Middletown transcript., 1871-01-21

Works Of fiction bear small proportion
/ TO other classes Of literature. Three al
coves alone are occupied By novels and the
like, and these alcoyes are the only ones
in the library left unlocked aud into which
those privileged to draw books are allowed
TO 20. and themselves search for the vol
unc desired The reason for excluding
the public from access to the shelves is
obvious. Few persons are careful to re-
place books after handling them, and on
the order in which the books are kept de-
pcnds the facility and expedition with
which they can be found when wanted.
The circulation Of this library is limit
ed An act Of Congress provides that on
ly the President aud Vice President Of the
United States, the members of the .Cabi-
net, Judges Of the United States Supreme
Court, members of the Senate and House
Of Representatives. Secretary Of the Sen.
ate, Clerk Of the House. Agent Of the joint
Committee on the Library. and members
Of the Diplomatic Corps can take the books
to their homes. Only u fow years back
members Of Congress could transfer to 9th
crs the privilege Of using the books out
side the reading-room in consequence
many valuable workcs were lost Now .hc
privileges is absolutely no, transferable
The immediate families of the officials
above named alone can draw books. and
by them are the three alcoycs which are
lett open used.
Tor reference the library is constantly
used and persons seeking information on
any ice, whore books can furnish as
sis,ancc f'om the large proportion Of read
crs. Almost all Of the many who may be
always seated at the tables reading here
come for purpose. and the results Of
their researches a.'c III the most cases TO
bo made public american and foreign
authors are frequently seen here, and
proof Of the perfection # the system used
in arranging the books y the fact that any
one asking for book i supplied with It
within iiyc minutes il The n, required i,
in the library In the British Museum
SO much rcd tlpr' is necessary before
reader can receive what he wan that a
half hour Is always consumed before az j,
given the work BE- wi.hcs
lfpossihlc, it would be curious 70 aca
the tastes and mental ben, Of prominent
members Of Congress hy the lallmc.
credited 10 them during the session. hut
the list 4 book, placed 10 the ae5nu' n
one OF these would give false notion Of
his pursuit. owing 10 those three open al
coycs, whore his wife daughters. or 81
ters mny bury themselves in romance and
cngult his innocent aamc in a whirlpool
OF sentimental trash The honorable rln-
tlcmen Win draw bpol.. for their awn usc
are comparatively FIX TIL readers OF
student. At he present time are not M
merou- IN ll1u,o or Senate
The operation Il ibc Copyright law
throws INTO the library Il Cungres, a hrlc-
rogcneaas mass Copyrighted work, herc-
toiorc PILED in tho store rpou.s of Tie In
terror department are now n rratsss Of
removal 10 the Capitol. and VIII he for
the first time ca,altguea and prepared for
the public use With hetgs,h aal wat..s
Of NJ value. come = vel tic original
editions of all imrrean authors. and am
PIE compensation lor the space accorded
10 useless or rurro.elts, works j. Ia ;lc
pos.r. sion Of enr.,, Of the or;r r.ua. izsg, of
the carie.t publ 'aiiens Of VI, mos emi
aeu, pos ani mites Whittier. hong.
frl!oS. Irfing. Lowell FIR c@amlIa
The very valuable collection, Il lgoks
added at tarou, times Il this librfs have
been the Jefferson law library, ,al, Is it,
founder during his lifetime, hceaase Of
recuuiarr embarrassment The library of
,hc Smithsonian Institute, AMI t. Peter
Force library THIS last collection Ia.
ponds fts It's value mguly on !ts wealth Of
political anil historical works relating to
America
The lax library : placed in the room
used Is the United Stsies supreme Court
from ls1a 10 1861 This fac, alaae gives
interest 10 the room, because Of its many
valuable historical associations II Is a
roan. scmi-cir aler IN
form. seveliy-fye fcct in iiame;ss. with
grained ceiling The collection Of law
books here found, has few riyals IN the
world There are 2191o volumes. oi
which 60 belong to thr Jefferson coltc.
ton. There are 500 volumes containing
single trials. Two different editions Of
the celebrated trial Of R5han, la Motto.
and cngliostro are shown This trial is
otherwise known as that of the +" 6aiiicr .
d H. Rim. or Queene's Nerklace and .
the history is given of the famous diamond
which, in reality, was nuc of
the causes Of the bloody rcvolut,aaaf i1sa
tine of the volumes is an original edition,
published while the trial wgs in progress +;
the other is later work. and gives an
engraving of the fatal necklace, in which
the diamnns are represented as onc-third
their actual size Il is beautifully de-
signed ornament in appearance. II was
cruril; designed one in reality, when every
brilliant represented drop Of llfe.blood
from the lovely throat ii was meant to Gu
circle. Unhappy Marie Antoinctte
4 queer little book with two mos, com
ical illustrations, better as hurlesqncs in
their very seriousness than any caricaturcs
could have been \ volume containing