That Literary Institute for the Eastern District
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THAT LITERARY INSTITUTE FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
We had some remarks, a while since, on the necessity and importance of a large, popular, superior Literary Institution, a first-class Library, here in our Eastern District. It is not a subject we feel disposed to drop with simply a passing mention. There are so many reasons for urging it upon our citizens hereabout—there is, indeed, such a vast amount of latent aid and support, only waiting to be brought out—we feel confident, if the thing could be fairly put before the public here, it would succeed.
The new project would need a large building, properly arranged for a Lecture Room, a Library, a Reading Room, and a Gymnasium—perhaps, of the latter, two apartments, one for males and one for females. It may be that the present Odeon would answer, with some changes. The admission to the new institution should be cheap, in order to give youths, workingmen and workingwomen, the same advantages as the rest. And it should be open on a liberal and friendly plan, without too rigid rules.
There should be various accommodations for a high order of practical Instruction attached to it—Courses of Lectures, adapted to the popular sense, on History, Astronomy, Language, Literature, and so on. Those half-dead kinds of Lectures, so common hitherto, and all of the frivolous and gossipy sort, should be excluded. The new project should not be, either, as too many of our American Literary Institutions are, solely in the hands of ecclesiastical persons.
But can any thing be done towards the actual having of such an institution? Why not? There is wealth enough in the Eastern District—there are people enough, intelligence enough, and pressing need enough. What is more lacking here than that very thing? We should think our men of property would favor the project, if they viewed it from no other than a pecuniary point of view. And, beyond that, as a business investment, such an institution would have a better chance to pay than many an investment our speculators make.
All who are identified with Eastern District prosperity—all who favor the education and elevation of the young—all who believe that there is something more in life, than the getting of money, eating of food, and wearing of clothes—all who would extend the influences of the social ties, genial intimacy, friendship, and good neighborhood—all these should be willing to further such a project as we have hastily and crudely outlined in the foregoing paragraphs.