FREE LENDING LIBRARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 271, 17 November 1887, Page 8

FREE LENDING LIBRARY.

TWO THOUSAND VOLUMES TO

BE SELECTED,

DR. LAISHLEY ASKED TO SUPERVISE SELECTION, AND TO

CHOOSE TWO COADJUTORS.

VIEWS OF THE CHIEF SELECTOR,

The following correspondence has passed between the Town Clerk and Dr. Laishley re the choice of 2000 books as the nucleus of a Lending Library in connec tion with the Free Public Library :— November 3rd, 1887.

Dr. Richard Laishley,

Dkar Sir,—The Library Committee of the City Council are authorised to select and place before the Council a list of 2,000 books suitable for the Lending Library. Tho names of 2,900 books have been selected by the Committee. At a meeting yesterday of the Committee it was resolved to ask you to revise this list and to assist you, to ask that, you associate with yourself two or three gentlemen conversant with the requirements of a Lending Library. If you accept this position please inform me at yoiir early convenience, and I will furnish you with the listcompiled by the Committee. The result of your labours will be considered by the Committee before being submitted to the Council.—l remain etc., I. A. , Philips, Town Clerk."

" Read not to contradict, nor to believe, but weigh and consider. Some books aro to be tasted, others to be swallowed, some few to bo chewed and digested."—" Bacon."

To the Town Clerk, Auckland.

Parnell, November 16, 1887. Dear Sir, —In answer to your letter of the 3rd inst., I reply that in view of the importance of the work I am willing to act, but only on certain lines. I, therefore, submit them. For acting, virtually means assisting to mould the character of the community 11)', by aiding to scatter seeds which must produce plentiful crops either of happiness or misery. In inaugurating a book-lending era, regard to sound principles of selection is primarily material, choice in detail being subsidiary. It is only thus that readers can be led " not only to the verge, but into the heart of the promised land." The ■principle consideration is most important ; because the atmosphere of the colony has become demoralized, and sound views are so ignored, and therefore the road to ruin is being so surely trodden, that counteracting influences are, indeed, urgently needed. In fact " laxity of principle ... is now too common to be scandalous," and a man is " no_ more taunted with it than he is taunted with being black at Timbuctoo." Intellectually, too, I fear the New Zealand mind is not only not marching, nor even marking time, but sadly awry in respect of main axioms. A general malaise prevails—to say nothing of Sauntering having become a Sultana-Queen. Ib needs no prophet to predict the digasters to individuals which must result from the exaltation oi dishonesty, trickery, selfishness, envy and drift. So in politics, what can be more ruinous to New Zealand, or degrading to a statesman (2) (shades of Hampden and Chatham what a. misnomer) than for a representative to act not only as a mere machine, according to orders, but as a traitor to the state by voting for what he well knows is unprincipled, or otherwise unwise, simply because he fears that foolish bug-bear—.public opinion of the hour (3) —or incontinently hungers for office? Or

(1) " Literature is one of those instruments, and most powerful instrumonts, for forming character, for giving us men and w omen armed ■with reason, braced by knowledge, clothed with steadfastness and courage, and inspii ed by that public spirit and virtue, of which it has been well said that they are the highest ornaments of the mind of man."—" The Study of Literature " by Right Hon. J. Morley, M P.. "P.M. Budget,: , March 31st, 1887 Fpr opinions on "Books Which Have Influenced Me, by J. Ruskin, vide " Pall Mall Budget," June 16,1887; by W. Besant, " P.M.8.", June 30,1887.

