Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-01-17
BosroN, Jan. stll, 1867


Dear Commercial -
Among the noticeable institutions of this
city, the circulating Libraries cannot but at
tract the attention of people residing here
any length of time; their number and COM
pleteness astonishcs the stranger. would |
like to give you some statistics on this sub |
ject being unablet to do so, can speak but |
generally, but will no doubt astonish you
when ] state that the aggregate number of
volumes in these libraries amounts to many |
thousands. On Washington, fremont, and
other neighboring streets, alone, there are at
least dozen establishments, and through
out the entire city there are innumerable
Every little suburb too, has its library, as in
dispensable to il as the Post Office. Some
OF the largest in the city proper, such as
Lorings', or Iindsays', on Washington street,
for example are quite en- regie in their pro-
portions and appointments, catalogues, num-
Der of librarians &c. Nor are the shelves
devoted entirely to fictitious works, as we
see i'll other places every variety OF solid,
even classic and abstruse reading matter, is
| to be found upon them. AT the best otthese
establishments, if a work on any subject is
not in the library when inquired for by Il sub
scriber, ii will be purchased at once and pla-
ced at his order-an official notifying him at
/
Which is avery comfortable arrangement to
be sure Then the books in most demand
are kept in such famous duplicate that one
never need wait indefinitely for what he
wants, which we all know to be the great
bore Of these libraries generally, when
GrWM Gdunt was published, Loring
placed at once one hundred copies Of the
work upon his shelves. Ii is but a single
instance of the way this is managed here In
t,,.,t i,tt
as in all other matters as reading people
Bostonians command that suitable provision
be made for them. But what makes them
so essentially Il reading and thoughtful peo-
pie and that is what cannot answer.
While upon the subject of books, n word
concerning the Pubtic Library may be of
interest to your readers. People see here,
: as a Frenchman would say, magnificent
/ building, containing 1870, 900 volumes, thrown
open, absolutely free, to the accommodation
OF Whomsoever chooses to enjoy its priyile-
ges. What these advantages are, one needs
, only TO visit the libraries of other leading
! cities to speedily learn.
Tie Astor Library, New York, for exam
: pie, is also free, but ii is library Of refer
G ence merely; books cannot be taken from
c the building Also, its hours Of opening
Y and closing-trom 10 o'clock A. NJ, till an
:. hour before sunset--are most convenient FOL
l
: convenience of those who most need tho
e library. This immense Boston Library, on
j. the contrary is open, rather is expressly
iHtcntted for home use, the Directors il
: their annual reports-whch are largely cir
/ culated-calling on the people, urging then
l. TO frequent the Library, saying that tn,
books were bought for use, and that til,
highest qualification the public could bestov
on the officers Of its selection, would be [,
| cnt ~ violin
e possible, that another lot may be at one,
i purchased That is the tone, at least, spiri
: ted, encouraging. Besides the Library
x proper, there are extensive reading rooms
o elegant and comfortable, supplied will
/ everything a man could possibly ask for
- and all free as air.
: The claims OF New York to compete witt
= this great establishment ] have exposed :
Of The Cooper Institute" in that city is 0
more real use than the "Astor," but its pro
=, portions are trivial, compared with the Bos
:, ton Library.
~ Philadelphia, | believe, has no pretcnc
he to Free Library Baltimore has nobl
" charity in the peabody Institute, but ther
I, again we find a Library of reference simply
and ! contend that such institutions exei
II little influence compared with those ope
IS, for home use
Il. You must permit me to congratulate 70
h. upon the very tlourishing appearance OF til
- COMMERCIAL, gratifying condition bt
IN ing further evidenced by the appearance {
&c the DELAWARE TRIBUNE the first number
h. which has just reached me. These thing
i must be honey to your friends and worn
! wood TO your enemies, if you have an,
It's May you live long and prosper. All the pi
he pers here copy your good things systcmat
mt cally and without giving credit, which is
burning shame. ] must also say word lt
IS the modesty of your g Three months at
'M dress, printed last week; it brought tears [
of my eyes.
in All this, however, has nothing to do wit
=, Boston matters; to say the truth all sue
no are so dull at present that any digressio
seems a relief There is no business, II 20
re- will believe mems talk, yet the streets an
nd shops are as lively as ever. This businc
NV mans talk is very mysterious il eth,
means nothng,or else it is very deep indee
IS, which amounts to the same thing perhap
ws for outsiders cannot understand il. The
n! have been failures here, said to be owing
fps the Banks refusing loans and discounts
,ial necessary measure for the Strengthening
the their own quarterly accounts with the go
ian eminent. This week they will resume The
ese accommodations to merchants, which il
ub- thought will prevent any further disaster
Of Even as il Is, there has been nothing seiiou
Of If g Russia would only come in with Ii
ors tallows' now, We should be all right, VIII
md niuddle it all is, oh n
!, in One thing Is not muddled, Of one fact the
ere Is no uncertainty, it is that / am,
try Yours truly,
/