River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-03-10


that Is satisfactorily answered the con.
yersation 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, aud some in the gayest device of
the latest fashionable publisher. You
/ will do well 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. Ii you know city far away
which has a choice library OF its own.
and may like to hear of the work thugs of
other Libraries, you will, perhaps, take
note of what he tells YOU.
The history of the Public Library of
/ Boston does not extend over a long pc
rod OF time; but 1t is, perhaps, I'M
exampled In its exhibit OF the generOs-
lty OF literary community when its
interests has once been aroused. It
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
1913 an act passed the State Legisla
ture authorizing the city of Boston to
establish aud maintain 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 a moving docu-
ment for, on reading it, Mr.. Joshua
Bates, of the well-known London
firm of Barring Brothers & Co.
was prompted to give $50, 600 towards
the noble object of supplying his
native city with books. In 1854. a
temporary reading room and library
were opened to the public; and, the
following year, the cornerstone was
laid Tor the building which now con.
talns the city's literary treasures. This
library was opened in 1858, and the
same year it added to its stores the IL
brary, rich in mathematical works, of
the distinguished navigator, DIR. Bow.
ditch. In 1860, it received the ibrary
OF the Rev. Theodore Parker: and. In
1866, the ancient Prince library. be-
queathed in 1859 10 the deacons of the
Old South Church, was received on de.
post. Mr. Tickuor, the historian of
Spanish literature, died in 1871, after
having bequealhed to the CITY his
Spanish and Portuguese books. num-
berng nearly 1000 volumes. many Of
which are exceedingly rare and curious.
Hcalso left a, 600 las fund, the income
from which is to be devoted to the iu-
crease OF this special collection A
year ago the Barton library was pur-
chased at merely nominal rate. 1t
contains many rarities- books that
date as far lack as 1856; books in
black letter original quartos of old
plays bnt 1t is peculiarly rich in
Shakspeariana.
The library now numbers over 2i9,-
600 volumes. and ITS normal rate of
yearly increase seems TO be fixed at
from II, 600 to $4,000 volumes. The
money value OF the Central Library
alone is estimated at $500. 600; but, of
course, no such sum could replace il if
1t 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 1t will
be seen that the city has been bv no
means niggardlyln its appropriations.
For this vast storchouse of learning
our citizens are about equally indebted
to the city government and 70 private
benelactors.
The Boston Library is not the largest
IN the country. tho Library of Congress
exceeds il ia numbers. bat does not
approach It IN the extent OF circulation.
The Aston Library is nolarger than the
Bates II H.
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 II Is a curious fact that the es-
adjustment of these branches dimin.
ishod but very little the circulation of
i he Central Library, while their own
success was very gratifying. The laws
OF books seem t. reverse the laws Of
trade, since a supply was found neces-
sary ~ order 20 create q demand
The Central Library consists az
reading room; the Lower Hall, which
contains novels, juveniles, and the
lighter class III books. and the Bates
Hall which contains Il heavier kind 81
reading matter. The difference in the
books Is not So marked ms the differ
enco IN the people who frequent the
two halls.
The lower hall is flied with the lower
CLASSES; while the great body Of the
well.dtesscd, who arc able Is get their
supply of novels from the circulating
ibmries at two cents a day. come only
or the editions az 1HrC of the Bates
Hall At an times OF the day the
lower hall Is fun but from 4to 8.
especially on Saturdays, it becomes