...promissory notes to pay double the value if not duly returned. The institution soon manifested its ability, was imitated by other towns and in other provinces....people having no public amusements to divert their minds from study became better acquainted with books, and in a few years were observed by strangers...

...Philadelphia Library Company in 1731, wrote: "Reading became fashionable, and our people having no amusement to divert their attention from study, became better...acquainted with books, and in a few years were observed by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank in other countries."...

...for this purpose Forty shillings each, & Ten Shillings per Annum. On this little Fund we began. . . . The Institution soon manifested its Utility, was imitated by other Towns and in other Provinces, the Librarys were augmented by Donations, Reading became fashionable. . . ." 45. THE ACADEMY, FRANKLIN'S...

...The library was open one day in the week for lending to the subscribers, on their promissory notes to pay double the value if not duly returned. "The institution soon manifested its utility and was imitated by other towns and provinces. The libraries were augmented by donations. Reading became...