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The Story of a Personal Worker.
(Continued from Page 2.)
training in the classification and cataloging of books,
to which the morning work is devoted, while during
the afternoons they use the library itself as a sort
of “laboratory ” in which to apply what they
have learned. Because of the obvious impossibility
of permitting the students to monopolize the library
facilities, their number is restricted to ten or
twelve at the utmost. The Pratt Library was the
first to establish a training school of this sort, and
its uses are manifold, both for the general public
and for the individual. In the South graduates
are required to write a thesis on the organization,
management and systematization of a library as
most Southern graduates from library schools are
required to assume charge of a smaller library, rath
er than to be merely an assistant, as in the north
and west, where trained librarians are more numer
ous.
The Technological Library.
In connection with the subject of library needs
and facilities in the 'South, and, more especially,
in Atlanta, Miss Hammond, the capable librarian
at the Georgia School of Technology, spoke of the
value of the library at that institution; of the fact
that often as many as 200 students were present
in the library at one time, and that while there
were only 3,500 volumes now in use, it was hoped
that, with the completion of the handsome new build
ing, donated by Mr. Carnegie, this number
would be increased and the usefulness of the library
consequently extended.
Mrs. Heard’s Traveling Libraries.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the Edu
cation meeting which we have been considering,
was the presence of Mrs. Eugene Heard, of Middle
ton, Ga., and her story of the wonderful system
of “ traveling libraries” which she has founded,
and which is now recognized as one of the greatest
educational features in the entire South. Only
space forbids our using in full Mrs. Heard’s own
story of her wonderful work. She said, in effect,
however, that the first thought which animated
her to begin a system of sending books from town
to town throughout the rural districts, was her own
early need for reading matter, when, as a young
married woman, she left her father’s well-stocked
library and went to live 35 miles from a railroad,
where even the mail facilities were of so poo»r a
character that a new book was an unknown luxury.
She began by first lending her own small store of
accumulated volumes and finding the urgent need
evidenced by the people of the various towns, she
managed to increase the number of books by private
donations, as well as by her own contributibns,
when, suddenly, she was faced by the problem of
transportation. This was met, however, by the
management of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad,
which road was doing some circulating of books in
a small way itself, and which, on hearing of Mrs.
Heard’s enterprise, offered to combine forces with
her, and to transport all books over its lines free
of charge. This was eighteen years ago, and to
day there are in circulation 150 school libraries
and thirty “community” libraries, consisting of
about 8,000 books in all. The area covered includes
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, and Florida, and the demand for these
libraries is constant and urgent.
Method of Circulation Employed.
It was, of course, difficult to arrange a method
by which the books could be circulated, insuring
their proper care as well as the appropriate dispo
sition of them. This problem was met by requiring
each community desiring the use of a library to
make an application which should be signed by twen
ty to thirty representative citizens who are required
to form themselves into a Village Improvement
Society; while applications for a school library must
be signed by the teachers and board of trustees of
the different schools. These applications provide for
a three months’ use of the books, but an extension
of this time has been had.
Class of Books Used.
The Community Libraries consist of about fifteen
per cent fiction, with the remaining books devoted
to history, biography, art; in a miniature li-
The Golden Age for February 7, 1907.
brary with books as diversified as possible. Always,
however, Mrs. Heard declares she includes a good
cook book, and she says Marion Harland is used
perhaps more than any other one volume!
The School Libraries consist of volumes on Child
Study, Nature Study, History, Biography and Peda
gogy—the latter being especially valuable, while
aU the books are read, and, in many cases, special
parts carefully copied.
Recently there has been added a series of lec
tures to the Community Libraries which bring the
words of the best speakers of the country into the
remotest districts, even though their voices may be
silent.
Contributions for this work come from all sources
»—Mr. Carnegie has helped in the good work—
and, on one occasion, when Mrs. Heard had spent
about eight months preparing a list of books to be
filled by Charles Scribner and Sons, New York,
Mr. Scribner himself became so much interested,
and impressed when he saw the list, that, after
making inquiry as to its source and use, he asked
permission to donate seventy-five of the finest books
to the “traveling library.”
One of the favorite books in use in this library
is “ Optimism,” by Helen Keller, our American
prodigy, who thus disseminates her beautiful phil
osophy to all the world and into homes that most
need her words of cheer and hope.
