New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-01
CHARLES PkAT1'S GIFT.
ANEW YEAR IS paessyr TO BROOKLYN


ANEW YEAR PRESENT TO BROOKLYN.
4 FRER aEADING-RUoM AND CIRCULATING LIBRARY
ro BE -P:NEp THIS WEEK.
Tho New Year brings the city Of brooklyn . de-
ehtul gift In tho opening, on this week, OF the fce
reading room and cir cuating library cstab shed In con-
ncc,ion with Pratt Institute. These features OF the
now institute not designed for The use OF Its
students mcse. but for the public at large, TO which
their advantages ere offered the saihc terms that
New Yo-k enjoys it, Free Circulating Library
Hitherto tho general reading public Of Brooklyn has
had access to only library excellent ono II 10
true hut ts situation and the cost Of membership deny
is usc 10 cnths Of the citizens who would Dc gsa
10 enjoy its privileges The library has In some
respects an ideal situation stands near to the rch'
the poor and tbs middle class. 1t IS
within few biocls of Adelphi ACADEMY ana
four large public schools reaches one hand toward
Gowanus and the other toward the Ill., ana forms
connecting link between them and 1t purposes 30 give
both an equally cordial welcome. 1t Ia evident that
under such conditions Of environment library can
DO most potent factor for good to the ignorant ana
70 the cultured.
Ths library and reading room OF Pratt Institute oc-
cupy the entire floor OF tho Ry building, the
library lying tc the fight and the reading to the
Left Of the entrance Back Of the hallway ana the
elevator the rooms ac adjacent and will be connected
by portcres The walls of brick four fcct In thick
moss arc buff tint with dado Of Indian red Heavy
upright pillars and q wooden ceiling with exposed
cross beams add the solid and substantial encct'
Twenty windows light the readingroom nom four
sides and the library is lighted nom thrce Sides Al
night tho whole building is lighted by electricity
which Ills the rooms with cool glow very pleasant
to active eyes and brains.
Handsome oak tables and graceful bent wood chairs,
which have the added merit of comfort, furnish the
reading room, while the severity OF the walls Will DO
scfened and all the attractive features of the rooms
heightened by the udcious placing Of photographs en-
Cravings plaster casts and possibly Of plants In inc
windows. Among the pictures selected are eneraV-
ngs of Meissoners "1s4" of Milton debating Para-
dse Nstn the original of which Is In the Lenox Library,
st. Poter's at R,n,e Hoffmans picture of Christ be-
fore the Doctors in Temple" and Giot0s head Of the
youthful Dante.
ACAREFULLY SELECTED LIBRARY.
The library. which has been more than year pre-
parng, contains about 1900 cataogued volumes,
presenting an unusually welihedgcd condition for
library first fight If So light figure Is permissible
During tho year expected that half as many more
volumes VII be added and this account the print
Ing Of the catalogue is deferred Type-written CLASS
lists will be used meanwhile in conjunction with the
card catalogue Great care has been taken In 'he
selection of looks, and while the plan has been to make
the library especially rich works relating to tho fine
aud indus rial arts the departments of pure literature
philosophy, history theology and science are almost
equally wsll represented The department of phoiogy
being must foreign the work of the Institute is,
additions vii consist part of works in this class and in
ntd.rn European languages. The library contains
many valuable works which will not be put In Cir
cuat.on aud a number of rare and limited editions
which cannot be found even in the Ast"r
There ia too. abundance of light literature, but
It Is cvdont that Wig liant censorship has suppressed
the hep lessly dilute, the too goody goody and the
avow III, bad. lection of bound music for various
Instruments liz to be added to the library Somc
tw) hundred cycopadias and other works OF reference
will be placed shelves In the reading room, to which
access Will be free at any time. Tic periodicals IN
clude snc one hundred twenty five of the sand1id
English AID American publications embracing every
department of periodical literature. except the huTo
Gus. A few newspapers, among them HE ihibINI'
will be placed Oh file
On Wedn, SHAY January 4, the library VIII be open 10
receive applications membership tickets for library
or reading ROOM As liberal policy Will be pursued
as is consistent with safety For the present MEMBER
ship will be free, the applicant requiring only some re
sponsiSl person as his voucher Reading room ticko's
will probably be given with greater freedom. but
the reading rom is TO be used exclusively as such,
and will be so administered to be as pleasant ana
attractive for reading women and children as ior men,
Tho rooms are to be open to the public from a. H. 10
o p. IN, exclusive of holidays
VISIT 10 THE PRATT INSTITUTE.
II one visits the Pratt Institute, as the public are
invited to do after Wednesday, and takes The elevator
10 the sixth floor, he will find tic quarters prepared
ior the coukn school The rooms are so sunny, airy
clean aud bright, with the big windows commanding
views Of Loag Island, the Bridge, Staten Island and
Dame Lbes ty that is the food cooked there
WILL as Randy had 1t, "rcltsh even II 7 won't SET"
The effect will be prepare that which will do BOTH
and theory practice the what to DO anu the reason
why are to be combined in golden meab a Dig
sangc a big hot water tank commodious tables with
utensils for classes of twenty pupils each, are sis,'s
uca. To any cook ng-t eachei's heart IN me ADJOINING
ro1 III ii Is expected that luncheon VIII De served ~
n ,.jch' cost. person vino may desire ia pi1V
Io.o NH l t-t he
adeis. ,.,.u,..
llc room acioss the hal with ,hc large skyhSl''s
fa been spccal,y designed for the use OF department.
OF practical pbolcg apply the plans III regard 10 wch
arc fully developed as yet Inc hitn moor r. -
devoted pIospoctvey to the museum. which Is TO De
technical lection, represe, Ing tho handl"0fK u
a an in stlEction to that of nature The art depart
men has the fifth floor Day classes In drawing ana oe
stgn;ng are we'll attended and evening classes VIII
begin work ON Thurs lay night ~, 49,,
The class rooms for sewing are TO be m inc thiru
story and are ready to begin work THIS Week Chuer
Usew:pgr il Is expected 10 include In short tihie
clas o. ia machine sewing dressrnahing ana IgIng
millinery and artistic embToideies Of various kinds
Evening classes will be taught In these departments
and day and evening designed for every age
aud condition The classes Will be organized with re-
gard TO the most advan ageous WORK OK the uacnsr
who will require cert ain amount OF h0moPensy.
On tho second the offices OF the directors o
Sbp Institute. The she's Will be so far competed
within few weeks to allow the formation OF Grasses
and applications are also being received for day and
evening classes in plumbing bricklaylng stohecut-
ding pastering blacbsmithing, carpentcrlns. etc
At present fee of so, PAYABLE quarterly w. ool IN
whole work attempted this year Is necessarily largely
n an experimental character and the directors reserve
the right to make whatever changes experience shall
show 10 be advisable