And thus it went round the room, each one expressing his approval of the plan. The consequence was, that one end of the room was filled with volumes; and the plan proved profitable to all.
At that time, books were very scarce. "There was not a good bookseller's shop in any of the Colonies to the southward of Boston." The readers of Pennsylvania usually sent to England for their books, which was both troublesome and expensive.
The members of the "Junto" derived so much benefit from the plan of bringing their books together, that Franklin conceived the idea of establishing a library, and formed his plan, which was successful. He found fifty persons in town, mostly young tradesmen, who were willing to pay down forty shillings each, and ten shillings per annum; and with these the library was commenced. This was the first library ever established in this country, and it now numbers more than sixty thousand volumes. Since that day libraries have multiplied rapidly.
The following are some of the questions for the "Junto," and they show that it was really a thorough and valuable organization.
"Have you met with anything, in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto? particularly in history, morality, poetry, physics, travels, mechanic arts, or other parts of knowledge."
"Hath any citizen failed in business, and what have you heard of the cause?"
"Have you lately heard of any citizen's thriving well, and by what means?"
"Do you know of a fellow-citizen who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation; or who has lately committed an error, proper for us to be warned against and avoid?"
"What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard?—of imprudence?—of passion?—or of any other vice or folly?"
"What happy effects of temperance?—of prudence?—of moderation?—or of any other virtue?"