"No.""Any money?""No.""Any books?""No.""Absurd!How do you expect to start such a work?""On faith."Next a vote was taken whether to organize or not.It was decided to organize.Mr.
Edward Chichester was elected president,Mr.Edward Vanderbiit secretary,and Mr.E.P.Pitcher to the very responsible position of treasurer,without a cent in the treasury.
Here it is only due to Rev.Dr.Terry to speak of the encouragement he gave.The Y.M.C.A.connected with the South Reformed Church,on 21st St.and 5th Ave.,were talking of taking rooms at 2439th Ave.,for a young men's club,and through the doctor's efforts we were allowed to come into these rooms from 4to 6p.m.,all through the season,from December to May,with the understanding that we might pay or not,according to our success in obtaining funds.One trouble was over.We then began our circuit once again through the city,after school hours,visiting every publishing-house named in the directory,beside making many personal visits to friends,who encouraged us by gifts of books.
We are largely indebted to Dodd,Mead &Co.,Carter,Taintor,Merrill &Co.,and many others,who have given most liberally;also to friends,who have given us many $5bills,and enabled us not only to pay expenses,including librarian,tickets of admission,covers for books,circulars,etc.,but also to hand over most joyfully to Dr.Terry $40for the use of room at the close of the season.
Last fall we tried to begin our work once more,and after walking from 40th to 23d St.,along 8th and 9th Avenues,I at last found rooms on W.35th Street.Dr.Terry kindly loaned us furniture,and the Women's Christian Temperance Union shared with us the modest rent of $13per month,$6.50each.
Last year P.D.No.45,in West 24th St.,sent a large representation from their school.This year they asked for and received tickets.We had about 350books,and issued about 700admission tickets.At one time during the winter the librarian sent me this message:"Only eight books are left on the shelves.
Do you think it best to close the room to-day?"I returned word:
"Get in all the books you can;do not give out any for a short time,but let the children come in and look at the stereoscopic views,play games,look at or read pamphlets.When they have returned a sufficient number,begin to distribute again."That week we received several parcels of books,and started up again.
We had applications for tickets from P.D.,G.S.No.11,37th St.Prim.Deptt,34th St.R.Ch.S.School,Ind.School,West 415t St.,and others.Male Dep't,G.S.No.67,asked for 91tickets.Some of the children in P.D.,G.S.No.28,shed tears when their teacher informed them that we had no more tickets.
The children stood on the sidewalk on a Friday afternoon,not long ago,from 2:30until 5:30,patiently waiting for their turn to enter the room,as the librarian could only allow a certain number to enter at one time.
Dr.Barnett visited the rooms with the intention of putting up chest-expanders for exercise,but he found them too small,and the woodwork too frail,for any such purposes.
We have a number of subscribers at $1per year,although some have gone far beyond this in subscriptions.We closed on May 1,to reopen in the fall.
One great reason for keeping open through the year is that many parents are obliged to work all day,and the children run the risk of getting into all sorts of crime.As an instance,not long since I found a little girl in our department who had been frequently caught pilfering.At last we thought it necessary to send for the mother.She burst into tears and said:"What am I to do?My children are alone after school hours until I return,and I do not know what they are doing."I asked if the children had tickets for the reading-room,and here found another difficulty.
"Not on the same day,"she said.We had been obliged to send the girls on three days of the week,and the boys on two days,because of the lack of room,and of helpers.Several teachers have since come forward and offered their services.Two teachers in our department have gone every Monday,and two others every Friday,and appeared to take great pleasure in the work.All honor to such young,earnest workers,for they deserve it!
We have recently received a box of books,toys,etc.,from the "Little Helpers"in Elyria,Ohio,and Columbia College is taking an active interest in our work.We are leaning upon our friends of the college library for support and help,in time to come.All our meetings are held at Columbia College.
We hope for liberal donations,and we feel quite sure--yes,as sure as we felt on that gloomy evening last winter,when we decided to go on--that from the kind words of encouragement,and the liberal gifts that we have received in the past,the gifts are coming in the future;and when we are resting from our labors,others yet unborn shall rise up and call those blessed who have strengthened our hands.And we believe that when this comes the prison doors will open less frequently.
