Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 28, Number 24, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 11 December 1897 — Page 6

ter-.v. 6

& NATION'S LIBRARY.

OHANGES WROUGHT BY THE NEW BUILDING AND MANAGEMENT.

fkwMthlst About the Old Structure ted the New—The Intrusion of Wind ud Electricity— A Plan to Make the tlbrwj

Beally Free.

[Special Correspondence]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.—It is sad tc wee an old friend deprived of her vestments, stripped of her adornments and left exposed to the rode gaze of an unthinking and trnsympathetic world, naked and neglected. Yet such is the condition in which I found one of the best and most highly valued of my ancient acquaintances only yesterday, at I wandered through our national capitol. I stood in the great hall of the old Congressional library and gazed ruefully at the vacant desks, the dismantled aloovea, the long rows of bare shelving, and thought upon the changes which time (and the people's money) had wrought Where erstwhile the erudite Spofford sat, oppressed by care and responsibilities multifold, at desk heaped high with musty tomes and papers long aocumulate was only vacancy. Where stood the row of dusty desks at which I was wont to present my humble request for books there was naught but bare, tiled floor.

Ghosts of the Past.

When here before, I vividly recalled, one might wander at will all about— provided he could find his way without a guide or chart—and from the well stored shelves select the book he want-

AlNffWOKTH R. SPOFFORD.

ed. The great librarian was accessible to all—too accessible, in fact, for his own comfort or for the good of the studiously inclined. When a book was wanted, you presented your card with name and author, then stood around and waited patiently (or impatiently, according to your nature) while the overworked assistants hunted for it.

Sometimes they came baok within an hour sometimes they didn't come back at all—at least, one didn't, whom I requested to bring me a rare book, and be maybe looking yet for aught I know to the oontrary, though that was near four years ago.

But now over in that magnificent structure across the great plaza, with its 44 miles of shelving and facilities for the placing of 100 miles of books— now how different! You go into the central rotunda and see first of all that the librarian and his assistants are shut off from the publio at large. There is no way of getting them by the ear or coat button. So you select the tioket provided, write down the book you want and pass it over the mahogany rail. The assistant looks at it, opens a pneumatio tube, shoves in the paper and then tums quickly to the next book hungry individual, while you, perchance, turn around for a look at the decorations. Yen have hardly fastened your gaze upon, let ns say, Moses, whose name and statue we have here i) duplicate, when your name is whispered, and you turn again, awestruck and wondering, to receive the volume asked for. How it came is a mystery so far as mortal ken can show. But the guidebook tells us that, besides the radiate pneumatio tubes through which the orders are sent, there are also numerous "dectrio carriers" to and from the "stacks" on which the books are placed by attendants in waiting and then sent hurrying to their destination.

Old Habitues.

An old habitue of the old Congressional feels rather resentful at this intrusion of wind and electricity to take the place of human effort. There was an individuality about the old library which the new one, albeit so vast and glorious, never can supply. There were, I remember, some old fellows in rusty hats and ragged coats who used to frequent the other hall regularly every day and month and every year during past decades. What they went there to read I do not know, but there they •were, punctually on time, every morning, and invariably in the same seats and corners too. Should you chance to there ahead of them, and perhaps take their accustomed seat, then there was a pretty how d'ye do. They stormed and raved, they stamped and swore, until you "vamoosed the ranch" and gave them their seat. It was theirs they were quite sure of it, for they had occupied it time out of mind. I haven't located these old codgers yet in the new library, but I'm sure they will be there, holding down the beet chairs in ft*? reading room.

It is said that tho chambers occupied by Josephine at Malmaison are yet rvdolent of musk, the favorite perfume of Napoleon's Creole qutnin, even though that frail and perfect flower of human* kind Jbas been dead for more than SO yearn. So, too, these nooks and cornets habited by the old habitues are yet remindful of the times when they oxer* cised their truly American privilege of squatter sovereignty.

Since tbemnoviii to the larger library salaries have been increased and positions multiplied, so that the place of

second assistant librarian is, comparatively speaking, a sinecure. The dictionary terrp,* you know, for "sinecure" i£ "any office or position which requires or inVofyes little or no responsibility, labor or active service." This term has been Revised, apparently, so that now it may read "a position under the government," not particularly in the Congressional library, however, but in anj other department belonging to our Uncl€ Samuel.

