reference work that it does. It is to this department that all classes of workers come — ministers, teach- ers, lawyers, college students, club members, business men, school chil- dren. It is here that information can be secured on all kinds of subjects — History, Literature, Music, Art, Re- ligion, Government, Science. How is our own library equipped for this sort of work? First, always, come the Encyclopaedias. We have the very latest edition of the Brittan- ica, and the first edition of the New International was gotten right off the press. These are invaluable. In American History there is the Nation- al Cyclopaedia of American Biogra- phy, and the Making of America, be- sides many others. In Poetry there is the World’s Best Poetry, Bartlett’s Concordance to Shakespeare, and for general literature, Warner’s Library of the World’s Best Literature. Larned’s History for Ready Refer- ence and Topical Reading is very valuable. In Music and Art, there are Sir George Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Elson’s History of American Music, Lubke’s History of Art, and the files of music and art magazines. For Southern History and Litera- ture, there are, besides much other valuable material. The Library of Southern Literature, and The South in the Building of the Nation. The library has quite a large collec- tion of pamphlets which are of im- mense value in reference work. It also carries the unbound files of a number of magazines and newspa- pers. Then there are the Government Documents, Who’s Who, Who’s Who in America, the Statesman’s Year Book, Thomas’ Register of American Manufacturers, a number of valuable Almanacs — all indispensable to the seeker after general information. Special mention should be made of some of the works for the children: notably, Harper’s Encyclopedia of American History, Champlin’s Ency- clopedia, and a complete set of St. Nicholas — files for 37 years, well bound, with index. This set of St. Nicholas is especially fine. This of course does not purport to be anything like a complete list of the books in the Reference Depart- ment, but it will suffice to give some idea of the excellent equipment for the general worker. How good this equipment is may be attested to by large numbers of the citizens of Greensboro, especially those who have participated in. debates, who have had papers of various kinds to prepare at various times, and — per- haps the largest cloud of witnesses — the school children, who are always so heartily welcome. It may easily be seen that the liter- ary worker in Greensboro may find in his public library ample tools for the execution of his work. PROBLEM OF THE CLUB PAPERS. By Mrs. Gaston Ward. The average woman, with her pe- culiar domestic and social environ- ments, is generally at best, a desul- tory reader, and if she happen to be- long to a society or club, organized for any kind of study, where periodi- 20 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library cal papers are required of the mem- bers she will often find the work of securing material for the intelli- gent treatment of her subject a seri- ous matter. The themes usually selected for these monthly or semi-monthly papers range with lofty and majestic sweep through realms of science, art, his- tory, literature and what not, and the particular topic which has fallen to her may be one upon which a whole year’s work might be wisely bestowed and yet, within the hour, at a single meeting it must be discussed and dis- posed of, with time left for “tea and conversation.” The compounding of literary pellets so highly concentrated calls for skilled workmen and a labra- tory of the best equipment, and bring- ing to the task, as she perhaps does, small knowledge of the subject and smaller training in literary research her efforts will, without proper guid- ance, result in a needless waste of time and vain flounderings through a veritable slough of despond, in ran- dom search through miscellaneous volumes for the possession of a few main facts. Just here the helpfulness of a well- ordered library is self evident, and where access to such an one is pos- sible these difficulties are to a great extent removed. With the aid of en- cyclopedias, books, newspapers and magazines conveniently filed and in- dexed for rapid and accurate refer- ence the work of compiling, even where there is slight previous ac- quaintance with the subject, may be so systematized as to become at once interesting and comparatively easy to the untrained, as well as the more practiced writer. AIDS FOR ART STUDENTS. By Isabella Swaim. Just prior to the opening of the Greensboro Public Library the Greens- boro Art Club was organized, and the charter members have cause to re- member their doubtful achievement of mapping out a year’s course of study with no helps other than the encyclopaedia and the “Art Inter- change.” Since the establishment of the li- brary the student now has access to a number of the best text-books on art, including Lubke’s “History of Art,” John Van Dyck’s “History of Art,” twelve hand-books on art by Estelle Hurll, hand-books on German, Dutch and Flemish painting, “Schools and Masters in Painting and Sculp- ture,” by Radcliffe, and a “Manual of Historic Ornament.” Ruskin’s “Mod- ern Painters” is to be found on the shelves, and two excellent works on Modern Mural Painting. Also “Twelve American Painters” by Chas. Caffin, one of the foremost American art critics. “Women Painters of the World” is a handsome volume contributed by one of the library’s friends. One of the most beautiful and valu- able books is “Nineteenth Century Art,” by D. S. MacColl, its many il- lustrations being reproductions of the paintings exhibited at the Internation- al Exhibition held at Glasgow in 1901. It will be especially helpful to those studying modern British art. Each month the “International Stu- dio” with its exquisite color-plates, and that most attractive magazine, the “Craftsman,” are to be found in the reading room. These two period- icals treat almost exclusively of mod- ern art. The back numbers of both. Vacation Visits to Our Public Library 21 together with “Masters in Art” are kept on file and are a constant source of pleasure and information. In studying the history of art it is very necessary to see pictures per- taining to the subject in hand, for the most vivid description of a mas- terpiece does not make the clear and lasting impression on the mind that even a small and imperfect reproduc- tion of the picture does. So, it is to the magazine illustra- tions as well as to the other helps to be found at the Public Library, that our students of art history owe much of their knowledge of the world’s art. For this reason alone accessibility to the many indexed magazines, the clubs making a study of art prefer to hold their meetings at the library rather than in the homes of the mem- bers. From time to time the art organi- zations of the city have held free ex- hibitions of American art in the as- sembly room of the library. This at- tractive and well-lighted room, with its good wall-space and central loca- tion, is probably better suited to this purpose than any other in the city. SERVICE FOR DEBATES. By A. M. Scales. Few exercises of the school or col- lege are more useful than those of the debating society. These exercises require original work on the part of the student and broaden and strength- en the mind to a far greater extent than the ordinary study of books and recital of lessons. The work of the debating society has proven its value throughout an experience of many years and now the practice of deba- ting among students has extended so that not only are these debates held among the students of our colleges, and of other colleges, but they are held with great profit in high schools, preparatory schools of all kinds and even in the lower grades of the gra- ded and private schools. While the work of debating is large- ly original, yet the student must have facts and materials to use, which he cannot get out of his own mind and which he can rarely get in the home library. As a consequence of this most of them have been driven to the writing of letters to their friends and to men in public life, asking for sug- gestions, facts, materials and assist- ance of one kind and other. With the rapid spread, however, of the free libary such means of securing as- sistance are becoming less and less necessary, and in our own city there is no excuse for any student to seek aid anywhere outside of the Greens- boro Public Library. The writer had occasion some time ago to examine into the ways the li- brary was prepared to meet these real demands of the pupils of our schools and colleges and was much pleased to find that the library, although not as fully equipped as its librarians hope it will be, is ready to meet every such demand and the material on hand was found to be excellent and the ease with which this material can be found is greatly to be com- mended. In addition to the regular system, which enables one to find various articles in magazines, the li- brarians prepare a special index to magazines and periodicals which is of great assistance to all who desire to get facts for a debate. In addition to these there are books dealing di- rectly with the subject and books taking up those subjects which are commonly debated in our country, 22 Vacation Visits to Our Public Library and giving much useful aid and many valuable suggestions. As our schools are about to open, the writer would advise all who are assigned to debate to visit the library and ask the librarians for the assist- ance needed. The librarians are anxious at all times to make the li- brary of the greatest service to the city and to make it, what indeed it is, a very important part of our system of public education. THE LIBRARY AS A CIVIC CENTER By R. C. Hood. The Greensboro Public Library has been of great value and inspiration to local organizations working for the improvement of civic conditions. In addition to the splendid collec- tion of reading matter bearing on many of these lines, the Assembly Hall has afforded excellent facilities for the meetings of organized bodies, as well as for the holding of special lectures, such as those by Professor Hammel to the boys on matters elec- trical; by Mr. Enos A. Mills, on For- estry; by Prof. Gilbert Pearson, on Bird Life; by Professor Wyche, on the work of Joel Chandler Harris; by Dr. S. B. Weeks and Prof. W. C. Smith, on North Carolina history; by Dr. H. W. Smith and Prof. W. C. Jack- son on literature; by Dr. Shepperd, on Robert E. Lee; by State Geologist Pratt on North Carolina minerals; and for the Story Hour entertainment by various ladies; the Art Loan Ex- hibitions; and the Boys’ Exhibition of articles collected and constructed by the boys of Greensboro. This lat- ter was particularly notable in this community and surprising yet agree- able in its results. It indicated very clearly the possible productiveness of youth along practical lines, where in- centive and encouragement are given. This, as well as some others, should by all means become a regular fea- ture and be held annually. In the library auditorium have been held the first or organization meet- ings of such bodies as the Civic League, the Woman’s Club, the Play Ground Association, After School Club, Anti-Tuberculosis Association, the Arts and Crafts Guild; and is considered the home and meeting place of these, as well as the G. F. and Normal local Alumnae Associa- tions, and the Guilford County Histor- ical Association (which keeps its col- lection there), the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Confederacy, the W. C. T. U. ; and also contains the Loan Library of the County Medical Association. The rooms are open to such organiza- tions without any charge whatever, and to all is given the most interested cooperation by those in charge.