THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21329, 23 November 1934, Page 20

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

TO IHE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir,—There is always a gloomy lot who cannot see clearly on account of the shadow of hopelessness in which they move. In fact, they maintain that man will always be cruel and selfish because he, as the leopard. cannot change his own nature. In order to prove that their gloom has no foundation f wish to bring forward an example of what human institutions are going to be like in future; namely, as the reflexion of a spiritual nature. .This institution is housed in a rather humble and unostentatious building, pleasing to look at, and in the shadow of a beautiful product of nature. No man or woman ever stepped within its door without feeling the better for it, and no one was ever rejected on account of his creeds, cast, sex, race, or colour, because its motto is "service." Within, there are no front or back pews, but only chairs, and like the famous round table of King Arthur and his noble knights, no seat can claim precedence over another. However, no bed is provided for sleeping beauties. There is no ominous sound of a raucous voice to remind one that he or she is born in sin. but rather the silent, assurance that CJod is in His heaven and all is well with the world, because in its shelves are to be found the solution of all our troubles. In the same shelves the shadows of Colonel Ingersoll and Tom Payne rest in peace beside those of the most rabid fundamentalists, just agreeing to disagree. Also there is no ominous sound of collection boxes, and iO books are stolen the precept is to return good for evil by replacing them. Silence reigns supreme except for the occasional sounds of very light footsteps of some ministering Angel, in blue overalls, just attending to the garguantan voracity of those souls hungering .for knowledge and wisdom. But. r was lately attracted by a notice at the door notifying us that old age pensioners can borrow books for a whole year for the humble sum of as. Unfortunately, we in. New Zealand will never be accused of being generous towards our old people, because we just give them enough to make a show of generosity, but let them starve. My suggestion is for all generous people in Christchurch to help our old people by adopting one or very many by paying for them their yearly subscription of ss. How many will answer my appeal? I feel sure Mr Bell will, m due course, let them know the name and address of the beneficiary, for we must never forget that ominous fact that the only real thing that we shall hold in our rigid hands when dead will be those things that we have given away.—Yours, etc COUNT BALSAMO CAGLIOSTRO November 22, 1934.