Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-03-04

BOSTON, February lO, 1874.
It is we'll known that the first Ques-
ton pct to stranger in Boston is,
''Have you seen the big organ?" If
that is satisfactorily answered the con-
versation may pass on to Bunker Hill
Monument, the State House, and the
Commons; but it is sure to end with
the Public Library. And here Bos-
tonians may we'll become pulled up
with pride. You are willing to pardon
the excessive esteem in which they hold
themselves and their possessions when
you gaze in rapt admiration upon the
wide shelves and lofty alcoves, stuffed
with books, some musty and worm
eaten, and some in the gayest device of
the latest fashionable publisher. You
will do we'll to listen to your Bostonian
as he recounts the way in which these
treasures have been brought together,
and the way in which they have been
made most serviceable to the sick and
poor. IF you know city far away
which has choice library Of it's own,
and may like to hear of the workings of
other libraries, you will, perhaps, take
a note of what he tells you.
The history of the Public Library Of
Boston does not extend over long pc
Rod of time; but it is, perhaps, I'M
exampled in its exhibit of the generos-
ity of literary community when it's
interests has once been aroused. II
would seem strange that city like
Boston should have had no public Ii
brary previous to 1852, but such is the
fact. Various preliminary movements
had been made before this time. In
1940 an act passed the State Legisls
ture authorizing the city of Boston to
establish and maintain a public IL
brary several prominent citizens had
made gifts of books and money, and
the city had accepted some valuable
books from the city of Paris but in
1852 was constituted the first Board of
Trustees, with Edward Everett as
President. The first report of this
board must have been moving docu-
ment; for, on reading it, Mr.. Joshua
Bates, of the well-known London
firm of Barring Brothers & Co.,
was prompted to give $4,000 towards
the noble object of supplying his
native city with books. In 1854, a
temporary reading-room and library
We're opened to the public; and, the
following year, the cornerstone was
laid for the building which now con-
tains the city's literary treasures. This
library was opened in 1858, and the
same year it added to it's stores the Ii
brary, rich in mathematical works, of
the distinguished navigator, Dr.. Bow
ditch. In 1860, it received the library
of the Rev. Theodore Parker; and, in
1866, the ancient Prince library, be-
queathed in 1859 to the deacons of the
Old South Church, was received Oh de-
post. Mr.. Ticknor, the historian of
Spanish literature, died in 1871, after
having bequeathed to the city his
Spanish and Portuguese books, num-
bering nearly 1000 volumes, many of
which are exceedingly rare and curious.
He also left s., 900 as a fund, the income
from which is to be devoted to the in
crease of this special collection. A
year ago the Barton library was pur-
chased at merely nominal rate. It
contains many rarities-books that
date as far back as 1886; books in
black letter original quartos of old
plays but it is peculiarly rich in
Shakspeariana.
The library now numbers over 249,-
900 volumes, and its normal rate of
yearly increase seems to be fixed at
from IL, 900 to $4,000 volumes. The
money value of the Central Library
alone is estimated at 100000; but, Of
course, no such sum could replace it if
it should be destroyed, and many of
the books, especially in the depart
ment of early American history, are
entirely unique. Besides the impor-
tant donations already enumerated,
minor gifts of books and money have
been constantly pouring in, and it will
be seen that the city has been by no
means niggardlY IN it's appropriations
For this vast storehouse of learning
our citizens are about equally indebted
to the city government and to private
benefactors.
The Boston Library is not the largest
ia the country, the Library of Congress
exceeds it in numbers, but does not
approach it in the extent of circulation.
The Aston Library is no larger than the
Bates Hall.
Our library consists now of one CEN
trail building, facing the Common, and
four branches in the surrounding
towns which have become part of the
city. It is curious fact that the es-
tablishment of these branches dimin-
ished but very little the circulation of
the Central Library, while their own
success was very gratifying. The laws
of books seem to reverse the laws of
trade, since supply was found neces-
sary in order to create a demand.
The Central Library consists of a
reading room the Lower Hall, which
contains novels, juveniles, and the
lighter class Of books; and the Bates
Hall. which contains heavier kind of
reading matter. The difference in the
books is not SO marked as the differ
ence IN the people who frequent the
two halls.
The lower hall is flied with the lower
classes; while the great body OF the
well-dressed, who are able to get their
supply of novels from the circulating
Libraries at two cents day, come only
or the editions de lure of the Bates