state and, in this way, exerted a wonderful influence on the young commonwealth. Prior to 1854, there were eight society libraries covering science, history, law, and medicine. With the execption of the Atheneum of Zanesville, all of these special libraries were located in Cincinnati. Is it any wonder that with the enterprise of her early citizens and with a monopoly of the literary wealth of the state during the first half of he 19th century, that the City of the Ohio Valley should take the lead in literary productions and scholastic attainments? Such a result was natural and to be expected. But since the general diffusion of libraries in 1854, a new spirit has taken possession of all quarters of the state and she must look well to her laurels in the future or she will be outstripped by the cities of the lake and all may revolve around the great center of Columbus. The movement in 1854 to establish the common school library is an indication of the grasp which the early educators had of the importance of collateral work in developing literary attainment and high moral ideals. It is sometimes charged that too much encouragement is being given to the ordinary class of people; that many a child is inspired to seek a profession who ought to follow the plow or pound the anvil. I see no easier way of establishing class distinction in America than to discourage the sons and daughters of our industrious yeomanry and working men. The well-to-do are not going to ask their young to don overalls. Brains or no brains they are to be given the first chance at the professions and the so-called respectable vocations of life. Every instinct of Americanism cries out aginst such unjust sentiments and demands that every son and daughter of America be given the same opportunity to develop what is in him. The public school system, and especially the high school, is the great leveler in American society. Water will seek its own level in any event; let the sifting process go on; but give to each the same chance to rise to the full measure of his ability. The instructor who does not teach that labor is honorable, is making a serious blunder, and he who uses as a motive to inspire his boys to greater effort, the idea that they may fit themselves for something better than a common laborer, commits a crime against American institutions. The inspiration of a lofty ambition is elevating and ennobling, but an appeal to a selfish ambition that degrades any class of labor, is an insult to a large per cent. of the patrons of every school. The college graduate may not consider it a dishonor to step out of classic halls into mechanical, industrial and agricultural pursuits. Intelligence is a benediction to all classes of labor. Cincinnatus and Israel Putman left their plows to fight the battles of their country. George Washington left the presidency of the United States to resume the quiet duties of farm life at Mt. Vernon. Lincoln and Garfield left the log cabin in the wilderness of Kentucky and the towpath of the Erie Canal to perform the most important duties of state. Elihu Burritt gave up the hammer of the blacksmith to become the greatest linguist of his age because he had access to the Worcester Library. Opportunity was all that was needed to change Grant from a tanner of skins to a tanner of rebels. "Where there is a will there's a way," is not always true, but where there's a way, will and ability always come to the front. The pessimist must remember that we are living in an age not of degenerated mankind, but the age of the Deweys and the Hobsons and the four thousand volunteers who offered to go into the jaws of death to close up Santiago's harbor, any seven of whom could have assisted Hobson in the work just as well as those who were chosen. The Ohio School Library has done its part in the formation of ideals. It is due to its work in a large measure that the poor, the ordinary citizen has at his door the food that develops intellectual manhood. How many men have begun to think as they have read these books, can never be estimated. Personally, I wish to acknowledge a lasting obligation for the entertainment, the hopes, the ambitions that were awakened by ready access to this old library. Living in the same house where it was located, it was my daily companion and friend. It will be interesting to note the class of books which were first in these libraries. The first series contained the following, many of which are still standard books and are included in our pupil's reading course: The Swiss Family Robinson, two volumes; Adventures of Daniel Boone; Abbott's History of Marie Antoinette; the Young Sailor; Sanford and Merton; Conquest and Self-Conquest; Boyhood of Great Men; Abbott's History of Alexander the Great; Live and Let Live; Benjamin Franklin; Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence; Howe's Mechanics; Hallam's Middle Ages; Two Years Before the Mast; The Pursuit of Knowledge Under Difficulties, two volumes; Russia As it Is; Letters to Young Ladies; Curran and his Contemporaries; Life of Sir Isaac Newton; Lives of Celebrated Female Sovereigns, two volumes; Life of Francis Marion; The Merchant; The Sketch Book; Life of General Lafayette; Taylor's History of Ohio, to 1787. This series consisted of twentynine volumes at a cost of $15.00 per set. Other series were added, enlarging the scope and usefulness. The question has often been asked, what has become of these libraries? It is not strange that after a lapse of forty years, many of these books should be worn out, strayed or stolen. Occassionally one finds in a most unexpected place, a volume bound in leather with "Ohio School Library" stamped on the cover. Many of these libraries have become the nuclei of libraries of vast proportions, for a new era of libraries has developed since 1854. The report of the Bureau of Education for 1895-6 containing statistics from libraries of 1,000 volumes or more shows that there were in the United States in 1896, 4,026 libraries with 33,051,872 volumes, to say nothing of pamphlets; an increase in five years of 523 libraries and 7,074,229 volumes, or 27.23 per cent. Ohio had in 1896, 202 libraries OHIO STATE LIBRARY. The Ohio State Library was founded in 1817, one year after Columbus became the seat of the State government. Previous to that time there had been discussion in regard to the need of such a library, in which to deposit the records of the state and maps, laws, documents, or journals which might be received from other states and the General Government. These had been accumulating in the various departments and the need was felt for a room in which all could be stored and systematically arranged. The General Assembly in 1816 appropriated $3,500 as a contingent fund for the Governor. In the summer of the year following, Governor Thomas Worthington, while on a visit to the eastern states for the purpose of investigating the plans of management of their various institutions, determined to invest a part of this contingent fund in the purchase of books that should form the nucleus of a State Library. In his message to the General Assembly the following year, he said: "The fund made subject to my control by the last General Assembly, besides paying the ordinary demands upon it and for articles mentioned in the resolution of the legislature of the 28th of January, 1817, has enabled me to purchase a small but valuable collection of books which are intended as the commencement of a library for the state. In the performance of this act I was guided by what I conceived the best interests of the state by placing within the reach of the representatives of the people such information as will aid them in the discharge of the important duties they are delegated to perform." The books thus purchased numbered 509 volumes, almost all of which are still in the library. The law books in the collection have been transferred to the Law Library and a few volumes have been lost. The books were placed in a room over the auditor's office in the south end of the state office building of the old State House. The General Assembly cordially approved the action of the governor, empowered him to appoint a librarian, and adopted rules for the use of the library. One of the quaint regulations, which would hardly pass muster in the modern library, made the size of the book the basis of the time for which it should be loaned. It reads as follows: "A folio [shall be returned] within three weeks, a quarto within two weeks, an octavo or duodecimo within one week." The first librarian was John L. Harper, who received $2.00 a day for his services during the session of the legislature. In 1824 the General Assembly chose a librarian, a power that it con tinued to exercise till the adoption of the Constitution of 1851, which gave the governor the power to appoint this officer. For forty-five years. there was no change in the method of appointment. The State Library Law of 1896 entirely changed the library commission and invested it with additional powers. Prior to that time the Governor, State Librarian, and Secretary of State were ex-officio the library commission. Under the present law the members of that board are appointed by the governor for a term of six years. They have full authority to manage STATE OFFICE BUILDING, HOME OF OHIO STATE LIBRARY. the library, elect a librarian, with the consent of the governor, and fill subordinate positions with the consent of the librarian. The law was framed to give permanence to the administration of the library and to make tenure of office dependent upon efficient service. Twenty-three different persons have held the office of State Librarian. Those serving long periods were Zachariah Mills, 1824-42, and S. G. Harbaugh, 1862-74. It will be seen that the others held office an average of less than two and one-half years each. The original purpose of the State Library has already, perhaps, been |