The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-01

4 CsisrsA Mas In wsshinsteu When Law.
ysrs All Over the cesssry Kssw.

- SOa0bS0 Ao1 IN woebun8too WBVS ASsws
ysrs All Over the ceaatey Know.
WASHINGTON, Feb. N.-Oppoeitc tho wind
ing staircase which ascends TO tho rotunda.
Rni directly beneath the Supreme Court room.
Is tho ,ncst law library In this country. It
contains $1,000 volumes and the annual addi-
lions amount to about 2.00o volumes. Though
nomlnally q part Of the niscoanso us library,
and undor the jurisdiction Of Mr.. SpofYord. It
has had for years It's librarian and separate
accommodations. within the portals OF this
vast collection the profoundest lawyers OF the
United States have laboriously traced legal
principles and marshalled arrays OF Authori.
tics. The rule OF silence 10 without breach. In
this legal reservoir there Ia that quiet which
rests upon the waters In whose depths genuine
pearls alone are found.
The legal explorer meets with but one annoy
ance. There 10 not gas lot or lamp within the
room. No employee dare even carry match.
After the fire In 1851. which proved SO dlsas-
trous. a statute was enacted prohibiting the
uss OF combustibles OF any kind within the IL
braries. And thus. when dusk prevents the
eye from longer following the studied text.
the doors are closed. and. perhaps In the middle
Of q sustained argument which the reader
would faln pursue to conclusion. the volume
must be resigned.
The assistant law librarian. John Francis
Nicholas Wilkinson. is oolored gentleman.
He 10 the oldest attache In either library. For
% years he has been the familiar purveyor Of
the law books, ana in every leading office Of
tho larger cities he could 1nd lawyer whom
he knows. No abbre vlations Of the law re-
por,ers stagEer him. Ho refers to no dictlon-
AIRY to discover the meaning OF the initials or
condensed names used. but promptly goes to
tho proper alcove nnd unerringiy BRINGS forth
the desired leDurt. whether 1t be one OF q
musty British series or snme earlier State col
.ectlon Of opinions whose editor sought
rs.hsq sha@ EMPLOY nj yhs msasru
ienee OF consecutive numbers; 1t Is the
nnrst r Tn the UPON nr"s tx, Wish ss
are momsntnry coming down with .reluisi-
ancient Brehon laws. Franch causes .s!eLres. Or
reports % ths Court do Cessation to tho whole
ssion % q swss Mr.
draws out tho required works irom the shelves.
nut w9at Sc ~ as feat
OF cases. He has no need OF recourse 70 dlge1ts
e locate nh n leading ease, easss in our inrislrn-
| Wilkinson incumbency from 10000 to G3.u0o
volumes. but he has kent .pnc. With IT,
dian. and white blood in hls veins. In ISL.
| when tne tenr Of slave insurrestion terror.
irlv.n from v''r:nfe. Wilkinson father be-
came n resident Of Washington. where he was
! ~ ~ wv st'''Sihcn WIZ ss'u
| together there. The son was carly placed in q
| brckyard. and followed brick making until he
was ~ years old. fliin2 the inter iuterva s
| with catering and playing in n bnnd. In
| 1887 no was employed as Il labor;
to assist in Sesn9s the general 5nl
an additional labor.r. and Wilkinson got the
permanent Job. Wilkinson WAS soon detailed
gra "a OF lahorer. messenger. and assistant u
| brarian he has served ever slnce. In 1861 Mr.
| Lincoln removed John :. M-rhan the law IL
| brnrian. after thirty.one years service. and APP
| pointed DR.. Stevenson Of Terre Huute in his
employee except the younger Mseian. vii.
| kin.on was tod that It had been decided to
emp.ov no coored help. But he was restored
| in n few months. and the Suprcms Court and
| Rsverdy johnson. then on tho Library Com
/ mlttee. requested that he be never removed.