This is in passing merely, but we cannot fail to note that the force hat been' greatly increased, and at present thfflte are many women acting as assistants. while before there were hardly any rhe Public Restricted.

This is only one of many changef made since the transfer to the new building and under the new management. It is not perhaps generally known, but the great Congressional library it one for reference merely. We, the publio, though having paid for it, are not privileged to more than the consulting of the books therein- unless we represent the people in congressional or senatorial capacity. Congressmen and senators, their clerks and intimate friends, the executive, of course, and a privileged few only can take books from this library. You may go there and read and read to your heart's content, between the hours of 9 in the morning and half past 4 in the afternoon, at any time except Sundays and holidays. But not every inhabitant of Washington, permanent or temporary, can give the necessary time required for the journey thither and the settling down at a publio desk for the consultation of books, however nire they may be. Then, again, there are the thousands of people employed in the various branches of government, hundreds among whom have as yet seen only the exterior of the library building, beoause the hours of opening and closing are coincident with those of their own departments. The fact is now particularly emphasized that this library is one originally intended for use of °enators and congressmen, members of the supreme court and occupants of the White House, and not for the general public. It is only through the courtesy of our representatives that we can enjoy its privileges at all.

Before the removal, if I desj^ed a book to read at leisure, I could obtain it by depositing its value or a certain sum of money with the librarian, but now in order to see it I must haunt the library itself and am not allowed to take it hence at all. I will not say this is not perfectly right as regards a reference library or respecting books in demand in constant use by our lawgivers, but there is another view of the matter. It is held that there should be a discrimination as between the classes of books, and that we should be allowed to take out such as are not particularly in request for reference strictly. It ie the intention, I understand, to convert the old library halls in the capitol into a reference room for the legislators and also perhaps for the holding of the law library of the supreme court. At present every book of the Congressional library is stored in the new struoture and is sent on demand by underground carriers to the capitol.

It is now 25 years since Librarian Spofford made his original recommendation for a separate building for the Congressional library, and that he bag lived to witness the consummation of his plans and the fruition of his hopes, still in the capaoity of custodian of thie great and growing collection, is a speaking commentary on the stability of our governmental institutions.

Costly Volumes.

We have got the finest struoture of its kind in the world, holding at present about 1,000,000 books, with shelving for 2,500,000 and a total capacity for over 4,000,000. The building and grounds have oost about $6,617,000, or about $6 per volume at present holding.

Since so many millions have been expended in making it the nearly perfect monument of learning that it undoubtedly is, why not add a few more thousands and make it a precious boon to mankind at large for time present and to come?

Apropos of this suggestion, I may mention that there is already a bill prepared to be offered early in this'session of congress for making this library (as it is tersely stated) "a publio document." The idea of the senator who

JOB* BTOBKLL TOtTKO.

will offer this bill is, as I have already indicated above, that the library should be open every night, including Sundays and holidays, as late as 10 o'clock.

As a corollary of this bill, he believes, a "pub. doc.," descriptive of the peerless structure and its precious contents, adequately illustrated, should be Issued by the government, for free distribution. particularly among the schools and colleges. Thus this the greatest achievement of its kind the century has witnessed, with its records of the achievements of all the centuries since the world began, would become an inspiration, an uplifting intellectual force among the people of this land, fear and ty whom it was erected.

liiit

#. A.

Oan.

AleibUUles

Aldbiades was an excellent representative of the young Athenians of his time. He was witty, eloquent, full of generous impulses, luxurious, unscrupulous and absolutely without reverence. His character was full of contradictions. was the most beautiful youth in Athens. He had wealth, ancient family and powerful friends. He fairly bewitched the people. His doings were the town talk, and once he cut off the tail of his beautiful dog, for which he had paid over $1,000, saying that if fiie people did not have the mutilation of his dog to talk about they might be saying worse things about him.

He lived lavishly and wantonly, and after he had wasted most at his property he married a rich wife, Hipparete, daughter of Hipponicus, who in time became justly indignant at his way of life and left him. She sought a divorce, but in order to obtain this she had to apply in person to the chief magistrate. As she was on her way to the offioe her husband seized her and carried her by force to his .home, where she remained with him until her death.