what more ridiculous than to hem , politicians who have brought disaster and niiaery upon the colony spoken of as able men, and \hoiv absence from the Houso mourned | over? {4)Trtily " raiicfl »npiontiare£iUir mun« Sue." "The i'act.-; are ignored— that any goal gained by wrong id dearly won, that falsehood in word or deed is no match for truth, and that "habits of dissimulation and falsehood should mark :i man . . . . as utterly worthless and abandoned," that to be selfish is not only to do evil but to be short-sighted,fchatjenvy is merely the homage which failure pays to success, that, drifting j means ultimately shipwreck, tliafc states-1 ma'nship consists in knowing what arc i/ottnd | principles,and— public favour j -'•applying them wisely, in order to aim at I the Baconian end of multiplying human j enjoyments and mitigating human sufferings, that ability consists in tho power to j carry through a situation to a satisfactory: result, and that, wise men should "always bo inclined to look with grave KU-spioion ou the angel? and demon." of tho multitude." Moreover, .such facts arc ignored, regardless of tho circumstance that there is nothing so dangerous as to disregard facts, and that they take terrible revenge upon those who slight them. Thus the, public, indeed, needs educating- (5); and in view of no disciplinary home influences, no religion, (6) morale, or principles of political economy or law taught in our school (to say nothing oi: the grave state education orrors), and of the comparatively insignificant influence and inconsistent teachings of the Protestant pulpit, it is in wisely selected literature the much needed moral and mental education must be mainly sought. For if the literature be nnwindy selected to expect any reformation would be hopeless as to attempt to whitewash an Ethiopian by giving him a new coat of blacking. Education principally consists not in factlore inculcated, but in influence. Therefore, it is all-important in selecting books for circulation that —the most subtle and important of influences—the tone, bo such as will tend to produce wisdom (wise-doom) sound principles and prudent action. Then, having laid the base-work discreetly, let facts—and especially technical infonnation(7)—and healthful recreation follow. Assuming the well-being of the human race to be the end of " knowledge," my prevailing idea is that what is primarily needed—especially hero just now is that sound principles of life-success, including, of course political economy be placed before the public, and tho teachings of history (8) we experience. They would induce the community to think and not to applaud specious verbiage,*nor have an unpalatable truth, nor accept assertion for demonstration, nor despise calm, moderate men " who shun extremes ;> and " who render reasons."

Throughout life it is the plain leaden casket which contains the treasure ; although in selecting books it is, at the same time, wise to remember, as a warning , , that that poor criminal who rashly chose the writings of Guiccardine in preference to the galleys,, repented on reaching the wall of Pisa. Of poetry, it should nob be forgotten that not (inly docs it make man witty, but that Mr Matthew Arnold has said that fcho power of English literature is in the poets. (9) In respect of recreative reading, 1 decline to be a party to selecting works simply because they aro popular. I should choose not necessarily, what will, but what onijht to please. First children ought to be taught not merely how to read but what to read ; so adult taste should bo moulded, were needs be—not nocewearily indulged. For instance, the tendency of that popular novel " Nadine," even although written by a woman, (Mrs Campbell Prnecf), is so demoralising that 1 deem it to bo ruinous to a young girl to read it. So with "The Romance of the Nineteenth Century," notwithstanding its author has written " Is Life Worth Living." Even Miss Kraddon's works) aro excluded from somo public libraries, for instance "The Canterbury (England) Museum Library." Of how many of the popular novels now-a-days may we say, "how foolish it is to leave the deadly toting, and exercise the warning rattle." Seduction is not necessarily physical. Everything which loosens the moral fibre demoralises. Everything that demoralises degrades. Degradation means ultimate 'rufn, both to Stato and individual. The difference betweon impure fiction and pure fiction is is "as great as the difference between the atmosphere of a perfumer's shop foetid with lavender water and jasmine eoap/and the air of a heat on a line morning in May." As a sequel to the very interesting discussion in the " Pall Mall Gazette," on the books which ought to be rend, and thostatisticsof books most frequently borrowed from English public libraries. " The New York Critic" has just published similar data relating to the United States. (12) The immense leads of E. P. Roe and Dickens (all other authors comparatively nowhere) are significant ; and the fact afl regards Dickens, is striking testimony to the charm and virtue of his writings for recreative reading. For to slightly alter Dr. Johnson— " That pleases many, and pleases long, must possess great merit. t/t I may add that the yearly tabular statements in "The Publisher's Circular" are interesting as showing the relative numbers of different classes of works published, which, on the principle of supply following demand, afford a fair guago of public opinion, and for a mass of valuable facts and figures relating to public libraries, excuse me commending to your notice "The Public Libraries," by T. Greenwood (Simpkins and Co., London, 1886), "The Best Reading," by A. B.j Perkins, 8 vol., 1877 published in New York, "The Choico of Books and Literary Pieces " (14) by F. Harrison (Macmillan 1886) and " The English Catalogue" (Sampson Son and Co. London (15).

