Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-17
In THE AST0R LIBRARY.
QUEER PEOPLE WHO PASS THEIR
DAYS AMONG THE BOOKS.

FISfAn WHO PASS THEIR
DAYS AMONG THE BOOKS.
n" REGULAR MS the Quaint
Volumes Upon the sheIyes-A Coun,s
OF Cranks-GobbIIng the MapaxInes
Various Freguenters.
Inc haDitues Of the Astor library are, some
oi thein, as peculiar as the quaint volumes
upon the Shelves. ! do not NEAR the men
VINO rush IN aud look into a book for an hour
ana tien rush out again to the hustle of eli v
ine. But they, too, have their counterparts
III pooks, IN fact, all Of US have. 1t is plea
SAINT enough to sit at one of the tables with
not 700 Interesting book before you. now
looking at its printed pages and now at the
'hrlci crowd around. DO you not see re-
seino'ancesf For instance, the rusty old gen.
tienan over toere with the pallid face. the
convex spectacles and the shiny black suit NJ
Oh fashioned cut might be compared to one
OF the dusty, rnusty TONES IN the top shelves
that are more carefully preserved than he
Then again that iiashy red covered novel,
which went through five editions In as many
weeks might be thought of in connection
with the loud talking, dawdy looking woman
who sits at the next table, while the daintv
low voiced girl who sits near her reminds one
instnctively Of one Of Thomas Bailey AID
ficus iayE. Thus you might go on until you
round shadow of every one of this curiously
n'sor'ed yet wlthal congenial company.
COUPLE OF cRANKs.
Opposite me at the table where I usually
read, and where | now write, sits n opaint
and cranky couple At least one of them ia
quaint and the other cranky. The first is a
shabby genteel man, who reads dppv. dog
cared books that are themselves shabby
senteel. When enter the library at 10 o,clo.k
every morning he is there, and when | leave
late i'll the afternoon he still sits in his chair
hardly having moved his position all dav
Sometimes / stay until the library is closed
for the night, and then he leaves the big room
like man vino knows not where to 90 for n
resting place. There lie sits all day as Close
to the table as possible, in order, no doubt. to
conceal the lack of buttons on his coat I'm
der the table his old silk hat is carefully de-
posted with penny morning paper and a
parcel peepin2 over the tattered rim. IL 7
happen to he there about O'Clock will see
nm munching something which have re-
Gently discovered is bread. He does not tale
1t out OF his pocket, where lie has stealtbiiy
conveyed it from the hat like man who
knew lie was eating midday luncheon, but
breaks off little bits i'll his pocket and carries
them to his mouth as il fearing discovery.
de knows only too well, perhaps, that he is
dining.
Ny other opposite is not unlike the shabby
genteel person in general characteristics.
though he seems better fed His aDparel
however, does not show the scrupulous care
OF tie other. He generally comes in after I
have arrived, and so have ample opportu
nity to watch his preparations for the davis
reading. First, he supplies himself with
tozen volumes of sermons These he will
carefully arrange about him, and seating
himself he will clasp his hands across his
breast and engage in half audible PRAYER
Then lie will select his subject, settle down in
a comfortable position, close his eyes aud be-
gin the days reading. There he sits all day
| tong with closed eyes, his face bent inteptly
over the book with every evidence of intense
interest on his countenance. Whether or not
| he is reading | will not undertake to say. but
this know, he turns over his pages at rem
| lar intervals and now and then will oneu his
EYES and take notes with the dullest of
pencils.
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lu.i N'e'e d man VINO wants 10 READ