ment to his name and generosity to the public. It is an invaluable institution for which its author deserves to be held in everlasting and grateful remembrance. But the thirsty masses cannot drink at this fountain with the same sentiment as at one of their own opening and ownership. After all, in drinking at such a private benefaction, the water of knowledge has to them a little of the look and flavour of charity-soup. The Birmingham men were the last in the kingdom to content themselves with such a source of mental refreshment, even if one had been opened to them as large and luxurious as the Astor Library in New York. They did what no community in America has yet done; and in the doing of it they have taken a step in advance of anything we have accomplished in this department of popular education. We have taxed every man, whether he has children or not, to open and support free schools; but we have never gone so far as to levy a rate upon the population of a town to establish a Free Library. In this the Birmingham people have beaten the most enlightened and munificent community in America. To their credit and to our reproach be this said; or if not to our reproach, then to our stimulus in following this example.
This invaluable institution embraces two departments: the Reference Library, and the Lending Library and News Room; the former being
