New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-16

look Dewdered whenever ne was askeu LOT an unldlr
work. One day fellow clerk, wishing to speak with the
elder asked "Blll where is your paternal aneestor"
Pm sure don't know" replied the lad in tone OF de-
SPAR, " never know where half the books are!'
the great lesson Of salesman-aways to sell visitor
something whether the store contains what he asks for
or not digned gentleman III gold spectaces entered
and inquired: " Have you Feuchtwangers Gemsi -
large treatise jewels. The lad had never heard OF
nna Oqt SS SGs here IS
your Gems 81 e
ing and perplexed glance over his spectacles as II in
and then. without a word, turned upon his heel aud
salked of reluctant, like an ilused ghost A. d. X.
THE PRIVATE LIBRARIES OF CHICAGO
THE BOOK COLLECTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
LBRARY-S1,s0O FOR SINGLE BOOK
"ELLIoT's INDIAN BIBLE "-OTHER RARE
BOOKS AND Mss.-IIEALYs PAINTlNG-RaAP-
soDIEs OF A COLLECTOR.
CHICAGO Oct. 4.-"EveTy man." as Capt.
Frederic Ingham approvingy quotes, should know two
things-a vocation and an avocation" The number
OF Americans who find their avocation in bookcoectng
has increased enormously within the last few years 1t
has sent many agents abroad TO races with the
British Museum for newly discovered treasures and to
as,onsh London dealers by Offering reckless and unheard
OF prices II has increased tenod the value set upon
many old books In markets. This advance has
been, and continues TO be- so rapid that gradually
accumulated library. selected with fair taste and judg-
ment Of the best pecuniary provisions man can
make for his family. though the final breaking up and
dsposng OF 1t IL like the selling OF heirlooms. Less
than half dozen New.York and Boston dealers In rare
books keep the OF the private libraries OF the coun.
try with mnutcncss, but they are frequently
surprised find twenty forty OF fifty thousand dollars
worth OF choice and works suddenly thrown upon the
by the death Of some country collector OF whom
they had never heard
The most notable private libraries OF Chicago are those
OF John A. Rice, +. c. Asay l.. B. McCagg, Henry l..
Monroe. and Perry II. Smith. That OF g. W. Ordway,
until recently beonged In the category but IL has
been Sold and Mr.. ordway now devoes himself TO the
collection OF very few OF the very rarest works Mr.
Rice's library contains about 5000 volumes including
Dbdn which pronounced the finest in the world and
which cost 81 sOO and many other treasures OF old En-
gsh literature. Its great strength, however, is In
Americana" In this Experimentation, until very
lately was hestone that the builders rejected-it num-
beers 27O0 volumes, embracing several works that are
wholly unique and is Of the choicest and most yau-
able In the country.
Mr. RIces library ia especially rich In early
American imprints. including many books printed
by Marlnaduke johnson, at Cambridge, n. e. years
before a printing press was established in Boston
His series Of Andreana" is ne, and Is only exceed by
his gtonana." His "smiths History OF New
York; is the only known copy in large paper and large
norton OF his been made unusually interest
ing by the addition plates aud autograph letters
The Congressional Library excels IT, for by one OF the
miracles OF bunglibg system we have the right man
nc the head Of that in the OF A. r. spohord, who
knows books better than any other librarian In the coun
try and whose zeal is according 10 knowledge. year
or two ago. his inspiration, Congress voted 10
600 for collection Of the veteran Peter Force the
Washington Printer. with whom gathering books on
America was lifelong passion, and who, TO crafty it,
kept himself poor and his property morgaged nj per
cent a month. The addition OF his Incompatible coleo
ton has made the Congressional Lbrary-stroDg before
in that department-one in which may feel just ma
tonal pride. and which will prove mine OF boundess
richness to that Coming Man, who is yet 10 delight us
with worthy History Of the United States. How his
ardy footsteps would quicken his eyes could only be
opened to the green chapets whcwa to deck hs brow
and the yellow treasures pressed down ana running
| over that win stream into his.cofers
The only private Libraries which excel Mr. Rice's In
Americana" are those OF Carter Browne OF Proy-
dance and James Lenox OF NewYork and possibly that
of L. NJ BARLOW OF New-YOrk Here IS the compare
yeyl copy OF Eliots Indian Bible (Which
no living read except j. Hammond Trumbuh OF
Hartford with the King Charles dedication, ana in the
original binding. for which Mr.. Rice paid Nle6 Its
special interest lies In the dedication TO the goddess
Charles Puritan like, even the puresouled and apos-
tolc Elliot was wise after the manner Of nen He IN.
serted the address that "Most Dread Sovereign and
exemplary Defender Of the Faith" In 20 copies, which
we're sent TO England but carefully omitted II fiom the
two thousand or three thousand copies which were
we shall give TO Elliot that first place which he
deserves among four colonial heroes. not only Tor
his self-denying life. but for his stupendons liter
AIRY achieyements-the translation OF the entire Scrip
lures into new tongue and the preparation OF an Indian
and several other works all done in the midst
of active and absorbing practical duties
The Indian Bible sInot third fourth in .he list
OF rare American books. The frat Is Elliot "eiue anu
Mathers Version OF the Psalms OF David" Cambridge
lCIO) the earliest book printed In America only TWO
comics are known to exst-one in the Boston fuplc
Library 1.-THE other In the Bodleian Next comes Eots
Indian Governor" Of which there Is only one copy
| known-owned / believe, by Col. Trumbu of Hartford
But will try to stick my theme. Forty thousand
aoara has been refused for Mr. Rces collection II Is
rich In tracts and books our discovery colonial ana
revolutionary periods books often mere fascinating
than the most brilliant novel, and Of priceless historical
valne With its present fullness In Americana" ana
che enjoyed here for gathering early
works on the West ought TO grow into the most yalua
be OF all our private libraries In tins special department
Mr. McCacg mOdestly styles his collection-6,0oo vol
umes-" good working libraryp II is unusually sym
metrical and complete In all departments, especially IN
nertodical literature; but IL likewise rich In antique
treasures and in choice engravDgs. IL contains nne
"Purohass Voyages andlan original Paris Jenersohs
Notes on America" In an adjoining room hangs Heleys
large picture OF the Military Conference at Fortress Mon
roe at the beginning Of the campaign OF 1865 when was
painted for Mr. McCagg. Sherman seems 10 me dispro
large in ngure but good In face anda the
/ ha aba. xvlsh hia