Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-24

Having Pabiic Libraries.
New York Tribune.
The New York Library Club has been
discussing question which is of much
Importance to all librarians, and which
the multiplication of public libraries has
brought into more prominence than ever
before. Few, If any, libraries escape the
depredations OF the book-thieves entirely
but free libraries suffer from more vul-
gar kind of larceny than that which in
lures the more exclusive collections. OF
late years public libraries have been ex-
posed to the sacrilegious attacks of the
kind of literary tramp who to renl love
of reading adds thirst so exigent that il
lads him to steal books for no loftier
purpos than to convert them into
whisky. This class of book thief can
only be dealt with in the ordinary way.
But the old-fashioned book thief-and
the type is still extant-was quite diff
ferent kind of plunderer. He was either
collector or poor scholar. If the
| first, his passion for tall copies, princeps
editions, black letter, Gothic or Pasdo-
| loup bindings, rare illustrations or any
of the hundred and one hobbies which
| bibliomnnia shelters had killed in him the
moral sense, so far, and SO far only, as
books were concerned. He might be and
probably was upright and punctilious in
his business transactions, scrupulously
correct in financial affairs, an indulgent
parent aud devoted husband, faithful
friend aud generally an honorable men,
Der of society in all things conforming
to high standards save where books were
concerned.
There the old Adam fourished rankly.
Put the collector in his neighbours library,
with no prying eyes to watch him, and
he would steal whatever treasures were
not put beyond his reach by lock and
key. The history of hook thieves con-
tains many distinguished names, some of
which the elder Disraeli has embalmed in
his delightful "Cnriosities of Literature. {"
The temptation in all such cases seems
overwhelming. Even cardinal once
yielded TO it, and noblemen not a few
have filched precious volumes from ono
another. Your experienced collector will
open his cases wide to all sorts and con.
dltlons OF men save and except those of
his own class. lie knows that in the
fierce strife of amassing libraries quarter
is neither given nor received, and that he
must guard his possessions vi ct armis.
For the genuine book collector has no
bowels in the exercise of his vocation,
He will pilfer from his own brother il
occasion arises, and he cannot apparently
help it, Therefore the great libraries Of
the world keep their most valuable
pieces carefully locked away, and will
admit no one TO them save under condi.
tons which absolutely preclude larcenous
proceedings.
There Is, however, another class of
book thieves, namely, poor scholars. II
was shown in the debate of the Library
Club that clergymen are not free from
this weakness; nay, that theological
| library frequented by them alone had
actually lost thousand volumes. This
is one of the results of cultiyating intel.
| lectual tastes and needs in men, and then
condemning them to pastorates 80 poorly
| supported that they cannot indulge theii
literary inclinations. Or poor minister
/ is perhaps writing book which he homes
will bring him into notice, and he CANNOT
afford to buy the works of referenc,
necessary. In an evil hour the hbrar,
tempts him, and he falls. For such casei
there may be sympathy, but what can b,
said OF the thieves whose specially is tn,
Il
are the most constituencies and mis-
chievous of all the library depredators
They do not hesitate to ruin the mos
costly works. Usually they are engage,
in the extra illustration of some favorit
author, and to accomplish this the,
plumber and destroy ruthlessly. Tn
librarian has no more deadly enemy tina,
these thieves, and their offenses are 8
rank as to call for severe penalties, when
ever conviction can be secured. Extrr
: ordinary selfishness is at the bottom G
such misdeeds, and unfortunately it
extremely difficult, at least in publ
libraries, to prevent them. Nor is it !
! all clear why book thieves should be +,
5 garded or treated with more leniency an
2 indulgence than any other class Of pi
| ferers, though for long time thes
rapacious people were looked upon rath,
, rs sort of mild lunatics than as ordinar
I thieves. Librarians alone probably est
g mated their laches justly.