Alcibiades came to a violent death. He was on his way to Babylon to the court of the great king when enemies set fire to his dwelling by night, and he was killed as he leaped through the flames. No country ever suffered or gained more from the changing fortunes of a single person than Athens from the fortunes of Aloibiades.-—St. Louis Bepublia

He tore a leaf out of a notebook, wrote a few words upon it and handed it to her.

It read: "Looshoo. Apply onoe a day." "You can get it at almost any place," he explained. There is no charge. You are welcome."

After inquiring in vain at several drug stores for "looshoo" she showed the prescription to a friend, who studied it a moment and said: "Why, that is plaiia' eubtigh. It means loose shoe.

The prescription was tried and proved effective.—Pittsburg Dispatch.

Thought It Was Slang.

Although the name of Biddle is a well known one to many besides the Four Hundred of Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, Baltimore and elsewhere, it seems that this magic name conveyed only dense confusion to an Englishman once visiting the City of Brotherly Love, as proved by the following little story:

Alter a sojourn for a week in that quiet but delightful place, where he was feted and honored to his heart's oontent, he asked a friend confidentially: "Can you tell me what they mean here by a 'biddle?' I hear it continually and on all sides—'She is a biddle,' 'Oh, he is a biddle, you know!' 'They are all right, of course they are biddies.' Now, what in the name of all that is unmentionable is a biddle?''—Current literature.

Portrait Kyas.

We all know that the eyes of an oil portrait follow one all around the room. That is because the painted eyes have the pupils in the oenter, and, naturally, they stay there, no matter what the position of the observer. In life, however, the pupil could not remain in the center unless the head were turned. This is the solution of a perplexing and yet a simple problem.—New York Pre®.

fell! 'Bad Manners.

There is a story of a Scottish "original" who when naked by some young ladies to cross a doubtful piece of ice to test its strength preliminary to their skating epos it replied, "Na, na if I'm daft I ken mainners—leddies first" —London Pun.

Wicquefort's curious work on "Emssadors" Is dated from his prison, where he had been confined for state affairs. He softened the rigor of those heavy hours by several historical works.

Tmititm tl AUTE 8ATTJRPAY EV-KNTNG MAIL, DECEMBER 11, 1897.

Athens.

Not cm Official Alter AIL

One day a postoffice official, happening to be passing through a government office with which he was connected, saw a man standing before afire reading a newspaper. Hours afterward, returning the same way, he was shocked to find the same man, legs extended before the same fire, still absorbed in the contents of a newspaper. "Hello, sir!" cried the indignant head of the department. "What are you doing?" "Can't you see' what I am doing?" was the answer. "Sir, I came through this office four hours ago and found you reading the paper. I return, and you are still wasting your time in the same manner," "Very true. ,You,hayj^te^ thepase to a nicety." SS /Hereupon the head of the department naturally fired up. ^{5. v, "What's your name, sir?" V. "t "Well, I don't know that my name is any affair of yours. What is your name?" "Sir, I would have you know that I am the so-and-so of the postoffice.'' "Indeed! Well, I am very glad to hear it. I am, sir, simply one of the publio, a mere item who has been waittog here for four hours for an answer to a simple question, and11should bemuoh obliged if you would use your influence to get me attended to. "—Strand Magazine.

It Was a Good Prescription.

ife

A lady who had suffered tortures from acorn upon one of her toes called on- a professional ohiropodist. He soon relieved her of the hardened little offender and besides paying him his fee she thanked him heartily. "Please tell me, dootor," she said, "how I can prevent another one coming in its place." "Well, madam," he replied, after a moment's reflection, "I am doctor enough, perhaps, to give you a prescription that will always prevent a corn from coming."

Costly Pipes.

Among the pipes shown at a jewelry establishment was one of meerschaum, with an amber mouthpiece, the bowl being crowned with a gold mounting that covered the rim around the top and extended down the sides to the depth of perhaps a quarter of an inch below the edge. On top the mounting was flat and smooth below the edge, on the sides, it was etched. The price of this pipe was $110. The owner of a pipe with a gold rim around the top might smoke it, or it might be that he would let it lie on his table.

