Seth Compton

When I died, the circulating library
Which I built up for Spoon River,
And managed for the good of inquiring minds,
Was sold at auction on the public square,
As if to destroy the last vestige
Of my memory and influence.
For those of you who could not see the virtue
Of knowing Volney's "Ruins" as well as Butler's "Anology"
And "Faust" as well as "Evangeline,"
Were really the power in the village,
And often you ask me,
"What is the use of knowing the evil in the world?"
I am out of your way now, Spoon River,
Choose your own good and call it good.
For I could never make you see
That no one knows what is good
Who knows not what is evil;
And no one knows what is true
Who knows not what is false.

Questions for Seth Compton:

1. Why did they sell the library at auction "as if to destroy the last vestige" of him?
2. What does he mean by "no one knows what is good/Who knows not what is evil"? How is this statement of criticism directed to the people in Spoon river?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Compton's point of view? Explain.

Seth Compton
This may be about the life of Judge John Winter, a Lewiston man whose vast personal library was made available to Masters and others.