Omaha daily bee., 1882-10-10

venerable ana obese vice president
makes up his mind to marry and is
! fortunate enough to secure for his
1 fiance a lady who is only thirty,
charming in persen and q genuine
heiress2
While the white house is being rem.
dered habitable, the capitol is under
going the usual amount of scrubbing
which is required to cleanse the stains
left by u absent statesmen. Con-
gressmeu are proverbislly hard upon
furniture aud carpets, smashing the
one and splitting upon the other with
such zeal that at the end of the Sos.
sions the halls of congress present a
dilspidated and forlorn appearance.
This year there have been many i'm.
provemonts in the capitol building
outside of the necessary repairs in the
senate and house of representatives,
though the changes there have not
been Of a nature to attract notice from
superficial observers. Two brick en-
closures have been erected under the
rotunda; one of these to be used as n
temporary receptacle for an accumula-
ton of books belonging to the con-
gr%cssionsl library-and which will re.
main there until the new national Ii.
brary building ia butlt-and the other
to hold the collection of books pre-.
scented to the government by DR..
Toner, of this city. This library was
donated on condition that 1T be called
the Toner library and the books al
ways kept together. No finer private
library exists in Washington than the
M possessed by DIR. Toner, who is
well known in the scientific world,
although his modesty has prevented
him from gaining the wide reputation
which h. might otherwise have
had both in this country and Europe.
A student and book-worm of the most
pronounced type, DR.. Toner has for
many years devoted his time, atten-
ton and money to the accumulation
and study of valuable books, his
sound judgment and tino opportnu.
tiles enabling him to make Z. collection
which embraces some of the rarest
an | most
PRICELESS VOLUMES
in the world. His histories alone are
almost invaluable. His medical
library is conceded to be the finest in
existence south of Philadelphia, while
his pamphlets include much that Is
very curious and old. I have known
this infatuated antiquarian to pay $50
for n tiny thumb.worn pamphlet
merely because it was rare, out of
print and could not therefore be dupli.
Gated. Much delviug III the study OF
science usually has IA tendency TO fos.
silize men and render them dry and
uninterestlDg socially, however val
liable their attainments may DO to the
scientific world. DR.. Toner is an ex-
ception to the rule, and is one of the
j%olliest members of society in Wash
ington, where his social qualities are
quite as well known and appreciated
as his works on geology. His face is
round, full, dimplcd and merry as
that of the mythical r1an in the moon,
while his laugh 10 coAia ious in its
hearty mirth His house has Toy
years been u curiosity to all who ever
visited his quaint bachelor domains.
With no wife or children to NEEDLE or
Interfere with his possessions, he has
lived 10 surrounded and hemmed in
by books that he will no doubt feel
like a man bereaved of many friends
when his silent but loved companions
have been removed to their new home
in the capitol. Books line the walls
from floor to ceiling in parlors, dining
and bed rooms. There is absolutely
not a particle of wall room from base
ment to attic which is not crammed
with books. Books are heaped upon
desks, tables, and ever upon the
floor. 1t is really a difficult matter to
get in or out of the house without
overturning q pile of volumes or pam.
phlets. Not content with being sur
rounded at home by books, the old
doctor wen has them piled up in his
carriage when he is out driving, 30
that he may read as he rides and
STUDY ON THE WING.
Besides his library he has collected
many rare and valuable autographs, all
OF which will go with his books to the
government. What the good old gem
tleman will do when he has voluntari-
ly relinquished all of his pets it is diff
ticult to conjecture, but 1t is possible
that he will console himself for his
loss by riding harder than ever some
of his favorite hobbies. All wise men
have hobbies--though they are not al
ways willing to acknowledge it-and
the DOCTORS pet hobby XXI to books
is the Training school for nurses"
which he has been instrumental in
establishing in this country. That it
is a humane hobby and one which will
in time be productive of much good is
uEquestionable. 1t is DIR. Toner'S
amoition to build a home where
women may stay during the term of
their professional trainisg, and to that
end he has done and is doing every
thing possible to raise funds. While
in Europe he recently visited Florence
NlghtiDgale-the nurse whose minis-
trations TO the sick have endesred her
to the whole w~orld--and upon his re-
turn home he delighted his school of
nurses by giving them an informal
lecture, IN which he recounted his
visit and talk with the woman who Is
their standard OF excellence in all that
pertains to nursing, Another hobby of
the doctors, which is yet in it's infan-
cy, but which grows rapidly, is the old
china mania. AS this mania almost
invariably develops into a craze or
madness impossible to cure, it is pro-
bable that DR.. Toner will at once COM
memo a collection of ceramics, and
soon have his empty book shelves
filed with old pottery and porcelain.
When, u year ago, an entertainment
was given for the benefit of his be-