Jeweled pipes are not an article of common sale, but they are not so uncommon as to be remarkable. Such pipes are usually mounted to order, and they are probably always bought for gifts. They are variously mounted, sometimes with a band of diamonds and rubies around the bowl at the top, sometimes diamonds are set around the stem where the mouthpiece joins it. A jeweled pipe may cost $250.

Silver mounted meerschaum pipes at $50 are articles of regular sal a There are pipes of this sort at prices ranging from $20 to $75. These are not carved pipes, but usually perfectly plain. They are of the finest materials and workmanship and of fine designs.

There are perfectly simple little brier pipes with a plain silver mounting and amber mouthpiece that'sell at $15, but the brier is the very choicest and handsomest, the amber mouthpiece of the finest quality and joined to the pipe by a look stem, and all the workmanship on the pipe is of the best. They are the very finest of brier pipes.—New York Sun

Those Who Endure

The pains of rheumatism should be reminded that a cure for this disease may be found in Hood's Sarsaparilla. The experience of those who have taken Hood's Sarsaparilla for rheumatism, and have been completely and permanently cured, proves the power of this medicine to rout and conquer this disease. Hood's Sarsaparilla is the One True Blood Purifier and it neutralizes the acid which causes the aches and pains of rheumatism. This is why it absolutely cures when liniments and other outward applications fail to give permanent relief. Be sure to get Hood's.«Kp ssll®

Charles A. Dana.

He knew good writing when he saw it, and also good vferse, and he liked both, not as a merchant likes goods, but as an artist loves art. There never was an editor more inspiring to his subordinates. His taste was a literary standard that was respected from San Francisco to Eastport Very possibly the best days to have known Mr. Dana as an editor were the old days when The Sun was still a four page paper, whioh swelled to eight on Sundays, and when the staff was still comparatively small and every line of space counted. In those days certain ly The Sun office was a fold where art was loved for art's sake and where as piring talent, uncertain of itself, found recognition, guidance and opportunity* —Harper's Weekly.

Jumping at a Conclusion, r.

"I understand," said the popular member of congress, "that you are going to vote against me." "Yes," replied Farmer Corntosael firmly "that there is my intention." "I am very sorry to learn that I have forfeited your confidence after serving for so many years. Is there anything in particular that has caused you to take this stand?" "No, nothin in particular, only jes' a general impression thet a man oouldn't git along as well in politios as you've done without there bein somethin suspicious somewhere. "—-Atlanta Constitution.

It is estimated that there are 1,800,000 Irish people in Australia.

Catarrh, like scrofula, is a diseease of the blood and may be cured by purifying the blood with Hood's Sarsaparilla.

Try Grain-O! Try Graln-Ol Agk your Grocer to-day to show you a package of GRAIN-O, the new food drink that takes the place of coffee. The children may drink it without injury as well as the adult. All who try it, like it. GRAIN-O has that seal brown of Mocha or Java, but it is made from pure grains, and the most delicate stomach receives It without distress- the price of coffee. 15c. awl 35 ctss. per package. Sold by all grocers.

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ST""*

]iP Cabinet of Cariosities. The Professional Woman's league is proud of a cabinet of curiosities which stands in the drawing room and is, it hopes, the nucleus of a rare collection. There are the dagger used by the late E. L. Davenport in "Othello," a scarf of white satin embroidered in gold and a jeweled Maltese cross belonging to Fanny Kemble a medallion of carved coral once the property of Adah Isaacs Menken, autographed slippers of Patti and Melba and boots worn by Mrs. D. P. Bowers. There are also jeweled gloves worn 'by Miss May Brookyn. The caricature sketches, pen and ink. made by the late Sol Smith are most interesting. A yellow satin gown is there which was worn by Mrs. W. G. Jones at the New Bowery theater in 1864, and whioh originally belonged to Mrs. Farren, and a spangled dress whioh Miss Louisa Mortimer (Mrs. Louisa Eldridge) wore at the age of 18. Mme. Ponisi's dippers in which she trod the boards in the character of Rqpaeo in 1855 are ex hibited. An old fashioned decanter used by the late William Warren, a jeweled necklaoe worn by the late John R. Scott and old engravings of Jenny Lind and David Garrick are numbered among the relics.—New York Tribune.

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