The Ladies' Library Association

Tho Annual Mooting of the Ladios' Library Associatiou, which took place on Monday aftornuon, was an occasion of unusual interest. At a meeting of tho Directors immcdiatoly following, it was resolvod to publisli the proeeedinga. Thore was a large attendanco, Tho rotiring inombors of the board were ro-clected, with one exception, and all tho offioers. Below are the roports of tho Secretary, Treasurer and Librarían, with tho ïnemorial paper, by Miss Clark, and a poem by Miss Portor. SECRETA KY's EEPOBT. To the racrubers of this Associatio-n tho Board of Directors present their sixth annutil report. In bringing beforo you tho records of tho year that has just passed, we feel quite suro that your own observation will bear us out whon we claim that tho Library is a living and progressive power in our midst. Qoietrjr, bul surely, is its influ.enco oxtending to refino and cultivate, and to excite a more eagor desiro lor books among these who have access to its treasures. That tho intelleetual food tlius furnished may have a healthful moral influence is tho oarnest desire inereasingly feit by the Board upon whora this duty is laid. Feeling deoply sensiblo that thny are charged with exerting that influence for good or evil the oxtent of which it is impossiblo to know, thoy havo been cautious and slow to recomtnend new works till their charactor, as far as possiblo, could be ascertained. In most instances books must be ordered without the opportunity givon of learning more of thoui than tho critieisms and reviews of the press afford. But as every list is submitttd by the Bok Comiuittco to tho decisión of the Board, thoy are freo to accept or reject, according to their judgment. Our Librarían informB us that tho ' demand for works of tiction exceeds the supply. If so, it may be a quostiou for sorious consideration whether we are bound to yield to this deniand. By so doing do we not aeem to be dragging tho standard down to the level of those who seek to bo constantly auiused and superficially excited, instead of seeking to arouse theiu to grapple with themes that tax the attention and reason ? That siekly sentimontality which iinds gratifieation only in works of fiction should not find supporters in those who earnostly seek the good of their fellows. We are happy to state that a large proportion of the books purchased during the yoar are of a charaeter to stimulate to earneet thought, and fully to meet the wants of iutelleotual minds. The only special effort which has been made to replenish tho treasury was tho vory delightful entertainment of tho " Mistlctou Bough," given in December lsst, whicb, as you all know, was a decided artistic sucecss. That it was not so fiuaneially was not the fault of those haviiipj the matter in charge, of whose efforts we uanuot speak iu too high praise. Cash dunutions have boen recoived from the Porter Zouaves, from Judge Cooley, Dr. Wells, Mr. Gilmore, and Mr. Boal. We are ander renewod obligatious t.o Mr. Pond for his kind noticos, for freo insertions, and for aid in securiug tho magazines at club rates. Two new cases have been added to afford more ampie aeeominodation for the inerease of books. The soven poriodicals taken the past year have been renewed, purt of thom at club ratos, and to those have been added tho tour foreign 'Quarterlies" and "Blackwood." The sum of fitty dcilhvrs has been placed at interest as tle germ of an endowment fund, which we trust will enliit many gunerous hearts. Wo have also to aekuowlodge tho sum of ten dollars, the partiag remembranoe of the lanmntcd Mis. Lawrence. The new arrangement entered into for the social readinga bas proved eminently successful, fuul by giving a more conversational turn to the evening's entertain - iin-;i:, lias removed ranch of tho cuibarassinent occasioued by tho difficulty of makine snitable seleotions. In September laat Mrs. Kellogg, our first President, who had tilled that office so efficiently for four years, and aftorwaru that of VicePresident, radgned hor plaeo on thn Board, on acaount of hnr departure from the city, ani Mrs. Porter was elected to fill the vacancy. Tbo silent angel "who has all sensons for his own " has been among us. One of our numbor- a beloved member of the lioard of Directors for noarly four years - has fallen aslocp and rest from her labors. With warm beart and ready hands, with judgment olear and far reaohing, sim wus ever found whore duty called, and by hor eheerful presonce animatcd and inoonraged every effort for advancing thi! Íntere8t8 of this causa as well as of other departments of beiievolenco. As one after another of those who startcd with us fall from the ranks, let us with united energy pursue our work un tiringly till otliei-s take it where we lay it down. S. W. HUNT, Beoretary. treasvker's report (in brief). Dr. BiwítpJ for memberships durüig the year, - 33 00 Annual iiix, 157 00 Ubrury Fines, - Ï2 40 Salo of CaUloKueu, 4 u Kntertaiuiaents, ..