The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-31
TILDEN's REQUEST.
New York Very Much in Need of the Proposed
Public Library-Otlier Libraries.

New York Very Much In Need Of the Proposed
Public Library-Other Libraries.
+. A. Burr in Philadelphia Times.
IF Samuel j. Tilden's executors fulfill his de-
sres New York will have library at last for lit
erary workmen to use That is not the case at
present" So said an industrious of that
type to me in the St James lobby. / took occa-
sion, bee fashion. to extract the honey OF his
knowledge 1t is q good thing that there are
men who like to know. The modern correspond
emit is a man who only cares to tell what he
hears sees. Other men have to delve that he
may tell in as pleasant a way as possible.
asked my friend about libraries
New York has no public library worthy or
the name Brooklyn, even is better of In the
sense OF general utility, or that of the widest
pleasure to be derived from collection of books
The Cooper Union Library and Reading-room
is good enough in its way, but the distinction OF
classes is altogether too broad in this city to
make 1t pleasant place to visit very often for
man even as democrats in feeling as l am"
So said my friend. He continued "The
Astor Library Is great one. It's use Is ham
pered In so many ways to make II appear
small one. 1t seems to be run for the benefit,
primarily, of the librarian and his assistants
Three months in the year it is closed Ii the
reading-room of which l spoke is too demo-
cratic the Aston errs in the other extreme. 1t is
so exclusive, even in its collecting as to limitthe
value of noble gift. The hours are too short
except for the librarian and his staff. From 10
to is not enough, or, If it is, the six hours are
not distributed wisely There is good deal OF
unnecessary delay in getting books, and the col
lection is deficient in directions that may seem
too commonplace for the librarian, but are ex-
ceedingly useful to the student and worker.
Foreign literature is carefully garnered, but
Americana is neglected.
What libraries. them are there in this city
that can be properly called public2 That ques
ton goes to the root of the matter. I reply. pos
itvely, none. The Lenox Library is only
tomb filed with rare curios, hard to get into and
IL 60 4hnNn 10
of no general utility whatever and has not much
special value either. l never think of running
the gauntlet of the Lenox il it can be avoided.
There are some small and useful collections
such as the Apprentices Library and one on
Bond street-which free. The Mercantile
Library is a good one. 1t is full and valuable In
many directions but it Is not free or public
library. The Historical Society, on Second ave-
nue., and the Society Library. on University
Place. both important collections. Their
custodans are exceedingly liberal and very oblig-
ing, but one likes to be begging favors all the
time.
There is need of great, free public library
in city like New York, or, for that matter, In
any great American city. Mr.. Tilden's three
millions would make one. and amply endow It,
| do not mean merely luxurious artistic, cosy,
though extensive. library dwelling, such as the
| present Gramercy Park residence is we'll ar
| ranged to make There is room enough IN the
open rear of that fine mansion, if recoilect
| Alright, to build an edifce large enough for the
| present uses of a free library The Gramercy
| Park house formerly two fine dwellings, would
| be the very quintessence of completeness as
library of reference and place for scholarly work
Mr.. Tilden's property runs through to the next
street below-Twenty first, l believe. The con-
| structiou thereon of plain structure with
| small court yard in the CENTER would give a
| building fit to contain a great public
| library. I should like to see this sugges-
| ton discussed Without knowing anything
| about Mr.. Tilden's intention l have often i'm
| agined- that he had some such purpose. Any
one who would look at the residence, with It's
ample rear space Will, 1 think, come to the same
conclusion. A building, plain IN EXTERIOR 1re-
| proof in character, with ample spaces within,
could he erected there, at no great cost either
1t would easily house quarter OF a million
books. l venture to suggest that less tnan
half a million dollars would pay for the con-
struction. / should like to learn ere die of one
such bequest wherein no job can be found and
no favoritsm be exerted. $50 far as l am
aware continued my friend, there are but
three great municipal or civic free libraries IN
this country. They are located In Boston, Chi
eago and Cincinnati Understand me, | mean
public libraries, owned by tho municipalities
The public library of Boston was the parent one.
suppose it remains the most valuable l say
this with reservation, as | have not recently
visited Chicago Cincinnati. Baltimore is en-
dowed by private munifcence with great library
collections, easily accessible. But still | know
no great library in the sense of working
utility equal to that of Boston.
believe that new building is being
or has been erected for it's use. The old one is
well arranged But what l was struck WITH
| when there last fall, was the eager desire dis
played to extend its operations and make the
collections accessible. The Boston library, for
example, is open from s until 1O-fourteen hours
There is very little red tape used in the procur
ing of books, either for lending or reference.
The reading-room is always accessible. also.
Bates Hall is almost the beau ideal of a refer
ence library. It's card catalogue is ample and
easily com pretended. Then there is fuss to
be made getting at encyclopedias, etc.
They are found at an open desk, and can be used
without calling on the librarians Bulletins of
the new publications obtainable are posted to be
read by all AS an illustration of thoroughness,
let me mention this fact: I was engaged last
year exhaustive study of the literature of
social and political economy In fact, WAS
working on that side of public report upon
industrial Depressions l visited number of
libraries in different Atlantic States, but found
only in the Boston Public Library a collection
large enough to possess the fullest value. 1t has
over four thousand titles in this important de-
partment alone The library is almost as remark
ably full on all American history, especially of
the war period and that which preceded and led
up to 1T"