New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
BEYOND THE BIG BRIDGE.
WHAT PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN FIND TO TALK

Tbe venerable Mr. strananan's remarks ~ inc nam
uton Clubs dinner In his honor In rsau !" 'no
desirablty of uniting Brooklyn and Ne"-forh au"
forming ono huge municipality. have attracted no
,.,, at,.rt,on ON both sides Of the East River So
f.r ne prookIyn IS concerned, It is highly prooaoo
that ~ the question were submitted 10 popular Voe
a would be buried out OF sight so cfioctuaiy 'ha' 10
would not be heard of again for long term OF years
The peope of Brooklyn have an honest prde ID 'no ot
~ their homes If not of their business ana inns ia
ts not disprovod by what IS believed to be 'onraS
xeuAxed habit on their part-thc habit when away
from home Of writing "New-York' rainier "'"'
" B,ooklvn. n "" on hotel registers. Inc auVah'-
c which either CITY, and especially the smaller one
Uopa derive from the consolidation which Is not lheS
20 take Mace have not yet been made 10 appear
About the only thing to be said Is thai theN "ou '
n big cty-one that would ofrank Pans anu s'an"
next to London In point of size The IDEA Is SUM-
what pleasing one TO the imagination but thc h"n'i.
Of cities pecemeal is too suggestive OF the laying ~ vi
MAGNIFICENT towns ON bare Western praires TO com
- ,,eoIt 20 tho practical sense Of either Ncw-York
or Brooklyn II Mr. stranahan's purpose was ~ p'o-
yoke discussion he has certainly succeeded mat ne
did not look for an immediate acceptance OF MS des
was made clear by his observation that he "oun ie
tho question for younger men to take up
@The Brooklyn Eagles" comments on the anneHa@
ton scheme are marked by a surprisingly contempt"
Gus tone toward the press Of New-forK whcn 10 III
had
If terms tho transfuvial journals" know nothing
hort prool5,vn. that they do not pretend to know
ANYTHING and they affect pride in their ignorance
that they arc profoundly and avowedly indinerch'
10 ANYTHING on Long Island and that IL Is oo u'"
IN EXPECT that they should treat the SUBJECT Ho au'
hut a " sentimental and surface point OF view Inc
writer who could indulge in such reckless anu hco
lees use of language is either to be pted for MS ls
norance or excused on account of constitutional IN
az lv arp
tone is usually fair that the departure from II in
tbc present instance deserves special notice
Colonel John Y Culyer. whose restoration TO the
nosition OF superintendent II Prospect PARK Wmoh
he held for period OF twenty years, Is earnestly
desired by many frequenters OF that popular anu
nIcnresoue pleasure ground. now finds plenty OF
business 10 engage his Mid I'm the pleasant HUE
ofca which he occupies the sixth floor OF the
Potter Building in lark Row. In TACT, nc mas 81
much TO do that he will soon need 10 DC iooMnS
for larger quarters unless, indeed, the PARK Co'',
mjssioners take step which would be spre 10 ihco'
with public approval and rcappOnt him to his former
Mace AS his has Just resigncc the way -
easily opened for the return Of Colonel Cu!yer 10
the post which he filed with much satisfaction 10
the people during his long term OF service inoio
is I fancy at least one reason why the NoioINi
would be glad 10 go back, beyond the iict tha' lib
reappointment would be vindcaion Oh MS o'"rso
charge
nropriations for Park uses are now so much hoIe
nearly what they ought TO be than thew were III
former wears In the old days the strictest economies
had TO be practised. Now there IS enough money
II rightly used, as 1t would be In Colonel Culyers
hands. to put the Park In good condition ana Keep
is
william A. Bardwe, who has recently been pro
NOTED to the post Of librarian of the Brooklyn LoarS'
has filed the duties OF that Office since the death
matter of surprise to not few of the patrons OF
tbe library that the promotion not made sooner
Mr. Barlyen has been librarian in everything Out
NAME however, and IS fairly entitled to the add'uohai
dignity which the trustees Of the library have some
what tardy conferred upon him. While he mahes
no claim to such qualifications for the Office as were
| possessed by Mr.. Noyes. his long association with
hat gentleman and his love for and familiarity with
hooks have fitted him in marked degree for the
duties which he has performed with entire Satisfaction
to the patrons of the library, since Its great loss
| in the untimely death of Mr.. Noyes Mr. Noyes's
| catalogue would alone entitle him to lasting fame
| among the librarians of the country. No other
| library is equipped with so complete and admlrapie
a catalogue as that upon which Mr. Moves spent many
wears of assiduous labor Mr.. Bardwell IS rather
! under the medium height, and has smoothly shaven
and scholarly face. He is quiet and unoDtrusVe III
manner understands his profession thoroughly ana Is
ever ready assist any one In search OF formauoh
He hag connected
| twenty years. and for ten years previously he was
engaged in the book business; so that the greater
| part of his life he may be said to have lived and
moved and had his being among books He finds
the work extremely fascinating, AID devotes his
| energies to it without stint
Tho Brooklyn Library contains nearly 100000
volumes. Bulletin No. 26, containing list Of 1000
new books, selected mainly from additions to the
library since December /, 1857, has recently been
issued This comprises only about one-half the books
| that have been added since that time. One of the
improvements about to be introduced In the library Is
the substitution of electric lights for gas in the read
Ingroom One does not need to have been familiar
with this place for many years TO remember the time
when the only lights furnished by kerosene lamps
| The change about to be made will be welcomed by
the large number of people who habitually resort to
| the convenient and comfortable reading room In Mon
tague-st Another change in the library has been
made in reduction of the charge for drawing extra
| books Only cents a day, 10 cents week, is
now charged for each book taken out In addition TO
the one drawn a single subscription. 1t IS greatly
TO be regretted that the financial resources Of the
library are so limited that ifs work is more or less
| hampered There are those who believe that re-
ducton OF 80 per cent in the annual subscription fee
Of 50 would increase the lbrary's revenue, while
greatly enhancing lis usefulness. Some talk Is heard
from time 10 time I'm regard TO converting the library
into city institution, after the Boston Public Library.
Brooklyn might well afford to mako handsome in
vestment I'm this direction and furnish IT'S citizens
with the inesttmabe boon Of large and welequpped
free library
The Tapldty Of Brooklyn's growth IS made man
fest In many ways. One Of the striking signs Of
the times is the determination Of Colonel william
r. Slnn OF the Park Theatre, 10 erect new theatre
| in central location. The Colonel undoubtedly
means business. lie IS not given to talk about pro
| ccts which have basis except in the imagination.
Just where the theatre is TO be, Colonel Sim VIII
| not say with positiveness. Not that there Is any
doubt on this point In his own mind or the minds
Of those associated with him In the enterprise,
Colonel Sim has good reasons for not telling Just
where the house IS 10 be- built. All he VIII say
IS that It will be I'm Fuon-st., between the Bridge
and Flabush.ave. think It is safe to say, however,
that it viii be above the City Hail. rather than below