As some of you know, I have always lived in in the Chicago area, and am something of a Chicago-history buff.
On this date one hundred thirty years ago, Chicago lay in ruins from the Great Chicago Fire that had raged throughout the city the day before. The destruction was total: photographs of vast areas show stark landscapes, reminiscent of those photographed after the Dresden fire-bombings of WWII.
In the ensuing days and weeks aid poured into the city from all over the country, indeed all over the world. And therein lies a tale.
England pondered what she could send, knowing that such bulk goods as food, lumber, and other physical supplies could not be arrive by ship quickly enough, from such a distance, to be useful. Queen Victoria personally made the decision and, following her own idea, sent 5,000 books to be the basis for rebuilding Chicago's public library.
When received, this gift caused consternation among Chicago's city fathers. Unbeknownst to the Queen, Chicago had never had any public library! No institution, no organization of people, existed to receive the Queen's gift and use it.
The only solution was to create and empower a library board, and charge it to build and run a public library. Which Chicago did. Thus Queen Victoria in effect is the founder of founded Chicago's public library system, which thrives today.
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Now as then, may the power of words, sent with caring and affection, be a balm to heal us and make us stronger in a time of tragic loss, and be our foundation upon which we build something of solid, lasting value for us all.
