Forest City Courier, July 17, 1938
Browsing around in a book shop: On a shelf in a book shop the other day I saw an autographed copy of Archibald Rutledge’s “Peace in the Heart.” This great lover of nature has written most charmingly in both prose and verse, and this book seemed to have everything to fascinate the imagination. I wish I could read the travel book, “A Pilgrimage to Palestine” by Harry Emerson Fosdick. It was of good size and must be a splendid introduction to Biblical history. Interesting too, they say, is “Adventures Among Immortals,” by Lowell Thomas. An illustrated copy of “The Heritage of Cotton” by M. D. C. Crawford, attracted my attention. Since prosperity in the South and in all America for that matter, depends upon the sale of cotton, this book would be of enthralling interest to many people.
Last week I received a letter which I prize very much. It was written by a sweet little old lady nearing her eighty-sixth year. The handwriting was distinctly clear and steady and the phrasing perfect. She has been my friend for many years, and though she lives in a distant state, her philosophy of life comes to me across the miles as I remember her happy way of meeting every situation with unquestioned confidence. Her belief is that there is a great deal more good than evil in the world, that the good will ultimately triumph over the evil. Perhaps all of us need a buoyant optimism such as hers.
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Yesterday, hearing the cheep-cheeps of a baby chick, I went to investigate. Under a hedge bush I found the lost member of my chicken colony running around in circles, and hearing a deep and loud br-r-ruming hum I quickly located the offending intruder, a bee. Not being an authority on the classification of bees, I was puzzled to know if this was a honey bee. That particular species of bee is the only insect to my knowledge which makes any contribution to the food of man, and honey being my favorite sweet, I decided to leave the bee alone. The children in our neighborhood catch bees and confine them in jelly glasses, fascinated by the hum. After awhile they free them, and watch them fly away with just as much fascination. As I look back to my childhood, I can see the high glass dish of honey with comb which stood on grandmother’s table. How a plate of hot biscuits lasted only a few minutes, but clearer than any other memory is that long remembered sting when we ventured too near the hives and disturbed the bees.
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A good library is a town’s outstanding asset. The Woman’s Club in our town has been instrumental in organizing and setting up a good library of which we are very proud. Some noted person said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Without books, not only would schools, colleges and universities disappear, but everything which we call culture would vanish, and society would lapse at once into barbarism. A good librarian is a valuable asset to any library. Library work as a profession closely parallels that of a teacher and calls for librarians of high character, ability and education. The Forest City Public Library is fortunate in having such a one. She is at all times gracious, and never too busy to make helpful suggestions to the visitors, always courteous and kind and ready to help in any way.
Reprinted with permission from The Daily Courier. Copyright owned by The Daily Courier.
