The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-06
RANBLES AMONG THE LIBRARIES.
The Astor. Apprentices, Wo
mans and Others.
RESORTS FOR THE BOOKWORMS OF THE CIT
Reading Among the Work.
ing Glasses.

SlSLSSSSs
1t was q singular remark OF Hobbies ths.S he had
read many books OF the learned mad perused
he would be ignorant they. Tho theorizina
metaphysical had but little relish Tor books and hs
quently said that authors like sheep who kept
continually trudging in the beaten tracks and la,
their works nothing but copios and extracts OF
previously written books. Happily for authors such
men as Hobbies are vastly In the minority,
clearly perceive by visiting any Of the libraries the
city Dsregarding the numerous circulating Libraries
which supply their readers chiefly with 'thc latest
novels. the large pubic libraries. such that or tho
Historical Society. the Asor and others the places
where the principal types Of the world Of
readers aro largely represented There may
DO found the thoroughbred bbliomanisc who.
day after day, rain shine, wends his way
to the halls OF learning to satisfy his appetite for
knowledge; the iittersteur buried beneath unwiedy
Volumes and the schoolboy with siiteral transia-
ton" OF some absruse author, endcavoring TO yet
through with hts work Of preparation aspos
siblc
Tho Aston Library. on account Of its distinctive
naturcas reference library the great facilities
which affords for researches and studies OF all kinds
is especially tho magnet for students; few who come
hero road simply for amusement; all that frequentt
the building solid, unadorned yet elegant sufficient
to deter any from entering merely to divert him.
SELF and the long array OF aicovos inside, all closely
filled with Solemn massive, learned looking volumes,
tho numbers of men quietly reading and taking notes.
tho absence OF all which prevails elsewhere.
will drive out any proane visitor from the temple
Of books The little world OF the readers
Of this library is quite poltan In It's nature The
sedate. solemn looking German who. Of course
with some, to outsider dull, but to him highly in.
tcresting, pathological work, sits beside q ural
Frcnchman hurrying the witty pages or Molicro
or the grand pathetic illusions OF Racine. Some years
ago young Japanese and Armenian every
day Tor some time TO study English literature They
exchanged solemn bow In the morning, and tnen SET
to work with energy worthy Of being crowned with
Swedes and Russians havc also Of lnte
frequently noticed, attracted, doubt by the large
stock Of Scandinavian works OF which tho library
boasts
English literature Is largely studied here Tho be.
levers in Byrons creed
Thou shalt believe In Milton. Dryden. Pope;
Thou shalt not set Wordsworth Coeridge Southey.
calmly SIT beside others whose opinions about ortho-
doxy are directly opposite and who, perhaps. have
Byron Tho artist, too comes hero frequently
suit the large costly ioos ON art which hid W
here. The artist as rule, Is poor, and cannot afford
TO purchase such expensive works; hence ho gladly
avaiis himself OF this opportunity 70 make tho
carries in his mind Tho literary lady, distinguished
generally by large roll Of manuscript which SHE
rcs with her. pie OF books beside her and il
sdis qroi, Is almost regular inhsbtant oi the
place. anu some noted writer's history and ANTIQUE
ties are acquaintances OF the librarians certain
jesuit father in this city, the author Of very
learned works on history, indicating tho most inde
fatga6lc labor and research is familiar appe aranct
to AL who como at all frequently to tho library.
As may DO expected many odd ami eccentric char.
acters come here. few years ago Portuguese reu.
geo VISITED the library almost daiiy Although dressed
In style that was on the very verge OF shalptncss
no stiIl bore himself with all the grandezza OF span
lsh hidalgo. As his appearance struck some OF the
taches with commseraton, delicate offer wins made
TO him ORC day OF now SUIT Of clothes; thm, how.
ever, offended him that no did not put n his ND
pearance tor several days He read nothing bu Lope
de Vega and Calderon, seeking consolation no doubt
IRON the perusa 81 the fortunes or the msfortuncs
OF the Spanish heroes and hcroincA Another queer
character was German with long hair, who hIs
Samsonan lrcsses tied in knot When IA cd WIN ne
dressed In TINT peculiar fashion, he said in ha Ger.
man English :-"Once dressed TO please other people
now dress to please myself" HIS iavorte uthoi
Goethe, and he continually wrote extracts upon
little slips OF dirty white paper. II believed "
the time that he meditated some crtique on tho Ger.
The library Historical Society contains nothipe
but what bears directly or Indirectly on American
tory, civl and political well social domestic
Ciergymen who have 70 deliver anniversary sermons
OF their churches lawyers Interested In cnses which
date lar back in the history OF the country city
medical men writing the prevalence certain DIS
At certain times and under noes
are tho Classes Of people which come here or
the HISTORIAN or tho lecturer upon historical
hais this library perfect mne OF Information Al
though nominally accessible strangers only an
Introduction from member the library Ia practically
accessible 10 ALI no one wishing to consult any
works turned away and the officers OF the
library are only TOO willing to give whatever assistance
Productive Of much good among the working casses
are the Approntices' Library ana the Cooper Culou
Library. The former free 10 all apprentices or
pIoyds, male or female upon recommendation from
their employer OF course novels and light literature
are greatly and in fact manly IN demand. Mayno
Reid Baliantync Oliver Optic. with their wonderful
tales OF boyish ingenuity aad cncray, the yorits
authors. Next TO novels travels and natural story
arc relishcd very much. History however well AZ
works on science and the also largely road
Many an able mcc hanic, who now lives happy aud
iortaby, can no doubt trace his 10 tho facs
that u was from the books taken from this library
that Tho impulse and desire for mechanical doagning
and working first originated.
The Cooper Union Library used mainly the
papers which there on file IL 10 place whore tho
unemployed can SIT for couple oil hours aud by the
reading OF some newspaper, some useful entertain
Ing book. dispel Tor time tho gloomy thoughts
which habtually rest upon their minds The library
boasts OF large number Of historical and
works which are read very much Novels do not seem
To be much IN demand there; those who come In tho
evening 10 refresh themselves with little light
ing alter hard days work usually take weeks and
months before they finish novel Two or three oars
an evening Is not much TO who Is not accustomed
to reading and who does not, baye, wish TO read a
book by his nnscrs" The carly part Of tho morning
who scan the morning papers Tor advertisements
Help Wanted Many sad story Of want aud
shaven faces which tell OF former happy days. bat
now express something like despair when
inc tcaoc turns aside from toe ssand disappointed In
the hope of seeing an advertisement for Of hs
trade Perhaps tho man some inventor who
spent his time and what ttIe capital he had In devcl
oping SOHO scheme which no thought would turn out
success, but brought him nothing but failure, sdi-
cule and want Ito sits down 10 rumirate beside
young man with intellectual features and q pair OF
spcctacies upon his eyes, which declare him have
once been gay careless "Bruder studioson II some
German university, whom reckless running debt
ruined perhaps Tor life and bgnted whatever glowing
hopes no had formed OF the future.
In an unpretcnding building In Blocker street IL The
/ car Ia
Protective Union" Though only secondary matter
In tho scope OF tho .'Unionsn work, 70 u
still highly beneficial among tho working girls
Though not very largo Il sufficient Tor tho wants OF
the readers and contains plenty OF works all SUBJ
Jects Light literature Of course, principally read.
There many girls, however, who read nothing bot
the severer aud more aborous nde OF books Yberp