Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-25
dWOetester Bully Syn
The Tenants of the Astor Library.
From the X. Y. journal of Commerce.

Neither the war nor the weather nor any
other matter of human concern, seems to
have the least effect upon the babitues of the
Aston library. They may be seen there eve
ry day, occupying the same places, and evil
IDENTIFY feeling sort of proprietary interest in
particular chairs and tables, as if they were
personal requests from the distinguished mil
ionaire who gave his name and a good share
OF his wealth to this excellent institution.
Who these regular attendants are nobody
knows. Some of them are addicted to the
pursuit of pleasant and harmless hobbies. I'm
mense and complete treatises on conchology,
lchthyology, entomology, pal9ontology, and
other sciences, out of which it is not possible
to make any money, may be seen spread on
their tables, furnishing materials for the filling
up OF notebooks, in which these singular gem
tlemen are constantly making entries, in fine
hands, with stumps of lead pencils. Or their
taste runs to languages, and they are revel-
ing in hieroglyphics, or sanscrit, or Arabic, or
Hindoostanee, Cherokee, or Choctaw, or
some other bothering tongue, full facilities for
the cultivation of which may be had in the As
tor library. The ruling passion of these in
detalgable laborers is supposed to be a love of
study. Secondary to that-if they are prac-
teal enough to entertain such business-like
idea-is a laudable desire to publish books.
MY 1OiiNlJ AOpS Will NC lcdu anu dD-
preciated by few quiet gentlemen who are
absorbed in their particular hobbies, in various
parts of the globe. The obstinate prejudices
of the book-publshers generally prevent the
realization Of this cherished idea Sometimes
one sees, in magazines, articles on odd, out
ot-the-way subjects, which might have been
''read up for at the Astor library. This Job
work is probably done by outsiders; for the
regular bibliomaniacs would scorn to write a
short popular paper on anything especially if
illustrated by pictures. They write books
and large books-or nothing.
These unintermitting students come to the
library within five minutes after it is opened,
and stay until the closing hour, of which the
janitor gives formal notice. Some tear
themselves away from their fascinating vol
umes for half hour between twelve and one
o'clock, and go in quest of dinner or lunch
somewhere. Others bring gingerbread in
their pockets, and eat it furtively out of their
hands, as if they were doing guilty act not
to be seen of men. They are very careful
about the crumbs; but those little evidences
OF surreptitious meals may sometimes be
found mashed between the pages of books
years perhaps after they were dropped there.
This class of the Astor Library frequenters
leave the building at night with sigh. If the
rules of the Library permitted it, they would
bring their beds with them and sleep on the
tops of their favorite table, with their pet
books as pillow. This plan would enable
them to commence reading at sunrise and
would ensure them the uninterrupted possess
sion of their chosen seats. The ghost which
is said to have been seen in the Library year
before last, lodging about among the dustiest
alcoves, was undoubtedly the simulacrum1 of
worthy gentleman who never missed day
n hA TEpo,~ 1,41 a., Ill l.
ment down to the period of his mysterious dis
appearance. In his capacity of ghost he
must have had good time. During the
night he had the whole Library to himself, and
could explore his dear old books and manu-
scripts without going through the formality of
writing his name on slip of paper and giving
1t to the librarian. This is a tedious process,
and very distressing to a modest man, (such
as the lamented was,) who wants great deal
Of waiting on. We do not undertake to say
whether this innocent ghost has possession of
the Library at the present time or not. That
depends on whether he has got through the
piles of venerable literary rubbish of which
he was so fond during his mortal days That
task accomplished, he would probably move
off to some other library, in search of other
stores of antiquities.
One or two winters ago, it was discovered
very cold days, to warm their feet The
books which they called for were false pre-
fences to hide the reality of thawing out their
toes. tits probable that many visitors to the
library during the warm weather seek it as "a
shelter from the sun. Though the costly Ii
brary was not endowed, built, and supplied
with books as a refuge from the cold of win
ter or the warmth of summer visitors of eve
ry description are welcomed and can stay as
long as they behave themselves.
The noble object of the founder of this
library was to establish a storehouse Of liter
ture to which the people, without regard to
birth or condition, should have free access.
Thousands of persons of both sexes and of all
ages, avail themselves of this great privilege.
And although the pleasant book-worms to
whom we have referred are life-tenants Of the
library, it must not be supposed that there is
not room enough in its ample halls for all"