-..-- 151) üO Donutious, - ------(i 00 Cftih OJi lwud April lst, 1871, - - - 45 89 H19 19 Cr. Paid ront of room, - - - - - $50 00 " by Book üommittce, - ÜO 03 11 y lltjom Comnlittee, - - - 21 43 ' lor insurunc 6 0' " jjibriu-ian's sulnry, - - - - 40 UO " for l'rintiiig, - - - - - - 8 00 11 contingent expenses, - 0 H8 Ctwh nnd note on hand, - - 54 H3 $419 1!) The slowly revolving year which has iigain brought us together to make a reviow of whathas been aceomplished since our last meeting, aud to prepare for the future, has filled its page in the history of our Li brary, and we trust that it has been a good record. If great things havo not been accomplished, considor the adverse eirouuistances undcr which we labor. No doubt hundreds of dollars would have been as judieiously expended by the Board of Directora as the small amount which has beon ontrusted to thera, but let us not despise the day of small things. Thcre is soino difficulty in collecting even the sma.ll aimual tax assessed upon our merabers. I wish at this time that my voice could reaoh all the members of the Association, that they might understand the nocessity of paying this tax early in the year. ïhis year the collection of the annual tax from delinquents has cost us nearly ten per eont. of the amount thus fat colleoted. This ought not to bo, and in retiring from oflico I would advocate tho measure of having a eertain amount addtd to the taxes that aro not paid in during tho tirst quarter. We wish to acknowledge favors from Mis. Ten Bruok, Mr. Pond, Mr. Boal and Messrs. Gilmore & Fiske, from whom do nations have luien roooived during the year, whicli have taken the form of receipted bilis and so have not ontered upon our books. I seems very proper that a treasurer, in making a report, should confine hersolf to facts siiuply ; but if I might be pormitted to interpret the signs of the times I should prediet that there are brigliter days in itote for the Associiition, whon we can look back upon the struggles of its youth ïiid rejoioe in tho ren-lization of our brightüst hopes. That nll our bright anacipationg may be realizad is the earnost ivish of the retiring Tieasuier. Mrs. L. B. GILMORE, Troasurer. LIBRARIAX'8 BEPOUT. o. of books in the Librury Ajiril lat, Ib71, - Olí 'ni'lM'il during the yeav, .... log ' ■ 1 , - - - - - - - -8 Vholo nnmhcr nt tho proaont timo, - l,Ofio , ro. of peis'jiis drawin booka, - - - 160 ( loulis drawn durbig the yeur, - 3, 070 , DOT1MIWI trm !■■ yi-.a-, ----- 411 j Three have drawn books fot 6 monthg ' t 1 caGh For books preef nted we iirc imlebtcd to Prof. Winclioll, Mrs Dr. öuiith, Mts. Tkayer, Mrs. Bjrstow, and ■ Glousun. S. C. BARRY, Librarían. in MrnRiA. In Anu Arbor, March 2Oth, 1672, Sidyï,, wife of EmviN Lawuknce. Mouraiiif? and wc, Aml thdark anguish whicli despVir clotli kuow, Thott taingeat in thy sad train, RclenÜMa Itealh ! f ' r as thy shudow swvpt ; tUino ley tuenth ][;ihthtilk'd for ayo the puJaea of a beart, Wliose ryÜUa awoet from Lite doth thus depart. We know there are, KVn in tïii ' world whlcfa Öod Imfh made o fair, Unnumbexed eoola, wha, bowed boiwath the load Of Griet forget that earth hath aoght of good; Who iu ItasmOo no joy, no beauty wee Who hupe forget, and ouly ak lor thue. Tet not to thera Thy BomnoBs nftw; wiíh sure uncrriiisf ain Thy ihaft speeds homo to ono whosc Imppy life With the bet gifta oí earthly good, sccined rifo ; Bo honored, lirrrfl, nh coula aifectiun save From thy stern douw, her's had not been the grave. Tet there doth sleep The face, the form o'cr whicli our fond hearts weep ; And y ft, tor ber nor nïli nor toar phouM come, Bo Mléiy hnth ihe rouched tho peaoeCni hotnt?, Where the rade itorau that o'cr litVs p ithway weep, Shall chili no mort, oh, not for her we weejx. We inay not Riievo That nll too early she was Ciülctl to EeaTfl A f;vir jj;ith bare, fin fairer, bijghta1] f;ir And high ba w:iy, till en irfaen antfuls are, Bhfl treads, a ad joins thr bllitfa] Imrmony Of life abovc, oh, not for her moura we. And y.et wo mourn ; In drepest ?rief, with tenrs, with prayet we aiotin. Moni d tor the woundod liearts whoae light haa Üod, l'nv fripiidship's joya now buricd with tlie doad; Weep, that fi-om earth u helpful life b i ivcn, An.l pray, that unto our's its lot grace muy be given. IN" MEMORIAM. Mi's. Stbil Fülleb Lawremce, ïorn info the visible, Junu.iry 28th, 1819, passed into the invisible, 2Oth March, 1872. When I say thnt our departed associate and frieiHÏ was no coramon woznan, I but echo the sentiment s of ourentireeommunity. Ouly that this will become a record, it woulrt bc unnecessary