New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-16
THE BREAKING UP or LIBRARIES.

THE BHE1hING CI Of LIbhIhi|"'
The sale this week of Mr.. Menzics's great
collection of rare and beautiful books Will
mark an ora in the history of Ncw-lOrk bib
biography. We have had many interesting
sales before, since the libraries OF private col
icctors seem to be gathered, with few eX-
ccptons, only 10 be dispersed ; but We believe
that in the opinion of competent judges,
whether the scarcity or the condition of these
books is considered, the sale of this week Is
nearly without u precedent. The fine arts of
printing. of engraving, of illumination and of
bindirg have here combined to produce an
uncommonly delightful exhibition. Ii is
very seldom that catalogue Is printed
like that of Mr.. Mcuz;cs, of which every num-
Der is important There are very few Libraries
which do not contain an alloy OF mere trash
and lumber. This appears to have been one
OF the exceptions. In the department OF early
printed American bOOkS--nOw fast becoming
very importlnt-thc collection was particularly
rich. while there were numerous volumes
which are rs much ont of the reach OF the
collector of limited means as the great Pltt
diamond or the masterpieces OF Haitael or OF
Titan. over such treasures poor man can
only sigh, and pray to be delivered from the
tormcntlug sin of cOyctou,neN'.
Yet il was of these ncStimablc treasures
how incstimablc only those can know who
have tasted the pleasure, of c0llcctOn-lt was
of these sumptuous monuments alike ol human
thought taste, and ingenuity that the virtues,
who gathered them together has chosen to di-
vest himself. got we understand under any
prc,-rirc of n.,. '',. hut voluntarily and from
some motive o. . Iuyatr and personal nature.
Til, fact preclude, thos. sympathetic rcticc-
tiou, 20 which the disp'-i''. 10 library
might otherwise give li-". ,.:.. '!r. Roscoe,
the amiablc author of the History oi Lorcuzo
the Magnificent. was forced by pecuniaIy
misfortune, to part with his superb il
brary. hr solarcd his feelings 10y writ
mg one of the loycic,t little poems
IA the llugulec. He parted with the books
Go use tine words of Mr.. TuchcIman) which
had been gathered 10y the slow accumulation
"of careful expenditure, and become en-
"d,arcd by years of blessed ANA miniStcrlng
"compauionshp in his own cheerful study.
But Mr. Roscoe had been something more
than a collector. and hi, books had been not
hi, TOYS but his tools; While from them he
had gathered those resources of manly PHI
lo.ophy which made misfortune tolerabic, ANA
rendered retirement not merely sOlace but
an occasion of renewed industry. There
i, something in library infinitely precious
which never comes under the hammer of the
auctinnrcr. 1arrc can he no yenduc of
thought ard pleasant and grave memories are
never catalogucd by Mr. Sahin nor put up IN
lots in Clinton Hail. The sharpeSt book specu-
lator in NaSSau-st would not give Il farthng
for the finest of them. They are never bound
in Lcvant morocco. They never grow at the
same time shabby and desirable; and, thank
Heaven, in this world which needs them 50
much, they never become rare or scarce
II j. at once amusing and pulling &c Specu-
late upon the motives which can induce coz
hector to empty his shelves, and begin again.
as most certainly he will, either III SMALL OF
large way 50 long ~ he continues To cAlSt III
this printing and publishing world. IL may he
r,,cI ;bot no such collector is absolutely sane,
and that what he may do or may not do Is
therefore no Legitimate reason for surprise
Tn the minority the love of books, rs books
and with little or no reference To thtlr con
tents. seems to he the most ridiculous thing III
the world. People may gather shells, coins,
outnOr,pES. postage stamps, with ScdulouS
aNiaItv; thcN may utNtIop Il passion ioI olu
china or for old chairs, and nobody doubts
their sanity; but if they begin to haunt book
stalls and to dSbuISe good money for broken
backed and muSty and incomplete volumes,
there is talk of jury de hUd'ico. SO it is not
strange that the within of collecting books may
be oYcrtakcn and subducd by the within of
selling them. The owner may be proud of the
appearance which he will make IN the cata-
loguc and of the fame which he will acquire,
and which will lust rs surely be handed down
deeds of the worlds conqucrors will be re-
corded in its annals. 1t is harmless ut least
to be the hero of great sale. and the dcmi-
god for few days of the rcycrcnt and eager
bidders.
There are two WAYS of regarding the break
ing up OF great library. 1t is almost equally
in the interest of letters that it should be
broken up. and that it should be scattered.
The corporations keep together the largest and
most costly collection, of the dissipation OF
which there is hardly any chance save that
of conquest or of cOnilagratiOn. But a few
books in each of many hands give the best
promise of that average Of culture which will
| best subserve the interests of the commons
wealth, and best promote, the aggregate adj
| yapccmcnt OF the human intellect The one
| book which is bought and sold, and bought
| and sold again, does its work the most thor
onghly and fruitfully. Ones heart yearlH
| toward the veterans which have SO often