, 1881-12-04
MR.. AsAY'S LIBRARY.

To The Editor Of Ihe Cifsts5o 1fto"ste-
CHICAGO, Dec. IA poor biolio:lle can hardy
find words In which TO expires his icei1hsS On
reading tho announcements recently matte IN
v1,r columns respecting Mr.. Asay's libr:'ry. 1t
Is Il matter OF wonder. III this busy clty ct ou'
tint II hook hunter has been found 80 enthusiast
fc pcrs;steut 0,,d discreet rs the fsscts prove Mt
.snv IN i,ay been; and the statement tnAt III
one private hous is collection representing Il
pecuniuvy value Of Sl5OUc3 naturally ptosohes
surprise even on tho part of those WHO khc"
sonth.ng about rarc books and had heard OF that
rcnt1e,nan's library. Those who nav ealncu
snm hiblIorratlcal lore and but lew sae@el5 VII
almost envy Mir. y. tho possession ot 50 rlcn Il
1rcs,lrc, urd .'tulk low wheu speaSlng % iheie
own little libraries. tho cherlsht Us Lovingly vs.
,1,1neriues. Visions of CAStons, De Worries.
rynsons, and a TIC .are tn1S5 III ,st, Wnanh ,n
bbIiomnn1ac deliguts vii rlsG rt,n of hair
If ,snot nv intention to fnlulg In btbliograt-
ical rh.psodies, but to call attention to u prnc-
teal cu.,sideru1on in cann*scttou with Mr.
Assays library. II All En=lshna!l can a1nru na ~
t1n thousands Of miles and :slr Mr.. \. Siaonu
Tor his books the Gitu Of Chic4tyn cann1t nDnfd q
lose tjtfm. The great tire OF 1871 robbed us OF
very many Of our bibliesfttt'lt treasures o'to
public and private; and it viii take many years
to replace what wits lost in that great cnl,liulty
| Now lint the time has arrived when private
clt,xcn feels impelIeu to parr with so valuable q
| collection as this which has cost him in.t1!
thousands u0tlHIS uu tAhIs NJ tt1NA-"''
| toil it would be II disgrace to permit a forene1
ro com in md rob city ot ST great 4 glots
| Thcr ought to be enterprise and liberaht5
| enough among our citizens TO secure this lr'za
| aud retain it III our midst. Ii thu present ownc1
| mast part with it, let US by all means secure
it for tho Public Library: the Ills.
torical Society, or the to.-be Newberr,
| Library. iHy tue WY, is t not IN tht
| pUwcr Of tho trustees OF the Ncwuerry ful:t
| to make som arrangement to SECURE this cullec'
| ton as the beginning nf the great library dc
| stgucI BY the ded n1iatiOnairc?} For one
| would be willing to civ week inc0m to AID n
securing Sir. Asay's library to the Chicago pub
| lic forever -,
! Great libraries and choice libraries ar no
| made in II day ora year: they ar the growth o
generations and even of ages, Crtesus canuo
| 70 out into the market with nl his 'nnncy-oaE
| aud purchase hand s,lcll Il collection Us Mr
| Asav's lie must tluv not only nnbontldEd PC
cuniury resources. but the patteue ot Il nsher
! man the taste OF an artist hld Il scholar, IN
kecucs Ut scent ot II bioodhound, end tho per
sis,cuc Of 4 mum in 10y: and even then nc vi
| often mis- his game, becuus som other Keen
i sighted h.lnter is nearer to TIC quarry ana S
SECURES the prize. -.
t / hay nal 10 conversation with Mr. Assay con
| corning the sale Of his library, and KNOW 4
| more or his int tentions than hay been tuld
| THE TRIBUNE; but 1 hay no doubt thai Il
| would be more willing to sci his Library to IL put
| lie institution In Chicago than to 4 for:tcr
| IIRLIOFiLuS.