The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1878-08-17
Opening of the New Library.

! 1t was originally intended by the Board
of Directors of the new Library to formally
open that institution by public inspection
of the Library, without any especial pro.
gramme OF entertainment, but the ladies OF
the Amateur Dramatic Association, in con-
nection with other ladies of our city ereal-
lied that nothing could be properly done
without their assistance, and kindly volun-
teered to take charge of the arrangements,
the result of which proved they had chosen
both wisely and we'll. Instead of an insipid
and prosy reception to the public, the
ladies took the matter into their own hands
and ordered those decorators and florists
around with softened vin,, of which they
only are capable.
The stately Board stood silently by. and
looked with amazement and admiration
upon the magical transformation being
effected. At 9 o'clock, on Wednesday
morning, the spacious doors of the Lyceum
building were thrown open and revealed a
rare scene of beauty. The main hallway
was adorned with flags and flowers, Hastily
intermingled; the side rooms to the right.
displaying a choice selection of native and
tropical plants, while the arch way over the
entrance to the Library reception, or read
ing-room, was handsomely festooned with
bunting and ivy.
Upon entering the reception-room the
visitore was struck with the peculiarly
chaste adornments which graced the walls
and tables. The floor was covered with
heavy inoleum of very neat pattern in
the center of the room stood a substantial
black walnut table-the gift of Jeliff & Co.,
Newark, the centre of which was graced by an
elegant basket of flowers. Across the north
west corner was erected mantel of black
walnut. with lower castings, inclosing an
open fre-grate containing handsome
specimen of begonia. Upon the top of the
mantel was an elegant bank of red, white,
and blue flowers, reaching the whole length,
with the initials w. L. K, composed of pink
flowers, arranged in the centre. This was
very beautiful affair and well-m erited
tribute from the ladies to the President,
William L. King. Surmounting the whole
was a handsome clock, incased in black
walnut, the gift of the old Morris Lyceum.
The clock was artistically entwined with
ivy, lnterspersed with bouquets of delicious
flowers. Upon bracket at the left was a
model of the old Morris Academy, pre-
sented by Mr.. Cummings Vail Suspended
from the ceiling of the alcove was a beau
tiful floral design of sphere, representing
world of flowers" Upon small table
at the left was silver water pitcher and
goblets of elegant and unique designs !;
on the front OF the pitcher was engraved
Library and Lyceum," and was the gift
of the Dramatic Association. On the floor,
at the entrance of the reception-room, was
large cocoa mat, the gift of Joseph Wild
& Co.. and on the foorin front of the asantel
was Turkish velvet rug, donated by H. B.
Clafiin & Co. Tide mantel was erected by
M essrs. Schenck & Young.
In the Library room proper there was
no especial decorations, except an ocea-
sional bouquet or basket of flowers. Up
stairs the stage and auditorium were dec
GRATED with flowers and bunting, in general
keeping with the first floor.
During the evening the stage was occu-
pied by Voss's Orchestra, of Newark,
composed of ten pieces, which rendered
choice selections of music. The entire ex-
pense of this feature of the reception was
borne by the ladies, and the whole affair
was a grand leuee or soiree, and passed off
social event of the season.
1t is estimated that about fifteen hun
bred people visited the rooms, during the
day and evening, about half that number
having registered their names. There was
a continual going and coming during the
day, and it is estimated that one thousand
were present in the building at one tune.
The library books are all neatly covered
and indexed, properly classified, and con-
spicuously arranged on the shelves. which
occupy the four sides of the room, besides
four double-faced sets, made of black ash,
standing in towards the center, and form
ing alcoves between.
The Library is composed of books of ref
erence-not to be removed from the build
ing-topographical maps. general itera-
ture, history. poetry, fiction. juvenile liter
allure, philosophy, agriculture, natura his
tory, theology. church history, science,
art, antiquity, law, biography. voyages,
travels, public documents, etc.; besides
which there are some half dozen rare and
antique volumes, some of the titles of which
two eminent lawyers and classical scholars
kindly translated for the reporter as fol-
lows -" The True Golden Age, by the
Most Excellent Doctor Thomas Aquins,"
published in Latin in 1917 Another pub
lished in 1851, the title of which was too
much Latin for our volunteer masters to.
translate. Still another, by Joseph Acosta,
Concerning the Nature of the New
EARTH" dedicated to King Philip of Spain
published in 1896 General Epistles,'' by
st. Ignatius the Martyr, published in
Greek, 1880. A geographical work, contain
ing something about america, in German,
1884. Probably the rarest one of the lot
is Comments from Aristotle" Latin,
published in 1899
1t is requested that patrons of the Lii
brary will not keep these last-named works
out longer than the stipulated time, as 9TH
a,.e mo " MIC IN ,,oa 4 +1,o,,,