It is but right that I add respecting works on theology, that to increase a love of Christianity, and to avoid spreading infidelity, orthodox (16) works, equally with heterodox, should be selected only after mosb careful investigation. For I fear the main creators and fosterers of scepticism have been the Protestant teachers of what, has been popularly (but as I, with great diffidence venture- to think erroneously) preached as Christianity. And to a thinkor I am inclined to believe that infidel writings are harmless in comparison with the revolt of reason against the orthodox announcement of, say, a Miltonic Hell, or a material Paradise (?). If you still think I can be of some service, I will do what little good I can, and will ask some gentlemen to co-operate. But I assume that you will not expect all of the 2,000 volumes, necessarily, to be selected, if it appear unwise to do so.

On the other hand, if you decide to ask some one to act in my place—whose views you prefer—l siia'l oh that ground be sorry for the State, but for personal reasons more than content.

" We scatter seeds with careless hand, And dream we ne'er shall see them more ; But for a thousand years Their fruit appears In weeds that mow the land, Or healthful store." R. Laishley, L.L.D. &c, &c.

(2) ".The world ia wearied|of Statesmen whom democracy has degraded into politicians."—Disraeli "Lothair". 1870 Ed ,p 70. (3) It would bo well for auch representatives to study the remarks of Prince Bismarck on the fleeting nature of popularity report ed in " Pall Mall Budget." March 17th, 1887, as the remarks of the one man in Europe, save Alexander 111., " who knows his own mind, who is mnstc In his own house.and who is absolutely fearless in the discharge of what he considers to be his duty, whether at home or abroad." What J. R. Lowell has written is, of course, worth remembering—" He's a slave who daros not be in the right with two or three." ft) Possibly the mourners consider the tangi justified by thinking that their particular idols acted on the principle—

" I am in this earthly world : whereto dofana Is o'ton laudable; to do «°°V?.iwi ActlV Accounted dangerous fol!y."~Macbelli, Aα i v., of ''^'ti?.K a nro C m and the objects of miding am, of t< : » «ron education, see Address on la° tol < uu * Oi slow in sinking but It brings dorni all« " The next stew in de-Chrlstiamsu« the PO'" life of nation* is to ostabl alma ion 11 cdi oatton ■without Christiuniiy."~JMsraelt, LoUiau. mv. K ?7) f{ Xote the report of the Uoyal Commission on Trade.Depro..'l-ioii. . , _~M v w iftv <8) Histories make men wise : poete, witty , the mathematics, subtle;, nrturafphlWo to deep; morals, grave; logic and rhetoric, aDli io C TfcSoh']cbi y citeonthebes.. U ovcl,. see •' Pall Mall Budget," April 21.1887. <10) " Morality is deeply interested u> tins-thnt wbuti» immoral shall not be PMRentod to . ttte hnagnatiou of the young and au-v.eUbio m constant connection with what is attractive. Sec, &<j. -Maoaiilay. Essay on Comlo Dramatists of"tlio restoration E>sav ltSSb, i>. **.>. (1U V»fe °'Pall Mall Wt," i»IJ ruury. 13H6-The addrcHalhiH ycarut. Mannumber of limes curtain books ougtit to bo reaa, authors of the day by the 6 leading circulating libraries of Philadelphia, whoro oO IHJi cent-■ or the books in dci>iand are novels. D ' < *"" B stnnris first.-" P.M. Bud B efc", February 4.188b. 13. Xhc most lopulav book in America is Bon Ilur." For the opinion in France rcapeclmff Dickon's works, where, after (perhaps) Uncle Tom's Cabiu," their P?,Ptt lftri {y i - B ISL dB _ 1 S rt " mier.seo "P. M. Budget." March W.m.Pi9. 1H Vor the. notice of this work sec Fall Wall Budget." March 3rd. 1887." (IS) The result and unalvsis of the, Plebiseet to name the 46 living Englishmen who should first received tmmortality" if an Academy of cttere on the French model were lo be established in loud will be found in "Pα) Mat) Bofleeg March 3rd, 1807: I see ah.o there Mr lainee opinion ut it. For the judgment of foreign countries on " The World's Jnunortala, hoc " I'nll Mall Budget," March 17Ui. 1887.-L. (16) "What is called orthodox has very little to do with religion ; and a person may be very religious without holding the same dogmas as yourself, or, as some think, without holding any." DisRAEU. " Loudin " 1870, Ed. p. 162. (17i Mr F. Harrison, in an address to the Positioiiist body in January last, said ••humanity was becoming more, and Paradise and hell less, tho motive of human conduct.