Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-03-01

The Congressional Library. at Washington
j. tn largest collection Of book pamphlets.
manuscripts and paper- IN the United States
1t j, one # the great Libraries q the world
Il contained. in tho inst day Of our centennial
year. zij.5u7 volumes. There were in add
ton nearly COO" pamphlet- bound and un-
bound. The increase Of books during the
previous year WAS ~, 80. and of pamphlet.
7.313. The number Of hooks copyrighted
during the yrl- va, ~.tr,z. A. "a copy Of each
one Of tL,,e - required by law % be sent 10
this library, it viii ht seen that this Is a great
and constant source of iE.r use without *
pens.
There is 10 library in the world that con
tain. Lear a- ilaLy works relating 10 Amer
can polite. Herr. also are all the laws. de-
bates. and documents O; Congress about all
the Geographic Of cur public men which have
been written. and nearly or quite all the works
Of al SORTS bearing upon politics which have
ever been published IN the United States- Not
only these but there are thousands Of polit-
zeal pamphlet and bound volumes Of very
many newspapers printed ia all paris Of the
country. If one can Lot mud out III that ha,
ever been siid and done IN Anne ricau politics
IN the Library Of Congress he must despair Of
doing ~ in this world
But III general literature the library j. equal
~ rich. Almost every work Of value in
English and American literature, whether Of
history. poetry, philosophy, theology. science.
romance, belles-lettres generally or what not
may be borrowed on presentation Of the prop
er check Nor are the volumes IL this vast
library composed Of works in our Owl Ian
guage only. There arr thousands Of works in
other tongues. Nearly every nationality or
tribe on the globe, having printed language.
Il here represented. There il q very large and
valuable selection or original French docu-
ments relating to the discoveries and eNplOra-
lions made in that portion Of the country
commonly called the Northwest. which is be
ing published by authority Of Congress
When completed, these works will form six
large octave volumes. which will throw much
new light upon the settlement and early his
tory Of O most important portion Of our coun-
Try. These volumes. done into English would
be a most valuable addition TO our history.
II will readily be inferred that this teening
library must be an attractive place Of resort
for all men and women IN pursuit Of knowl-
edge. II one wants TO See the student. the
Htsrdtsurs, the learned men Of the capital
city, and the thinking women. too let him
spend much Of his time IN this library They
are there most Of the time. and make infinite
IS less noise than is made in other portions Of
the Capitol on q field day. probably be
cause they think louder and speak lower than
some other folks.
It is pity that such q collection should be
confined within narrow apartments in The
Capitol. II ought 10 have been one Of the
objects in view for our centennial year 10 have
provided beautiful and columOdious build
ing for these treasures for it il a wonderful
success as a library in 50 young country,
and gathered, too, without much special e.
fort. Money has flowed copiously for many
less worthy objects and the day ought not to
be far distant when We shall have national
library building Of which We may be proud