Live to Learn and Learn to Live

March 16, 1901, Oshkosh Northwestern

A librarian who habitually observed the rough manners of young boys in the library would be interested in quelling such disturbances.  I'm sure the library environment of 1901 resembled very little of the library we've come to know and love in the current day, with silence enforced with death stares and punitive sanctions to ruffians of all ages.  The logic for starting this was likely related to the fact that young ladies had etiquette classes and cotillions which led to debutante balls, etc.  Introducing young people to "society" was once a big deal, so any efforts like this made sense.  But despite the writer reporting the enthused reactions by the young men involved, I sincerely wonder how welcome this organization was to an average young boy of the time, other than going along with it to please his parents.