...Philadelphia Library Company in 1731, wrote: "Reading became fashionable, and our people having no amusement to divert their attention from study, became better...and more intelligent than people of the same rank in other countries." And by way of confirmation, the Rev. Jacob Duché bore testimony that "Literary...

...utility and was imitated by other towns and provinces. The libraries were augmented by donations. Reading became fashionable, and our people having no public...attention from study became better acquainted with books. In a few years they were observed by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people...

...imitated by other towns and in other provinces. The libraries were augmented by donations ; reading became fashionable ; and our 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...