The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-23
LIFE TENANTS OF THE Aston
LIBRARY.

AAA a AM nv 40 NE 4 II r. hoAOh
LIBRARY.
The following article, which we take
from a recent number of the New York
Journal of Commerce, will remind the
reader of the style Of Addison in some Of
his papers contributed to the Specta-
tor
Neither the war nor the weather, nor
any other matter Of human concern,
seems TO have the least effect upon the
haJitues of the AsiOr Library. They may
be seen there every day, occupying the
same places, and evidently feeling a sort
ofproprioarty interest in particular chairs
and tables, as if they were personal be-
quests from the distinguished million
aire who gave his name and good share
Of his wealth 10 this excellent institu-
ton. Who these regular attendants are
nobody knows. Some of them are adj
dioted TO the pursuit of pleasant and
harmless hobbies. Immense and COM
plete treatises on Conchology Ichthyo-
lsgy, Entomology, Paleontology, and
other sciences, out Of which it is rot pos
sible TO make any money, may be seen
spread on their tables, furnishing mate
rails for the filling up Of notebooks in
which these singular gentlemen are con-
stantly making entries in fine hands,
with stumps of lead pencils Or
their taste runs TO languages, and
they are reveing in Hieroglyphics,
or Sanscrit, or Arabic, or Hin
doostanee, or Cherokee, or Choctaw or
some other bothering tongue, full facili-
ties for the cultivation of which may be
had in the AstOr Library. The ruling
passion Of these indefatigable labOrers is
supposed to be love of study. Second
airy to that--if they are practical enough
TO entertain such business-like idea
is laudable desire to publish books
which they fondly hope will be read and
appreciated by a few quiet gentlemen
who are absorbed in their particular hob
bies, in various parts of the globe. The
obstinate prejudices Of the book publish
ers generally prevent the realization Of
this cherished idea. Sometimes one sees,
in magazines, articles on odd, out-Of-the-
way subjects, which might have been
"read up for at the Aston House Libra
ry. This job work is probably done by
outsiders for the regular dictionaries
would scorn to write short popular pa
per on any thing, especially if ILLUSTRATED
by pictures. They write books-and
| large bOoks-Or nothing.
These underwriting students come TO
the Library within five minutes after il
is opened, and stay until the closing
hour, of which the iaaitor gives formal
notice. Some tear themselves away from
their fascinating volumes for half hour
l,between twelve and one o'clock, and &c
in quest of dinner or lunch somewhere
Others bring ginger bread in their peck
cts, and eat it furtiyely out of their hats
as if they were doing a guilty act
not 10 be seen of men. They are very
careful of the crumbs, but these little
evidences Of surreptitious men, may
sometimes be found mashed between th,
pages of books, years perhaps after they
were dropped there. This class of Oh,
Astor Library frequenters leave the build
ing at night with q sigh. If the rules o
the Library permitted it, they woull
bring their beds with them, and sleep OF
the tops of their fayOrite tables, will
their pet books for a pillow. This plai
would enable them to resume reading a
sunrise, and would ensure them the un
interrupted possession of their chosel
seats. The ghost which was said {,
have been seen in the Library, year be
fore last, lodging about among tn
busiest shelves, was undoubtedly tn
simulacy7tnl Of a most worthy gen
tlemen who never missed a day at the III
brary from the date of.its establishment
down 70 the period of his mysterious dis
appearance. In his capacity of ghost IA
must have had a good time. During th
night he had the whole Library TO him
self and could explore his dear old book
and manuscripts without going throug
the formality of writing his name on
slip Of paper and giving il TO the librari
an. This is a tedious process, and YER
distressing TO a modest man, (such as th
late lamented was,) who wants a grea
deal of waiting on. We do not under
take 10 say whether this innocent ghos
has possession Of the Library at thi
time or not. That depends on whsthe
he has got through the piles Of venerabl
literary rubbish of which he was so fOn
during his mortal days. That task &C
complshed, he would probably move o
TO some other library, iu search Of othS
stores Of antiquities.
zone or two winters ago, il was dis
covered that poor people came TO the As
tor Library, on very cold days, TO war;
their feet The books which they Gale
for were false pretences to hide the real
) ty Of thawing out their toes. 1t is prof.
able that many visiters TO the Librar
during the warm weather seek il as
shelter from the sun. Though the cost
Library was not endowed, built an
supplied with books as a refuge from Il
, cold of winter or the warm Of summe
) visiters Of every description are WELDON
ed and can stay as long as they beha'
themselves.
"The noble object Of the founder
l this Library was 10 establish stor'
% house Of literature TO which the peOpl
I without regard TO birth or conditio
: should have free access. Thousands
- persons, Of both sexes and Of all age
avail themselves of this great priyileg
Aud although the pleasant book worms
|. whom we have referred are liie-tenan
Of the Library, il must not be suppos'
that there is not room enough in its a.
9 pie halls for all. 70"