New Gods of North America.

Chapter 279 Learning
Compared with modern society,
Nowadays, "library" is still a relatively "sacred" place for scholars and students.

Knowledge is valuable.

Books that carry knowledge naturally become things worth cherishing.

This can also be seen from the college's punishment for "malicious destruction" or "intentional theft" of books.

Once confirmed and approved by the school's board of directors, the college will not only require the relevant personnel to make compensation, but will also directly "expel" them - this is the most severe punishment that an institution like a "school" can impose.

Even if you plagiarize notes, write homework for others, or even cheat on exams, the lighter punishment is just to invalidate the grades and retake the course.

At least the level of plagiarism or academic fraud will usually result in the same starting "expulsion" treatment.

Although printing technology had been initially developed, books were still divided into different levels.
Some documents or notes, or pages or scrolls of someone that have been handed down from who knows when, usually require special approval to be allowed to "touch" or "read", let alone "borrow".

Slightly rare manuscripts or special books often require a note signed by a professional professor before scholars and students can go to a special reading room to read them. At least they need to go through the librarians before they can be found in a non-public bookcase.
What students can access on a daily basis are mainly various printed materials that are allowed to be published within a certain range. However, some academic professional books cannot be easily found or collected in bookstores on the market.

After all, the number of professional books printed and preserved is often limited.

For most ordinary people, some of these books are actually not much different from "out-of-print books".

So in the library,

“Compensation with the same books” is often a higher level of punishment than “compensation at the price”.

Because of this, the library and museum in the college,
It is almost the place with the strictest security and management in the entire academy.

This area where students can read and study freely is relatively relaxed.
But the students all kept quiet tacitly, and treated these books more "cautious" and "careful" than modern people and ordinary people.

As for food and various drinks,
Sorry, that's not allowed.

Even various lighting fixtures are available with a "shell" or "cover".

Another "sacred" aspect of the library is that it can provide "lighting" for students from ordinary families for free.
Even though the study room is not always brightly lit, as long as it is still open, the administrators will at least leave a kerosene lamp next to the table for students who are still studying.

If you leave the college, the issue of "night lighting" alone may be a "burden" for some people.

After Wayne found Mackenzie Reeve in the library study room,

I found that he was flipping through a book attentively and taking notes.

The picture alone is actually a little funny.

A large book was placed a little far away on the table. Macon Reeve had to lean forward and stretch his head to read it. After a while, he would retract his head and make notes on the notebook on the table. He didn't even dare to put the pen too close to the book.

As a comparison,

There were a pile of big books in Wayne's house. A semi-illiterate child would flip through them while eating cakes as a child, and even used them to "build blocks". He never remembered being scolded.

So Wayne thought about it and didn't bother Macon Reeve.
I picked up a dictionary that I was familiar with and started flipping through it, planning to wait for Macon Reeve to return to the dormitory and then strike up a conversation with him on the way.

By the way, Wayne suddenly had an idea.
The most precious book in the city of Georgeburg, will it be placed in the Georgeburg Church? Or in the library or museum of the college? Or locked in the treasure room of a rich man's manor?
I don’t know what kind of book it will be.

It shouldn't bite, right?
Finally, when the administrator reminded us that the library was about to close, the most stubborn students and young scholars who were studying on their own began to leave one after another.

Wayne put the dictionary back on the bookshelf, then followed Mackenzie Reeve, ready to find an opportunity to go up. "What a coincidence."

The library's closing time is earlier than the curfew time stipulated by the college dormitory.

Wayne followed him for a short distance and found that Macon Reeve was not heading towards the dormitory.

Well……

Wayne then kept his distance, wanting to see where this guy would go.

It's dark now, and the street lights in the college are not densely populated. It's not necessary to report to the college church at this time, right?

It’s hard to say.

It seems like those people in the Holy Spirit Church don’t need to sleep…

Macken Reeve walked to a small forest on the side of the road. It was not too far away, and the light from some street lamps could still be seen through the gaps between the leaves.
Wayne saw him take something out of his backpack and then meow.

Hey cat...

There is no definitive historical conclusion on when cats first appeared in America.
However, according to the old records Wayne had read at home, at least when the "April Grass" came over that year, there were already several cats on board.

In those days when ordinary people could not eat meat regularly, there were not many stray cats and dogs in towns, and they were generally afraid of people.
If it were placed in a place like Blackrock Town, the wild cat would probably be tied up with a rope and turned into a "house cat" in a few days, or turned into fur, stew or something like that.

If you ran to the slums in the city, your fate would probably be similar.

Perhaps only in places like colleges can wild cats have space to reproduce freely.
Only then will there be honest people like McCann Reeve who are willing to spend their own money to buy food to feed their children.

After waiting for a while, a cow cat really came over. The little wild cat remained alert and didn't dare to approach people from a distance.

Perhaps because Macon Reeve had already fed it several times and was squatting next to the food and refusing to leave, the little wild cat reluctantly approached and finally lowered its head and started eating.

Mackenzie Reeve looked the same as usual, timid and cowardly. He reached out his hand several times as if he wanted to pet the cat, but was stopped by the kitten's alertness.

Then he continued to feed her, trying to reach out several times.

It was not until the little wild cat seemed to be happy eating that Macon Reeve's hand finally touched it gently.

Then the sharp meowing stopped abruptly, and the little wild cat seemed to be held down suddenly. Wayne could vaguely hear the sound of bones "clicking".

Then they picked him up, threw him down, and trampled him.

The movements of "living things" quickly returned to silence.

(End of this chapter)