Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-26


And now. before you 90
Just cram her stocking with goodies,
From the top clean down TO the toe"
Liftie CoTPoroOi.
The Nations Books.
THE LIBRARIES OF THE CAPITAL-A GRAND COL
LECTION OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THE IN
TELIEcTUAL CAPITAL OF THE NATIoS-CoS-
SLANT GROWTH OF THE LIBRARIES -PEovI-
SION IN THE FUTURE TO EXTEND THEIR BEsE-
FITS.
From the National Union.
Among the many attractions of our ma
tional capital must be reckoned the literary
and educational advantages which it presents
to all comers. Washington is no longer, as
in the earlier days of the republic, little
side station upon the through routes OF
knowledge, where the passing traveller could
only pick up political information, and that
only during the sessions of Congress, while
the scholar demanding wider intellectual
pabulum must hurry away to the great libra
ries OF New York or Boston. In the library
of Congress- starting from the ashes of the
fire Of 1851, which consumed all but 10000
of the books, there have since been gathered
over 3l5 600 volumes, richly if not fully il
lustrating every department of human knowl-
edge. This great collection, called by Mr..
Jefferson in its infancy, as If with prophetic
instinct, Tine Library ofthe United States, a
has become second to none in this country
in the amplitude and value of its stores.
Not only in law, political science, and works
relating to America in which this collection
is said to surpass all others, but in the wide
range of English and foreign literature, in
history IN architecture, and the fine arts,
anG in ali the sciences, 1t abounds in the
latest and best authorities. Its acquisition,
some 10 years since, after the fire which
ieopardized but did not destroy the library
OF the Smithsonian institution, OF that fine
collection unequaled, as Prot. Agassiz was
wont TO say. in the completeness of its sets
of the publications of scientific societies.
was a fortunate addition to its stores. Soon
after came the great historical library, amas-
sed by Peter Force during nearly half q GEN.
tury of patient and vigllant book collecting
in the pursuit of all that conld illustrate the
history of the American continent. Every
wear has seen large increase in steadily
filling the gaps in the collection, every nota-
BILE auction sale of Libraries in our American
cities or in Europe having been availed of to
add value and interest to the library.
Since 1870, when the office Of the libra
rian of congress was first made, the bureau
for copyright entries, as well as the delo osi-
tory of all publications secured by copyright,
there has been large and steady growth of
American literature, which, from the nature
OF the case must be more fully and freshly
represented in the library at the capital than
IN any o.her Here alone can an approx
mately complete representation of all that
the United States has produced in the shape
of printed books be found. Here only can
inquiries regarding the records of literary
property from the beginning of the govern
ment be answered.
l., 1 Of ths4 n
gress draws constantly large number of our
professional men and legal students to its
quiet and well-iurnisheG alcoves. In Wash
ington alone, of all our cities, is the legal
profession provided, free of cost, with the
advantages of fully-equipped library of
authorities open for the consultation of all
comers The use of this department, as
well as that of the general library, by writer's
for the press, both periodical and perma-
nent, is, We are happy to be informed, con-
stantly growing. Indeed. gentlemen en-
gagged in scientific and historical researches
have been known to come to Washington
and remain for weeks or months for the sole
object of availing themselves OF authorities
not found in other libraries of the country.
Year by year as the various departments OF
this great national library keep constantly
growing never standing still, but by steady
and silent accretion becoming more and
more complete in all that can inform and in
struct the student IN every held of inquiry.
will its usefulness widen and extend. Wash
ington may yet be recognized as the intel
lectual capital of the nation, the headquar-
tiers of science of literature and even OF art,
as it has been for so many years the politi
cal capital and the Headquarters of the busi-
ness of the government.
Two things appear to US still to be desira
BILE, if not essential, before the largest bene-
fits may be expected to flow from the rich
repository of knowledge now gathered be-
meath the dome of the capitol First, there
should be large and centrally located pub
lie library building erected, fitted TO contain
the now crowded and overlooking collections
OF the library of Congress and, secondly
this building should be thrown open con-
stantly during the evening. as well as the
day time, so that tho large number Of gov
ernment officers and clerks, who cannot now
avail themselves of its advantages, may par
ticipate in them. We may possibly be in
error, but 1t does appear to US that such an
intellectual entertainment, free to the public
at such hours as would enable all to avail
themselves of it, would draw beyond almost
any other attraction. And it would vastly
enhance to the American people the value of
this unnational repository OF books, where
strangers and soiouTners alike were made
closed like department except during the
seven or eight business hours Of the day.
May we not look with confidence to the liber-
ality Of Congress TO make speedy provision
for extending the benefits of this vast col
lection Of literature and science?
We have LETT ourselves scant space to
speak Of the other Libraries of Washington.
1t will possibly surprise the reader to learn
that there are more than 80 libraries at the
national capital, every department having
one, and many Of the minor bureaux being
endowed with collections Of books more or
less valuable. The largest and most valua-
BILE of these libraries (outside OF the mere
documentary collections which do not pro
perly rank AS Libraries, are those of the pa
tent office, the department Of state, and the
surgeon generals office. The latter has
grown in 10 years from almost nothing TO
some 10000 volumes, forming by far the
largest as well as most valuable collection in
the field Of medicine, surgery and cognate
subjects to be found in the country. Con-
gress has aided it by liberal appropriations
and its library has for some years refrained
from extending its store of medical works.
with the understanding that the library now
gathered at the .army medical museum will
ultimately form part OF the library of the
United States.
The patent office library is rich in mechan-
ical science, and in all books and periodicals
that illustrate the principles and progress OF
arts and manufactures. II numbers about
25,00G volumes. The library of the depart
ment Of state numbers $4,000 volumes Of va
rious range, principally law, diplomacy, his
tory and topography. The department of
justice has very large collection IN Jurls-
prudence, numbering not far from 1000
volumes. The bureau of statistics has
small but invaluable collection, mainly illus
trating its specially. The postofiice depart
ment and the department of agriculture have
some 700 volumes each, the war depart
ment l3, 600, and the treasury department
and the department of the interior about
5000 volumes each. All these are used to
some extent by the clerks in the several de
partments The naval observatory has fine
little library of some 1000 Volumes chiefly
mathematics and astronomy. while the coast
survey Is imperfectly equipped with about
5000 volumes.
Of the Washington city library, in the
Young Mems Christian Association building
ON Ninth street, now numbering Il, 900 vol
umes and constantly extending its useful
ness, we shall have other opportunities to
speak.
GFS. NuFs's men have shown admirable
pluck and fortitnde, and have taught the
savage some of the amenities of war. We
are told OF MORALLY wounded soldier who,
as the surgeon came to amputate his arm,
said, ATTEND to that chiefs leg first !" and
in the same paragraph we read of chief,
stealthily creeping over the battle-iield at
night, encountering u wounded soldier, put
ting blanket under his head and leaving
him with the words "Poor boy You too
young to go to war Me no kill you
GraplIt