New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-11-10

WA Pearlst There Croton water, no ga, Ia
early days that the Mercantile Library was nron
What has IL accomplished since that timei y na and by
its prnce Income innSmerabe volumes added eaGn
for the instruction and education 1 % On the pres
ent building on attorpace merchant Of tSe city
to an G% a
free from debt May its prCsRsssiyy !" i%turci
.1,',,o" ar, r,,v ppv. HENRY POTTER, d. D.
IT. ~ n potter referred pleasantly 10 MS cary
11.,o ,,h tho Association. describing MS lcai ."
'n, s,',,,os 70 the inspiration which nc hau re
aaS g., The alcoves the Library when ne was , se 81
whose ThanatoPss was one or the earliest
Works Which he had read IN ,nS btwaen high and
ai"vated commerce. and hgh ana , e%V ,sth
can hooks and magazines He ridcued the notion
entertaned by Bostonians that the Intelligence OF ie
country conferred there and closed Win eA ressng us
before the Mercantile Library
ADDRESS OF MAYOR HALL.
Mayor Hall then introduced, and spoke aefoilows;
remember 10 have heard 1t we'll said that an eplogue
ought to he short and should be crisp must also re-
member that for him who pronounces the epogue there
is generally inserted the programme lest his vanity
he wounded this sentence: Ladies and gentlemen are
requested 70 remain until the close OF the performance
their going out dturhs the harmony o the occasion
epOguespcaker is as you are all well aware, too much
accustomed to speaking from platforms when are sur
Every gentleman named in this programme (nolding 1t
up ought 20 feel honored when he notices how the lu
has it's finale" Popular Airs" Both appropriate
selections for this Institution 1t is gratifying ior inc
on It's 10th anniversary Others have so exhausted the
suhiectmatters associang themselves with the ami
limit myself therefore, TO epilocue.
The term mercantile applied TO such an association Is
appropriate in double sense. when We recall that the
first public library instituted after the Dark Ages began
TO merge into the dawn OF civilization was founded by
,UCY amt nd M Of
growth Of your own library is interesting enough 10
trace, hut will be found still more interesting when You
Florcntine beginning Seated IN yonder readngroonl
evening and thinking that in A. d. 400 the Oxford
Library in England consisted OF few tracts In chest,
and that the library OF neighborinG Abbey OF Croyand
consisted of few volumes which to borrow involved ex
communication, sentence then in all minds than
and sfrofusions of the last haf of the nine
teenth century remembering that for scores OF years
afterward books In even private libraries were Grained,
that readers obtained the milk OF their literature as
dairy maid returns with rich from kline that have
been ethered in green pastures lest too much roaming
As New-York civic authority, class public libraries
among the munfcent dpensaries otthis city Inc Iat
be written the sgn-words which according to Deodorus
arose over the portals Of the arst Egy Ptan punns
luxurious age IN comparison with the prices Of other
things the fee of S. year and even less aost makes
this institution free library, and much freer than an
other library hard by, which is always closed to the
worka-day world. And have the happiness to an
that 1t is in the contemplation OF the city author
tiles land you will he magnanous enough 10 cry amen,
although it matter of competition WILL before long,
by an arrangement with Peter Cooper to assist him. as
il should, in properly perfeCting ireeending library
quarter of century ago, the name OF your eplogue
speaker, am proud to remember, was inscribed on
the books OF this Institution and often amid the roar OF
metropolis he pauSes To recOect with gratitude the
cosy Quetude Of those dear readingoOms III Old Clinton
Hail. In the very center of neighD0rho0d that now may
no well described the readin of Amerca-the
great OF territory devoted to newspapers. Well
may any association celebrate ts ftieth anniversary OF
library organization. These golden weddings.
Shakespeare says Let not TO the marriage OF true
minds admit impeachment"
DO not libraries, in sense wed true minds Tor dis
cussiOn and pleasant interchanges Of mental ef Long
in the future OF the City NewIOrk may this association
wonderfully and deservedy It has in the
past Long into it's portals there tbrong not only
merchants and clerks but their wives and daughters 10
shut out for brief time, at least the perpeXtes OF
business and society And long may every subscriber
remember the beautiful salutatOn OF the Copenhagen IL
brarian, commencing
Salrete mel AbeIi,
and which may be rendered thus:
Hail my books my god n tressufnl
Objects of delicious pleasures,
Whom rejoicing please,
Whom IN
introducing and
Lights who besned hrongh many ages,
Then left leaves their
And their
And their hopes Of fame scheyei
Them, dear books, you neer deeeivetl
After the conclusion Of the Mayors address, which was
frequently applauded, the orchestra played closing
lection, and the audience retired.