Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-13


they are making notes. That half-score of men
and women are the ones who just now form the
thought of our part of the world. Many of the
best papers and editorials which appear in our
newspapers and magazines are really written in
the Astor library, and without the facilities
thereby afforded, could never have been truth
fully written.
Some formalities must be observed before one
can gain full access to all the treasures of the
Astor library. Behind railing which shuts off
the reading room from the proper library, you
will see gentleman of the medium stature,
dark hair, and bright dark eyes. If you wish
10 consult book on any subject, but do not
know exactly what the book is, your better way
is 10 ask him. Most likely he can tell you what
you want. He speaks always in a low tone al
most whisper; that is indeed the PREVAILING
tone of the Aston library. To speak here in a
loud voice, would shock all the prophecies of
the place. You ask the gentleman for books on
any particular subject. If you do not know
what books there are, most likely he can tell
you. So by his aid you make out your list, and
in few minutes You find them on the table
where you propose TO work. This courteous
gentleman, who so cheerfuly assists you, is not
altogether unknown to a wider world. He is
Mr.. Frederick Saunders, whose books, ''Salad
for the Social" and "Salad for the Solitary"
have come TO be a part of our literature. |
think his official title is assistant Librarian of
the Astor Library"
Rarely in the large room of the Astor library
will one see more than half score of persons.
They are all hard at work; but from their num-
Der one gets only faint idea of the real work
performed in the library. All around on the up
per floors are quiet little alcoves, sheved around
with books, bearing as far as possible on a
single subject, Thus one alcove will be devoted
to "Ancient History" another to "the DRAMA"
another to American History and so on.
Each alcoye has plain table and single chair.
If you are known to the librarian, or properly
introduced to him, he will give you permission
TO study and work in one of these alcoves, where
you have at your hand the materials from
which to elaborate your book or article Not a
few of our most brilliant magazine papers, and
several books of great merit, have been mainly
wrttenin these calm recesses.
The Astor library, as it exists, is simply IL
brary for reference and study. No book be-
lieve is ever allowed TO be taken away. |
doubt whether this idea of a purely scholars
library ever entered into the MUD Of the most
practical John Jacob Astor when be founded
and largely endowed it. The idea of it have
no doubt, was approved by his son, VIM. B.
AstOr, man of fine culture, who added to the
origin al bequest, a sum Of quite equal amount
There has been much question upon the point
whether the benefits of the library should not
be more widely extended. 1t should be kept
open, say some, during more hours in the day.
l think there is good ground for the suggestion.
would have the library open quite an hour
earlier-say at nine o'clock instead of ten; and
would have it kept open until twilight, the hour
of closing varying with the season, from four
until seven This would involve some extra la
Dor on the part Of the Librarians; but think
it would more fully carry out the
views of the donors. have now and
then seen in the newspapers complaints of
lack of courtesy on the part of the attaches of
the library. Quite likely several demonstrative
members of the press" have failed to receive
the consideration which they thought their due.
But do not believe that any gentleman has
ever had good reason for complaint. Few men
have had more frequent occasion than myself to
study in the Aston library, and have in no one
instance had reson TO find fault; but on the con-
trary have scores of times received couresies
which had no right to ask, except as Il matter
of kindness. The bequest of the Astor library
is a noble one, for which the public owe more
thanks than they know. Still it should be kept
in mind that it is an institution whose direct
benefit is confined to the few rather than TO the
many.
Three minutes walk from Lafayette place and
the Astor library brings one to public nsttu.
ton differing in every respect save this one. 1t
is also gift to the people, made also by single
individual.
AT the point where two crowded avenues FORK,
stands building which | think about the
ugliest ever saw. Only that the windows are
not grated, stranger would set it down as a
wOrkhouse or jail. 1t is redeemed from absolute
meanness only by a kind of solidity of structure,
indicating thattwas built to stand. This build.
ing is the Cooper institute" of the founder of
which wish TO say something.
Peter Cooper was born on Long Island four
score and one years ago that is in 1891. His father
was halter on a small SCALE and Peter helped
III the shop. When seventeen years old he was
apprenticed to coachmaker. He invented
machine for shearing cloth Out Of his time as
apprentice, he took up business on his own ac-
count. He thought there was something
in his shearing machines, and took
three of them in wagon up the North river,
hoping to find purchaser He met with no
success until he reached Poughkeepsie There
he met with the owner Of fulling mill, who
bought one Of the machines for $3.50, together
with the right to use the machines in the county
for $3.50 more. The purchaser of Coopers
shearng machine was Mathew Vassar, whose
endowment Of the Vassar female college ranks
among the greatest of our public institutions
founded by individuals. Cooper prospered, at
first in a small way; and in 1913, thought him
self justified in marrying. Fifty years later,
that is in 1868, the golden wedding' of this
couple was celebrated Of this the Rev. DR..
Samuel Osgood has written genial sketch. OF
the half century intervening, have no space to
speak. Cooper engaged in various manulactur-
iuS eHtSi pliscs, III All vi winch ne was success
full. In 1850 he was rich man. About this
time he seems to have formed the idea of de-
voting most of his fortune to the use of the
public. Unlike Astor, he proposed to admin
lister upon his own estate. So about 1852 be be-
gan the building known as the Cooper institute.
In the course of his business he had entered into
the manufacture of iron as applied to architec-
tural purposes, especially the production of the
beams and Orders, which are essential to the
erection of an iron building. The institute
building had reached its first story, when in
1854 1t was suddenly stopped. The strangest
accounts of this got into the new spapcrs Of the
day. 1t was said that the northern portico of
the editice encroached few inches beyond the
ground belonging TO Cooper; that holders of adj
jacent property had procured an Injunction for.
bidding the prosecution OF the work; and that
Cooper determined that if the matter was prose
cuted, he would give up his purpose, tear down
the portco, and turn the whole struc-
ture into tenement house. All this
was pure invention of the newspapers.
The fact was just this; The printing establish
ment of the Harpers had been burned down,
nj tLn,, e..