New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-09
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE LENOX LIBRARY.

To the Editor Of the Tribune;
SIR: lt appears from an interview published few
days ago in HE TRIBUNE that Mr. George II. Moore,
the superintendent OF the Lenox Library hasa very
mean opinion of the literary attuinments of New
York. Asp well known, Mr. Lenox gathered To-
getber rare and splendid editions Of many curious
and recondite works. more especially those relating
to the history of this country and continent. Fond
of his books he could not bear think OF their ds-
persion after his DEATH aud hence be resolved upon
founding the fine edifce which now commands the
PARK. Living in extreme retirement ana shrinking
from society, Nj. Leuox was spproachable by very
few persons, but in mis- later years Mr. Moore, an
ingenious gentleman the Librarian OF the Historical
Society became sort OF literary executive officer to
him. and subsequently was appointed superintendent
of his new library. On receiving the appointments,
MIR. Moore who Is felicitously endowed with the
faculty OF getting everything his own way retired
from his former post, having CONSIDERABLY procured
it for his brother. The public, seeing an immense
building, learning that il was library. that it wac
founded for their benefit and that this account.
IL was given certain privileges, including freedom
from taxation. have rashly imagined that they
would be permitted to it, and have Patiently
waited, year s'ter year. in that expectation Mr..
Moore has. however, now been kind enough to set
rs right on this head Mr. Lenox's object was evi.
IDENTIFY not the public. but Mr.. Moore. IL was clearly
to make place, build fine abode. supply salary,
and create an intellectual exercising ground for Mr..
Moores mind that the Lenox Library was created.
"The people of New-York" he tells us, are not
qualified to appreciate the here aud could
not with safety be allowed TO handle them" On.
dear, mol IL would never do. IL is true that New
York contains graduates Of all the universities in
the world. Men who have read. and have had every
assisar ce. too. from librarians even as erudite as
Mr. Moore himself. in the Bodleian the University
Library at Cambridge. the Imperial Library at Der
ill., the magnificent collection Of Trinity College.
Dublin, must not approach the precious literary
cariGre ever which this exclusive Cerberus keeps
guard. ain time" he vaguely says. some sy stem
may DO introduced To admit persons whose intelli'
geuce and information warrant IT," AND mean
tns IL may DO asked. what will Mr. Moore do In re-
turn for his Fifth-a,e residence and salary Mr.
Moore further proceeds to make a statoment-whose
value Is impaired by its being quite at variance with
facts-to the effect that by the system of slcors
reading IN the Aston Library. hundreds of dollars
worth of books are ruined by being mutilatod every
year rand then goes to remark that the people OF
New-York do not know. or properly use. the treas
ures among tnem Ia proof Of this ne points to tbs
splendid collection of antiques aud the Library OF
the Historical Suciety" "The people gener
allv,D saws this authority. know nothing about
them" This is true. But what did Mr. Moore 90
toward extending the peoples knowledge of tnem
or assisting them % an appreciation Of themf II.
was Librarian of tho Historical Society for msni
years. When he left that dark and dismal edlfcs
II was no better known tnaD when he went there
He had a fairer field than Mr. Hannah in BrOoklyn
yet contrast the dark hole in SecOndave. with the
exquisite edihce-wthOut eIaggerston literary
mans paradise-which the unuring energy of Mr.
Hannah aud tho zeal OF Dr.. STorrs have raised IN
Brooklyn. READER
hep- York. Feb. 6. 1888