The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-16
SCRIBBLERS AND SCRAWLERS.
Persons who Mar Plate Glass Windows and
Mirrors and Deface Books.

"Sclibblers," said hotel clerk, "are
among the many nuisances We have to encoun-
ter. They infest the reading room and was te
our stationery; they write all over tho hlotters
they fill waste baskets with scratched enyel-
opes they write on the walls. the doors, the
advertising books the bills of fare and even in
the Bibles. The young married couples are
fond OF scrawlns their names The bride plays
with her new name rs with II toy. Sh0 likes to
write it and to see it written; and the bride
groom. having little else to do. humors her /
could show you fifty window panes with names
and initials scratched in this way with diamond
rings. Tho idiots and vandals often leave their
addresses in this way and if We could prove
that they wrote them. We could sue for dam
ages. | have seen costly plate glass mirror
murrcl by sOmo Needless s"rbber's diamond
ring. 1t takes ut least one day each week for Il
servant To scrub oil rs much a, can be removed
Of tho ,rcnrilIings which idl" travellers nscribc
in various uar.s Of the house"
:, Otali the ttches tnat Hillict humanity" said
Librarian. W. T. Peoples Of tho Mercantlle
Library, l think the CICJ'tteS SIfIJrndi is the
worst. The scribb!crs are decided nuisance
in this library. Not even an act Of the Lngisln-
ture, or Ia" standing reward OF S50 for the de-
ing II library book, has been u.1lnient 10 stop
them. CIRCULATING as We do many thousand
Volumes day, T. t. physical impOsslhl!ity to
examine every book upon its return The con
sequence Is that many books are issued after
they have been scrubbed, and should one b,
detected upon its return the person roturnin.,
II could claim with show If plau-ibility that
the book was thus married when issued.
The worst Offenders We have are the read
er' uf our juvenile books. They are not con
tent with the frequent comments. This is n
bully st"ry, Good for him, and similar harm
less remarks. but frequently put in vile cX-
pression' that maze the book useless for fur
ther circulation. The value Of books thus de-
str9ycd IL no inronslurITlbie sum every year.
In some cases books have been returned to
US by mail. and the Post Ohce authorities
% gn "a n Intt
postage OF course in some cases this would
amount to more than the value Of the book and
we nave so represented TO the Post Ohce de-
partm"n'. But the law is So framed that tech
ni"alIy tncrc il no escape for Us in such n ease
The punishment does not fall upon the trans
Er"sspr. but upon the owner Of the property
arcndy injured 10y tho VAIN or careless use OF "A
pencil 10y some reader
Novels ARE prOiii" source of written com
mentS and we have very many that have been
GmGeliisihsd WIN marginal notes, The readers
disagree with the sentiments Of some Of the
characters; they IA Ia occasion To disapproyr
of the politics, the theology, the taste tho his
characters of the book and give expression to
their dissent in wordy comments. Occasion
dom IN their addenda. But generally they are
the vapid uttcran"es Of hralnlrss fools, whose
opinions are worth nothing.
But th"r" Is u worry large class Of Scribblers
ana Scraw'crS whose education ought To have
taught them NOR" d"cenry and honesty. who
the roadcr5 OF solid literature. such rs hooks on
political economy or philosophical diSserta,
lions. These people have the strongest preju-
does and anIggQni-ms They take great salts
faction in polishing of au antagonist and will
make II book look rs il tho blue pencil iend of
newspaper office had been through IT, Some
OF our most valuable imported books have been
marrcd in this way. We are constantly rereiv-
ing complaints from patrons who have been
shocked by the prevalence OF these comments,
but. despite all vigilance, are still at the mercy
OF the thoughtless or dishonest scrbbers. /
say dishonest because u man who puts his
own opinions in that way in u book that does
not belong TO him makes the book to suit him
self at the cost OF others,
" Occasionally an Intelligent and conscien-
tious reader will add word OF reference or
suggestion or correction that Is valuable But
whero there IL one such, there are thousands
that merely mar or destroy book
. Under section ], chapter 366 OF the Laws Of
New York of 1880 IL IL u misdemeanor to write
srrbbc, or scrawl in library book. This Is
punishable by II fine OF not more than 800
The law requires that its penalties shall not be
enforced in libraries that do not keep at least
two copies of the law consDlcuously displayed.
This library has always complied with this re-
qulrement, and IN addition displays conspicu-
Gus posters Offering II reward Of $50 for tho
discovery OF any person mntllating books.
Other Libraries have met with the same diifi-
Guilty with scrlbblers and scrawlers."