In addition to the lending of books, Mrs. Heard
is endeavoring to aid “Village Improvement Socie
ties,” and “School Beautifying Clubs,” by send
ing seeds for planting, and also by suggesting plans
for landscape gardening with which communities
and individuals may beautify their surroundings.
“Giving Heart, Soul and Self.”
Mrs. Heard says that ihe secret of her success
in this work, which entails not a cent of financial
obligation on her beneficiaries, is that in all the
years she has labored, she has given of herself,
putting her heart and soul into her work, and mak
ing an offering of her energy, and tireless desire
to serve her kind. She insists that those who make
donations to her libraries shall select the books
themselves, and thus pass on to others, not only
the material benefit to be gained from good litera
ture, but the less obvious, though not k®s a.ctual,
gain of participating in an unselfish effort for the
betterment of the world.
The Atlanta Woman’s Club has always given
Mrs. Heard every possible support and encourage
ment, and its influence, both ethical and practical,
must have been a factor in the wonderful success
which has attended her great work.
Track Through the Bible.
(Continued from Page 6.)
proach through the mediation of the priestly ser
vice, separated in all the details of life, were, by
God, consecrated to himself.
The foremost place was given to the Sabbath.
It was a perpetually recurring feast, to be observed
throughout all the year, on every seventh day.
Following this we have the appointment of the
set feasts in their relation to times and seasons,
and the passing of the year. Thus all time measure
ments were related to eternal truth. The first feast
was the Passover, which merged into that of unleav
ened bread. With these the year commenced. The
feast of the first fruits was appointed for the land
into which God would bring them. Marking the be
ginning of possession, it served as a constant re
minder of the truth that all they had was the result
of his giving rather than of their getting.
After a lapse of seven full weeks, during
the whole harvest was gathered, the feast of harvest
was observed, and Pentecost reminded them that
all they needed was provided by Jehovah. The sev
enth month was the most sacred of all. Therein
two great ordinances were observed; the day of
atonement, and the feast of tabernacles. Preceding
these, and preparing for them, came the feast of
trumpets. This was held on the first day of the
month. Its characteristic notes were rest, and
proclamation of the will of GoGd. The tenth day of
the month was the great day of atonement, which has
already been described. The last feast of the year
was that of tabernacles. It was observed after all
the work was completed, and the results thereof
gathered. For seven days the people dwelt in
booths, and heard the reading of the law. The
section ends with instructions concerning the sym
bols of consecration, those, namely, of the oil’and
the shewbread.
E. RATIFICATION: THE SIGNS.
The laws of ratification consisted of the outward
signs to be observed in the land of the principle
of possession, together with solemn promises and
warnings. The first sign was of the SabbatK of
the land. In the seventh year of rest, the original
Ownership of God was recognized. The second
sign was that of the jubilee, wherein great human
inter-relationships, dependent upon the fact of di
vine possession, were insisted upon.
The laws of the year of jubilee affected the land,
dwelling-houses, and persons. In these the foun
dations of the social order were firmly laid. All
inter-human relationships, both of person and prop
erty, were conditioned in the fundamental relation
ship of the people to God.
The book ends with a section dealing with vows.
The principle laid down is that it is not necessary
that vows should be made, but that if they are
made, they must be religiously observed.
Invictus.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
—W. E. Henley.
Franklin’s Simplified Spelling.
(From a Letter by Benjamin Franklin.)
A gentleman once received a letter in which
were these words:
“Not finding Brown at horn, I delivered your
meseg to his yf. ”
The gentleman finding it bad spelling, and there
fore not being very intelligible, called his lady to
help him read it. Between them they picked out
the meaning of all but the “yf,” which they could
not understand. The lady proposed calling her
chambermaid. “Because Betty,” says she, “has
the best knack of reading bad spelling of any one I
know.”
Betty came, and was surprised that neither sir
nor madam could te’l what “yf” was.
“Why,” says she, “yf spells wife; what else can
it spell?”
And indeed it is a much better as well as shorter
method of spelling wife than doubleyou, i, f, e,
which in reality spells doubleyifey.
Merely Sounded Generous.
“And what were the provisions of your uncle’s
will?”
“That I should have all he left after the pay
ment of his just debts.”
“Ah! very good of the old man, wasn’t it? What
did he leave?”
“Just debts!”—Judy.
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