Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-17
Evenings in the Library-NO. 1.

Eighty years ago! NO wonder we lOu0gers
in the Reading Room are requested to re.
move hats, on entering the presence of this
venerable accumulation. But whether, by
these printed suggestions on the walls, our cen
Grafton or our manners are aimed at, there is
much to command respect 10 the age OF the In
sttution and of many of the books.
Eighty years ago, viz: on the Eth OF July,
1894, there was gathering of prominent
Al, xandrians at the house Of John Wise. The
result of this meeting was the formation of a
voluntary Association ''for establishing Cir
culaiug Library
About ten days thereafter, at an adjourned
meeting, the election Of officers took place. AS
the first President, the Association chose Rev.
James Muir and as Directors, Elisha Z. Dick,
John Gill, Robert Mease, W iliialn Hartshorue,
Charles Sinus. Johu d. Orr, Charles Lee aud
,Johu Fitzgerald; Treasurer. Samuel Craig;
Librarian, Edward Stabler Our city Directory
for thi, year of grace, 1874, shows no trace OF
.urue of thase names, while u lew are still per
mtuated amongst Us in the persons OF honored
citizens
The Association continued voluutry for sew
crul Years. In l79S the Legislature of Vir-
pipia passed au act of incorporation, which
proving defective, was succeeded 10 the follow
ing session by second act ln this 1t appears
that iii is represented to the present General
Assembly that suudry inhabitants of the town
Of Alexandria and the vicinity thereof have
associated, and procured considerable library
ior their Improvement, and that it would great
Is tend to promote the good purposes of the in-
sli,ulon to make them a body corporte -"
Wherefore the citizens aforesaid are thereupon
constituted body corporate" with detailed
statement of the rights and privileges conferred.
The said alexandria Library Company was to
have 'by that name perpetual u succession
aud common SEAL" They were not to ''pur-
chase, receive or possess more lands and teDe-
mcpts, goods and chatlles than shall be sufficient
for carrying into effect the beneficial purposes
of this institution" They were to ''meet an
nualy on the third Monday 10 February 10
every year, of which meeting two weeks pre-
vivus notice shall be given in one OF the Alex
audra newspapers.
The President and eleven Directors, elected
at this meeting, should ''haye power to make
such bylaws rules and regulations (aot contrary
to the Constitution and laaos of this State or Of
the Cuited States J as they may think neces-
sary aud proper for the conduct aud govern
ment of said company, subject, however, to the
revision and amendment of majority thereof,
who shall be convened for that purpose at the
request of any six members OF the company.
So stood the Library when, with this year
of l799, the 18th century closed. IA.
A Boy ScALpED BY A LIoNEss. Yesterday
morning at ten minutes before j. clock Henry
IIcrnuipg aged twelve years, was seriously if
not fatally injured by having his scalp torn by
lioDess belonging to menagerie which is now
being exhibited in this city. The cage contain
ing lion and liouess was drawn through the
streets in the morning along with the circus
procession, and at the time the boy was hurt
had stopped at the corner of Forrest and Doug
las streets to let other cages pass by on their
way to the tent. As the cage was uncovered,
and nothing separated the animals from the
crowd but bars, great many boys, with the
usual juvenile disregard of danger and desire for
novelty. stood in close proximity to the cage.
One of the boys, thinking probably that as
the animals were small they could not he very
vicious, amused himself by poking stick
through the bars. Another boy, 1t is stated,
found considerable fun in splitting at the lion,
while others, emulated by this action, made
bets as to which could spit in the llon's eye.
Henry Hernning, small boy, was coming from
school, aud, seeing the crowd, stopped. NO
'leing boy acquaintance in the crowd, ne said
Rocks, why don t you stop teasing the lion,
he may hurt you" With this, according to
lleruniug's statement, Rocks pushed Hern-
You afraid Of? They won't hurt you. AS
llcrnuing fell towards the cage the lioness now
thoroughly aroused, sprang from her erouchiog
position to the bars and caught Hcrnnlng S
head with her paws The boy, being with dl-
thculty dragged away, was found to be badly
Injured. His sku-boue was broken, part OF his
scalp torn away, deep, ugly cash made 10 his
forehead, and another over his left ear. When
he vas dragged away, the lioness licked the
blood from her paws. and with the lion, tore
the boys hat, which had been pulled in the
cage into many shreds, meanwhile furiousy
roaring and rearing. The Injured lad when
taken home 10 his sad plight gave serious
shock to his mother, and it is thought the
wound may prove tatal.-Baltinaore Sun.
A LEGISLATOR IN LlMBo.-The Richmond
correspondent of the Petersburg lndex-Appeal
IN his Mondays letter writes:
a day or two ago member of the House
halug from county far to the west of the
capital, had an amusing adventure on Broad
street. He is jolly fellow at all times, but
being somewhat under the influence of a slim
qGIaut, he was especially prepared for fun
Passing along the street his antics provoked
!he mrth of two or three ladies who observed
him from porch, which he noticed, and i'm
medlatey ran up into the porch after them,
exclalming, bless your heartsF or something
OF that kind. The ladies ran in and the lord
OF the house ran out. "Wbat do you want
here, sir?' Nothing. sir. Its a mistake; !
thought recognized one of the ladies" said
'Ae law-maker. ''You lie, sir, and think
you re scouudrel, said the man of the house;
ana With that he struck a blow that knocked
the member off the porch head foremost. As
SUn ,s as the latter could recover his equilibrium,
winch was difficult on account of the repeated
h'eSS IeS OF the inturiated stranger, he ran down
ulc street at his fastest time, which was accele-