The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
! BOOK-WORM'S PARADISE.
A Pen-Picture of the Famous Reading
Room of the British Museum.
Mary Anderson's Observation-Disclosures Of
Distinction-Arrangements for Assisting
Students-Extent Of the Library.
.ondon Letter in San Francisco chronicle.

l. nave peen TOO OIlen ATTRACTED 10 the SbilIS vi
the Lyceum during these recent months and have
too frequently sat in admiration Of the person
al charms and histrionic talent of the fair actress
whose name is at present one of the most pop
ular in London not to recognize Miss Mary An
derson when see her enter even so unexpected
a haunt as the reading room of the British Mu-
scum 1t was my privilege some few days
back. as | sat at my favorite desk in that semi
public resort, to note the graceful appearance at
my elbow OF gentle and beauteous lady, who,
slightly inclining asked Of me whether the ad-
joining desk was vacant. Hastily removing the
volume which had slipped from my pile into the
neighboring compartment, l assured my dis
tinguished interrogation that it was Thanking
me, Miss Anderson, for it was she, removed her
gloves, threw them upon the desk, and went
away to fill in the forms for the books she re-
quired Lest readers should be curious to know
the study in the prosecution of which Miss An
derson had been drawn into such bookish at
mosphere and prosac scenes, I may mention
that my own wonder being not inconsiderably
excited, l allowed myself the liberty of stealing
occasional glances in my neighbours direction, by
which discovered that Greek statuary and the
draperies and costumes Of tho ancients were the
subjects of her stut.ious researches.
/ mention this incident here as an introduc-
ton more appropriate than any attempt at SEN
timentality, to the brief practical account wish
to give of the library. and more especially of the
reading room Of London's most famous museum
Surrounded as one is by galleries Of shelves,
whereon in their thousands, even hundreds of
thousands lie the books in which is treasured
up all the knowledge and the science of man
kind writing in the midst of busy band which
numbers at this very moment doubtless, moro
than one of Englauds greatest literary Chiefs
sitting perhaps at the very desk where was COM
posed in part, if not in entirety, one lit may be
more) of the works whose reputation to-day is
worldwide, it We're easy to wander off into rev.
erie; to give the fancies reign and to conjure up
visions of what may have been, what perhaps
has been and what perchance now is. had one
but the omniscient eye to detect and fathom it,
But it would be to lead me away entirely from
my present purpose. This incident of Miss An
derson's visit-wnich, as | afterwards learned
was neither her first nor her last-after illus
trating as it does, both the far-reachingness Of
the reading rooms attractions and the nature of
adventure to which the humble book-worm is
daily exposed, is more applicable and better to
the point.
The reading room of the British Museum is of
circular FORM 14O feet in diameter and l06 feet
into which it opens. 1t is building of compare
lively recent date. In the first half of this cen
fury the accommodation for the reading public
at first deficient, grew to be utterly inadequate.
Complaints multiplied and in time an agitation
of no small Importance was raised, among the
promoters of which figured men such as Carlyle,
Lord Russell, Dickens and various others. Ac
cordingy in 1884, decisive steps were taken in
Parliament and Yhe requisite funds were granted
for the construction Of new premises on the
1nAn at L.
years, and at cost of $3.50, 900, these were com
pleted. The building is constructed principally
of iron. with brick arches between the main ribs
of the dome, which is formed in two separate
spherical and concentric air chambers, into the
inner of which, through the apertures con-
structed in the soffits of the windows, the witt
ated air escapes, passing thence through the
outlets around the lantern into the open.
Around the room to a height of four and twenty
feet, in continuous cases, the upper two of
which are furnished with running galleries. are
arranged some 80 900 volumes Beyond these. in
concentric chambers, separated only by the iron
frame work of the presses, the books of the Ii
brary proper are placed. The cases and shelves
are of galvanized iron and the floor of the gale
ries is of the same material perforated
Entrance to the reading room is obtained
through large glass folding doors. From the en-
trance wide passage runs toward the center Of
the room. Following this the visitor comes first
to the catalogue desks, arranged in two concen-
Uric SomlClrcleS. WltDln CneSe, also OF senior
cular form, is the superintendent desk where
all tickets must be given in and all books re-
turned. From the ends OF the arc of this semi
circle two parallel partitions, partly of wood
and partly Of glass inclosing passage accessible
only to the attendants, and at the bottom of
which is the door leading to the outer chambers
From the superintendent desk in the center of
the room radiate the seats for the readers
These are of two kinds. OF the larger and more
spacious desks which, with high longitudinal
- A1,-s.
commodations for eight persons on either side
there are nineteen; of the smaller tables run
ming between the lower ends of each of the pre-
ceding, there are fourteen. Altogether 3GO read
ers can find comfortable sitting room. The desks
aforementioned are constructed with view to
the perfect comfort and convenience of the
occupants and are fitted in the most improved
style with folding shelves for the support of
more bulky volumes and of loose sheets of paper
Beneath them, at a distance of half foot from
the ground, a tubular rail runs from end to end
of the table, through which warm water flows
and upon which the feet may rest Between
the double sides of the longitudinal division,
which serves to completely screen opposite occu-
pants of the desk from another, and passing
through an ornamental grating issues the warm
air that is sent up from the air chamber beneath
the flooring. This supply of heated air is under
the control Of innumerable valves, and can be
directed at pleasure. At these larger desks each
person enjoys space of four feet three inches.
OH entering the room, the reduer makes MS
way to the catalogue desk, ascertains here the
press mark by which the book he requires is en-
tered on the library shelves, and proceeds to fill
in a printed form, of which several hang before
him. This he takes to either end of the super
intendent's desk to deposit in q basket placed
there for the purpose This done he repairs to
the seat he has selected and waits. Meanwhile
an attendant will have removed his ticket from
the basket and have sent it on its way to the
gallery, or chamber where the book noted
is shelved. Men are told off to attend to
each gallery, each chamber and each
section of the same. Should the book be on one
of the galleries, the ticket will be placed in a
miniature elevator and sent aloft There it will
be forwarded to its due section. The book will
be found sent on, with the ticket inside, to the
elevator, dispatched downward, taken out by the
attendant in waiting placed with the other books
on truck and wheeled up to the superintend.
ents desk where it will be placed in the hands of
another assistant, who noting the number of the
seat marked upon the ticket still between the