Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-20
IN THE AST0R LIBRARY.
QUEER PEOPLE WHO PASS THEIR
DAYS AMONG THE BOOKS.

Habitues as Peculiar as the Quaint
Volumes Upon the Shelves-A Couple
of Cranks-Gobblins tho Magazines.
Various Frcquenters.
The habitues of the Aston library are, some
, OF them, as peculiar as the quaint volumes
upon the shelves. do not mean the men
who rush in and look into book for an hour
and then rush out again to the hustle Of city
life. But they, too, have their counterparts
in books, in fact, all OF us have. Ii is plea
SAINT enough to sit at one of the tables with
not too interesting book before you, now
looking at its printed pages and now at the
varied crowd around. Do you not see re-
semblancesa For instance, the rusty old gem
tleman over there with the pallid face, the
convex spectacles and the shiny black suit of
old fashioned cut might be compared 10 one
of the dusty, musty TONES in the top shelves
that are more carefully preserved than he
Then again that fashy 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 dainty,
low voiced girl who sits near her reminds one
instinctively Of one of Thomas Bailey Aid
rich's idyls. Thus you might go on until you
found a shadow of every one of this curiously
assorted yet withal congenial company.
COUPLE OF CRANKs
Opposite ME at the table where l usually
read, and where | now write sits a Quaint
and cranky couple. At least one of them is
quaint and the other cranky. The first is a
shabby genteel man, who reads dingy, dog
cared books that are themselves shabby
genteel. When l enter the library at 10 o'clock
every morning he is there, and when leave
late in the afternoon he still sits in his chair,
hardly having moved his position all day.
Sometimes | stay until the library is closed
for the night, and then he leaves the big room
like a man who knows not where to go for q
resting place. There he 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
parcel peeping over the battered rim II |
happen to be there about 2 o'clock will see
him munching something which have re-
Gently discovered is bread. He does not take
it out of his pocket, where he has stealthilv
conveyed it from the hat like man who
breaks off little bits in his pocket and carries
them to his mouth as if fearing discovery.
He knows only too well, perhaps, that ne is
dining.
Ny other opposite is not unlike the shabby
genteel person i'll general characteristics,
though he seems better fed His apparel.
however, does not show the scrupuous care
of the other. He generally comes in after
have arrived, and so have ample opportu-
1ity to watch his preparations for the DAYS
reading. First, he supplies himself with a
dozen volumes of sermons. These he will
carefully arrange about him, and seating
himself he will clasp his hands across his
breast and engage in a half audible prayer
Then he will select his subject. settle down in
q comfortable position, close his eyes and be-
gin the days reading. There he sits all day
long with closed eyes, his face bent intsnty
over the book with every evidence Of intense
interest ON his countenance Whether or not
be is reading | will not undertake to say, but
this know, he turns over his pages at regu-
Tar intervals and now and then will open his
eyes and take notes with the duIest Of
pencils
GoBBLIyG THE MAGAZINES
Besides the antique already described, there
is in direct contrast the man of the period
He does not care for books Of past date but
must have current literature or none at all
His great ambition is TO read all the new
magazines He will get them ali at once. and
taking them under his arm seek some retired
alcove, where be will proceed to read them
ono after another until be is through with
them all And as be Is generally a slow
reader he usually has them in his possession
all day In the mea ntin1e other readers may
come in and want a look at one OF the maya
zines he has, but nothing short OF peremp-
tory demand from an official will induce him
TO surrender them and even then be does Il
with very bad grace.
Then there is q man who wants to read
but IL not quite sure Of what hs
wants. He looks ovsr the shelves, goes on
ground, u driven out and then
gathers lot Of books together. which he
brings into the reading room and places BE-
for, him lie now proceeds 20 look through
the whole lot and very likely nothing viii
sui; him. Doubtless be Will end In picking
up the book his neighbor has tus: finished,
ard ia a monen. Il deeply immersed IN ia
pages
Another frequsnter is the man who always
sants the book you are reading Re passes
behind and sees The title, end then Wild de- |
Dire 10 have .hat volume arises IA h,rn- He |
.Axes a s.as opposite you, IL possible, picks /
up an index. idly turns the pages and nsver |
takes his eyes of yo1 until, in SELF defense, |
you drop tie boSk or carry .t to t5s Ultra |
mans table
Then there is the young man who gets bold |
II funny book. and grow, purple In h.s 81, /
,o-ts 70 keep frcEn gnfswing o4t ioud ever
tbe joksA Beside him siss tbs eros. grained |
yerSon, who never smiles over anything, ard |
reads a book In the same manner that snoz.
people take a disagreeabls usd1caDa So.king /
Fui,s him and bot even wilkins Aicawf>er or
Finn can raaks hA grim Jaws
relax into q szaile.-S~w York Commercial
Advertiser.
Dangerous Drinks.
A bartender plaiafiyesy b<-af,~d tie De
,esssty of havfcg 70 rub eoagssssc crora q
-. - 81 49, r 49, l