CJ^ii
Union
4XMEP
Voi. V1.-N0.12.
RALEIGH, N. C, MARCH 21, 1912.
One Dollar a Year.
Books for Farmers, or Traveling Libraries
By Miss Minnie W. Leatherman. Secretary N. C. Library Commission
Country life has charms and advantages all
"wn but children in the country, and the grown- I I I 7 ^
'IPS likewise, are thrown almost entirely upon l-T t ^ 1
their own resources for amusement and employ ' children. When the
P^ent. Public libraries, with their wealth of
Poks and periodicals, and many other educa-
/onal advantages are lacking. The winter even
ts are long and the daily or weekly papers do
Pot occupy all the spare moments until bed-time;
PPd there are stormy days when the regular work
Pst stop. The almanac is read over and over
Pgain until every member of the family knows it
y heart. Trade catalogues are read just as thor-
Ppghly. Can there be any place where the right
of a book will prove more valuable than in a
^ Pier’s home? It brings recreation, information
^ ^ inspiring views of life; and a succession of
^h books well read will develop better morals,
“ett,
proper application had been filed, a library would
be sent to a country school, to a small village, or
to a farming community. There it would remain
for three months, or six months, if desired, and
then it would be returned to the Library Commis
sion office. Another library, containing a differ
ent collection of books, w'ould be sent to take its
place, and it in turn would be sent to another
community.
The libraries so loaned would be kept in the
most convenient public place—school-house, post-
office, or store—probably in private homes in some
instances. There would be few restrictions con
nected with their loan. The borrowers would sign
WHAT THE UNION FARMER SHOULD DO.
Greater in Niimlicr Than Ever in Its History Far
mers’ Union, Says Rarrett, Points One of the
er character and a better citizenship.
^ New York was the first State to realize the im
port
Pnce of sending books into the open country
to fievi.se a gcbeme whereby the farmer and
^ farmer’s family could have access to free
^ Pks. In 1892 the New York Legislature made
g ^hpcial appropriation for a new system of library
Uo t'^hich was so simple, practical, and eco-
^^PPiical that it was immediately successful. A
iiiber of small libraries, containing from fifty
*Uit°^^ volumes each, were arranged in
and loaned to villages, to schools
itii communities for six months. These
1. boxes of books soon became known as
''Pveling libraries.”
®*^Ptes soon followed the example of New
Pctiv traveling library systems are in
^^nio^ operation in at least thirty States of the
li-av^r blessings resulting from the use of
Pens^ libraries have been so great and the ex-
has ^ comparatively, that the movement
quickly won the approval of the farmers in
an application agreeing to pay the freight both
ways, to see that the books were properly cared
for, and to lend them without charge to all re
sponsible persons in the community. In addition
to the fixed groups there would be debate libra
ries, study club libraries and libraries on special
topics. In short, the traveling library would give
to the people who live in villages and on farms
the same opportunities for reading, for pleasure,
for self-improvement and for information as are
now enjoyed by the citizens of Charlotte, Greens
boro, or Raleigh.
The right sort of books help us to live happy
and useful lives. They enlarge knowledge of the
world of nature and of man. We cannot know
personally all the great men and women of our
time, but we may, through books, know most in
timately the great people of all times. Having a
good book in the home means bringing interesting
people to the home circle—fireside visits with in
spiring leaders; fireside travels through the wide
world; words of advice from people who have
done successfully the very thing we are trying to
Most Significant Tendencies in American Life
Today—To Perpetuate Their Astounding Power
For Upbuilding and Self-lielp, Members Must
Lollow Certain Genei'al Principles.
q’o the Officers and Members of the Farmers’
Union:
To my mind, one of the most significant facts in
current American history is that the Farmers’
Union is today greater in membership than at any
period since its founding. The producer in this
country is at last awakened to the necessity of or
ganization. What this means in the agricultural,
the economic and the political life of the nation
is not easily estimated.
From reports made me by State officials, and
from my recent travels which have embraced vir
tually every State organized, I find more money in
the State treasuries and a greater paid up member
ship than ever before. The membership include
residents of three-fourths of the States, and far
mers of every grade, from the one-horse variety
on up to the very wealthy individual. Through
out the rank and file there is a new attitude to
ward the interests of the farmer, a new loyalty
toward co-operation and an aggressiveness that is
new in American organization.
It is essential, however, if the organization is
to remain at top-notch in numbers and efficiency
that both officers and members bear in mind and
practice certain principles. One of the first, is
the exercise of due care in the matter of leader
ship. The Farmers’ Union, like any other great
body, whether religious, civic or otherwise, has its
rascals, its lukewarm brethren, its hypocrites and
its snakes in the grass. We are" gradually shak
ing them out of the organization, and there are
fewer in now than at ny time. But the fight to
keep down this element must be an eternal one,
if the organization is to succeed, permanently!
Farmers’ organizations have, heretofore, made
^Ver Q appiuvai oi me larn
spao! . ® There is not I , ,, , , ' ^ ^ - i r armers' organizations have, heretofore marto
C-, "■ '-‘ances where In- houee-heeplng, teaching, or sell- ; pitiful sca^ltv o
tamllv ... .... I ■“« merchandise. But the traveling llhrarv is of | really understand ,1^
’^Nght^ ' family and community life has been
quickened by the wholesome and
iiooks that have found their way to
file tr.^ ^°aies and i.:;olated hamlets by means of
traveling library.
Carolina is an agricultural State, the i .a, . , ,,
'ft majoritv . I work well.
3.11(1 for ^ people live in the country
^Hoks most part do not have access to good
^'ferau would appreciate and enjoy good
^^rgerT^.^^ much as the people of the cities and
dut State, and is it not as much
f'tipui^ir North Carolina to provide her rural
'^^I’Sey f'^ifii books as it is of New York, New
X,.’ ^ffffmky, Tennessee,^ or Virginia?
Ij Libiaiy Systeiii in North Carolina.
traveling libraries were inaugu-
f’lce of 4.U Carolina there would be at the ser-
booUo £^rmers of the State hundreds of boxes
most value, perhaps, to the young people and chil- farmer and who 7 7 understand the
dren of the family. It furnishes books whir-h will secon p ace, were willing
dren of the family. It furnishes books which will
interest the young, induce to habits of reading,
form high ideals, and give a proper conception of
the value of the farmer’s work and how to do
"It is just as much the duty of
the home to feed the mind of a child as to feed
and ready to make sacrifices for him; in other
words, were willing to pay the price.
It is not sufficient that a leader be an excellent
business man or brainy, as that word is generally
understood. I can point you to plenty of ordinar
ily able men, brilliant men, in fact, who would
its body; to select what is to be read as to select make an ab,ninf« r -i
what is to be eaten; to provide good books as good movement Thp i ^ heading a farmers’
Clothing. . . Good books, and only good books gTniruo^' H IT
ought to be within the reach of every child.” inpiufUnir ’> • ^ means its various branches.
These are the functions of the traveling library, stand readyToTemust
and these are some of the advantages which an by the brpthrpn dragged out
efficient system would give to the farmers of North back n-nin o ,
back again and serve them humbly. He must put
Carolina.
We cannot live among men, suspicious of our
Each bov''^ uunureus oi Doxes | own interest and fighting for our own hand with-
OX would be a miniature library, out dishonor and hurt to our own nature.—Black.
health, strength and self-interest cheerfully on the
altar for them. When the brethren go back on
the promises they made at a hallujah convention,
and they are apt to do that at any old time, he
(Continued on page 9.)
ni'
11
I