American Watchman And Delaware Advertiser

Dr. Aikin, in his valuable letters from a father to a son, thus elucidates the value of a library: "Imagine (says he) that we had it in our power to call up the shades of the greatest and wisest men that ever existed, and oblige them to converse with us on the most interesting topics—what an inestimable privilege should we think it! how superior to all common enjoyments! But in a well furnished library, we, in fact possess this power. We can question Xenophen and Cæsar on their campaigns—make Demosthenes and Cicero plead before us—join in the audiences of Socrates and Plato, and receive demonstrations from Euclid and Newton. In books we have the choicest thoughts of the ablest men in their best dress. We can at pleasure, exclude dullness and impertinence, and open our doors to wit and good sense alone."

Without books, I have never been able to pass a single day to my entire satisfaction: with them no day has been so dark as not to have had its pleasures.—Even pain and sickness have for a time been charmed away by them. By the easy provisions of a book in my pocket, I have frequently worn through long nights and days in the most disagreeable parts of my profession, with all the difference in my feelings between calm content and fretful impatience.