8 



teachers and pupils in the schools. With books at hand, the 

 teacher may be continually progressing. Without them he is 

 in danger of getting into the ruts. The mind that ceases to 

 progress soon retrogrades ; unless himself eager for improve- 

 ment, the teacher can impart no inspiration or love of 

 knowledge to his pupils. While libraries educate the whole 

 people, I have been especially gratified to observe how diligently 

 their volumes are used by the school boys and girls who would 

 otherwise have only the dime novel or papers more objection- 

 able. Once give a boy a taste for good books and access to a 

 choice library, and then place him where you will, let his 

 calling be what it may, he will find time for study and will 

 devote the intervals of labor to reading. Multitudes of men, 

 thus self-educated, owe their eminence and success to an early 

 taste for reading and access to libraries. Their example should 

 show our youth that their evenings need not be idled away 

 because the days must be occupied with business or labor. 



8. The promotion of good fellowship is another aim. The 

 charm of country life, so dependent on the interchange of 

 neighborly courtesies and the maintenance of friendly relations, 

 is often marred by needless strifes and alienations. The social 

 life of a town is thus sadly embittered. A Kural Improve- 

 ment Association tends to fraternize the people of a town by 

 leading all classes to meet on common ground and work 

 together for a common object. Thus differences of rank, or 

 sect or party are forgotten, while as fellow-citizens they carry 

 out plans of equal interest to all, and effectively combine 

 to promote the general good. In some towns, good fellowship 

 as well as intellectual improvement has been promoted by 

 organizing reading circles. Selections in prose and poetry, 

 often a play of Shakespeare, the several parts having been 

 previously assigned, are the subject of careful private study 

 and drill. These weekly circles make a profitable evening 

 school. Their social influence is still more extended by an 

 occasional " rehearsal " of a more public character. Divided 

 as the residents of our rural districts and villages too often are 

 by prejudice or neighborhood difficulties, every association 

 where social amenities are cultivated should be encouraged. 

 The support of a Village Reading Eoom, well supplied with 



