St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-17
All Minneapolis Was on Hand
at the Opening Of the
New Library.
Every Corner of the Elegant
New Building Filled With
Sightseers.
Many Legal Complications
Over Part of the Estate
of Mrs. Nell.
DR.. Burrell's Onslaught Upon
the Pure and Holy Ad-
miniStratiOn.

Az CLOCK yeSlerutY lue uOUIS VI tiiO
new and complete public library were
opened, and from that hour until near
midnight constant stream of humanity
poured in through broad front doors, up
the inside staircases, all over the build
ing, with steady, seemingly never
ending, flow. They came in carriages,
they came on fOot-but come they did.
The visitors to the noble building and
the still nobler institution which
find home within its walls, were not
all of one class or walk in life. 1t was
a purely democratic affair and repre-
sentative of the city in which it oc-
CURED. The millionaire rubbed elbows
with the teamster. and all were equally
welcome within the walls of Minneapo-
lis best educational institution. There
is no college whose work can compare
with that of the well-selected library.
The library reaches the masses, the
college, the classes. But there was
no air of eOnventiOnality nor of eX-
clusiveneSS there last night. Fathers
came TO see the pride of the city. which
they had helped to raise Tor the benefit
of their children. Mothers came to
enjoy its beauties and its merits with
the fathers. Children were there to
cial benefit. And, all together, 1t made
a complete. harmonious whole which
spoke well for the city.
If the splendid building looked we'll
last week, it was positively radiant yes
terday. When the evening came and
the soft light from hundreds of incan-
descent lamps was shed over the scene
it became one of unusual beauty.
AS one entered the front doOrways his
first impulse was to stop and look
about him. Stretching above him to
a height Of four stories twinkled scores
of lamps, filling the staircase well with
brilliant light. ThrOngs of people were
passing up and down constantly, and
yet always remaining crowd. In the
basement were the check rooms, and
few fingered there longer than
to relieve themselves of their wraps.
Up on the first floor crowds of
people were constantly wandering from
ladies' reading room 10 the book rooms,
to the general reading room, all over.
Tall and blue-coated officials were sta
toned at every point where crush
WAS LIKELY To OCCUR
and kept the crowds in good order and
OIL the move. Everybody was good
natured, but it was necessary to have
some cO0l-headed persons to prevent
masSing in one place.
In the ladies' reading room were col
lected bevies of young girls and thought
full maidenS who gaZed enchanted upon
the magnificent apartment which the
bounty of the city had provided for
their delectation. The warm colOrS of
carpet, the rich mahogany wainscoting,
the terra Gotta tinted walls
and draperies of the same
color, deliberately carved mantel,
all softened by the mellow light, made
indeed beautiful picture. 1.-The hand
soonest room in the building" was the
verdict of every one who saw it.
But it was on the second floor that the
crowd was to be found. In the large,
long room facing the stairway, had
been placed the casts from the
every nook and corner of the room,
were placed ferns and pOtted plants,
the dark green of their leaves contrast
ing strongly with the dazzling white
ness of the Statuary. The society
meeting room to the right of the stair
way were groups of scientific DerSOI.S
eagerly discussing the admirable
adaptability of the room to the uses
for which it is intended. But if
the other rooms on the second
floor were crowded, the directors meet
ing room and reception room on the left
OF the stairway was packed. The in
siders Wandered in and out among the
statuary, examined the casts, drifted
through the museum of the academy of
natural sciences, strolled slowly into
the directors room. and there they
stayed. This room is poem in green.
The carpet is pale green, and
SO are tie walls. Heavy dark
green draperieS. depended on the walls
from ceiling to floor. Large, high
backed oaken chairs, upholstered in
dark green leather, invited the weary
stroller to rest awhile, and many were
those who aVailed themselves of the UNI
spoken invitation. Another feature of
this room which restrained the crowd was
the presence of Danz' orchestra on the
landing just outside. The sweet strains
of music from there penetrated to all
parts Of the edifice. and contributed no
small amount to the
ENJOYABLENESS OF THE OCCASION.
On the stairs leading to the top floor,
the home of the art school and
the gallery, locomotion was i'm
possible. Two powerful currents of
humanity, one up the other down, swept
slowly on and the individual could do
nothing but fall in and go with the
crowd. Arrived at the top, no small
share of attention was bestowed upon
the art display. The long room open
ing directly off the stairway land
ing was ranged round with cabi-
nets inclOSing the rarest and
| most costly bric-a-brac, curiOsities,
and art treasures from every land.
There was group of interested people
before every cabinet. but the long art
gallery caught the visitors. The pic
lures owned by. and loaned to the IL
brary. were artistically hung, and the
double rows of incandescent lamps
afforded light equal to that of the
sun. Many old favorites. seen at
the exposition, were recognized on the
walls, but former acquaintance was no
detractor from their merit, if the groups
which surrounded them be any criterion
by which to judge. This room was
crowded from the time of opening un-
til the last hour. In the front, in the
art school study rooms, we're several
pieces of work done by pupils of the
art school.
1t is estimated that about $4,000 per-
sons visited the building during the
afternoon and evening. The greatest
crush came just after the evening meal,
between and S. when the space inside
would scarcely accommodate the corners.
Librarian Herbert Putnam, Mayor
Babb, I. b. Walker, Thomas Lowry. E.
NJ. Johnson. Judge KOon, President
Northrop and A. G. Austin acted as
reception committee and showed in
quiring parties like old time, well
trained uSherS.
1t was a most suspicious opening of
the city's greatest institution.