to ropeat ht-r virtues orcallutteotion toadaily life whieh has so left lts irapres on all our hearts. Of fine natural abüity and tru% reflnement, time and eduention, with experience and knowledge of the world, had developed rare culture of mind, with a perfect control of self, which rendered her calm and possessed- ever rendy and prompt to act ion whenever the emergency called for it. ProbaWy no lady wtn more ft favorito in her ei rcle, or better known atnong1 all chwses. ndmired by her qoat, andlooked up to bythose in a humbler walk, who nover tircd of their praises of her for her benolence. Those who associai-cd with her in the courtcsies of life, Ciin never forget her gracioun mannor, and how in every way she diuiñed and adorned her place. Of larpe eym patines, tho sunshine of her good miturti cornmunicated itself to othera. Sprightly and agreeablo, her fiuency in convorsation showed a command of lanpuage well calcnïated to enforce her clenr retisoniuíí which enlivened every subject in discunsion. Excuse me for recalling the flrst timo I ever saw Mrs. Lawhknck. It was over thirty yeura ago, when making a wedding cali. Her fine presence, euse of addn-s.s, and dignity of bearing. quite removed frnin haiitour, wonmyregaxd. Her words of greeting to tho brida, so apropos and unhackncycd, atill ring inmyears. Firat impressions of a strangcr in a strange place are apt to bu ptïrmaiuüit, and I have nevcr had oooaatos to change the estímate of her I then and there forined. On many things wc diffcred widely, but Mrs. Lawiu:m :; was iem;irküblc in tiuit with KDtímentfl on commou topics soso contraiy to generally received notioiuí, she never obtruded her peculiar viiws, und nl,w;ys trnatcd the opinions of others with the groa test forbeurancu :nd rcsiicct. As u ueighlxjr now for several past yeoi. I hnvo known how WOTÜlfly and wi-11 sho diacbargect the relationn of iriend, daughter, wife and muthcr. To a cali of charity I have always fuund heriespond Tith aubstantial iñd, nd lier sounu, solé jodgmait wils diactbninatliig and sugestive. 63ie arer aoted from a sene of duty, and thci-efore was to be relied on and trut-tud. W'liuii you had lcarned tho spring of her motives you weru uever diippointed in your ex Kctatiuns, and could go to hr in contiuenru and come awny retroshyd- more hopefu) und strengthened. A keeper at home whero ühowiis the li'ht and btay, y.-( one of the most cfiicient workei we had in any pabü. enternnse. Dnrlng the late civil war, us Prcaideitt ol" the " Kküdic-r's Aid Society,' of a!l tho man y Txxch that mmt trom ben, no box was Ülleü or packtd without lier hand in it, and no one tïid moro poisunally in iSWing ftw tliu soldiere and iu prepMlillg delicacics to nouri.sli ilu. táxHt in hospital. Wíion tile Ijiiílies Líbrary Association wks formed, it met witli her eurnest co-operatiou, and she was chusen i ti tin; lirst BQAld of Dircctoi"S, but Uh-il dvcliía-.l. AftonrardSi in ooajunotioo with lira. lr. Wklí-S. and Mrs. Joun Maynard, she was electtd a i.i nbor of the furniabing room cominittce. A y#aa ago laat .nitumu, os a Director, she reflignedonaoooiuit of health. You will misa hur to-day- we all mií8 her, for if I ara correct this is tlie íirst annual meeting of tho Aswciation ut which shc haa not been present, liood in oool and a;u?icious- she will no mure mnuíl.1 in debate ; that pleasant voico u boabed ; that cheery nnile ú oorerod in the duat ofdathl Who will üll herplaeal Ín tari y daysof tho l'aitii, when onfc tV'll fn tho ranks uuothcr &toppod into his plnoe and Look up the arau that had droppeil f rom liid liunds. Whu will nct as trae to conviction, autl be as consi-i.jntíOQl in batlling feu' the right I God givcs us iul fiometbing lo do for othera and .■iomcthing by which liuinamly is to b.1 advaiwsed itnd bülturuJ- soincthing which will bcncíit md bltws- Ughtaa a feilov cieature's hurdeus- comfort aud rcjoice surut; strieken, faint beoit ! Sifltor, so considérate and thuughtful, wlio forgot tliyself in tlu oauae of otheffl, who haat, "bt-ing mude perfect in a bhort time folílUe-l a long time," Fan tbue wellJ MARY 11. CLARK. Monduy, April 8th, 1872. The Hon. "W. L. StOÜOHTü writos to the Allegan Journul, to expresa his regret that 8ome charges against him had boon copied into that red-hot Republican organ ; and organ thatgriuds out loud music, Govürnors and such. And after doïnp; liis subject juslice, to his notion, ho oddai "Perhapsl havo given this mattor unduo iiuportanco, but I have about made np my mind to hurcafter hit the head of a Bcaiup whcnever I see it." Zounds! what a lot of sore-heads, official and un official, there is bound to be in Stoughtojï's district if that terrible threat is carried out. - Couldu"t tho purveyor of the Uni vorsity Hospital contract for elinic subjects. .