The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-07
TIE OLD PUII.nINC.

On the first 6ay Of March Of the pres
emit year there were stored on the dark,
towering shelves CT the library just
528, S04 volumes, which is larger num-
Der, by & good many thousands, than is
to be found in any other library in the
United States, with tho exception Of the
congressional, at Washington, which has
565, 1874 volumes, many of which, how
ever, are dry, legal works, which have
very little value to the ordinary mortal.
The Boston public library stands seventh
among the great libraries OF the world.
The National Of Paris, founded in 1881,
has 1880 600 volumes and is first, follow
ed by the British Museum, established
in 1853, and now containing 100000
volumes; Imperial public library Of st.
Petersburg, Russia, the date of whose
establishment is unknown, LOCO, 900
volumes; the Royal library Of Munich,
founded il 1910, 6O0,O00 Royal of Ber-
lin, founded in 1861, T50, eco volumes.
1t is safe TO say that when the Boston
library reaches the present age of some
Of these old storehCuseS Of knowledge it
VIII have shown a growth far outstrip-
ping any one of those mentioned.
During the years 1Gz1-47 various pre-
limina-y movements were made toward
city library in Boston, several books
having been received from Paris, which
it was proposed to use as a nucleus.
While Hon. Josiah Quincy was mayor
he offered to give s., 000 as beginning
toward d free public library if the city
would contribute $4,000, but the offer
was not met. On March 70, 1913, the
legislature passed an act authorizing the
city Of Boston to establish and maintain
public library, and on April follow
ing 1t was accepted by the city. On
Aug. 5, 1850, Hon. E1vard Everett pre-
sented his set of public documents and
state papers Of the United States, with
other works, numbering in al 1000 vol
unes. to the library, and IN 1850 the city
had Just 2 600 books. Then followed q
number Of requests from the wealthy
citizens Of Boston. most Of which were
funded and the income used in pur-
chasing books. Among these cCntri-
buttons was one from josiah Bates,
of London. amounting to $4,000; Hon.
Jonathan Phillips. $4,000; Ion, Abbott
Lawrence, $4,000; second d0n8tiOn
from Eon. jonathan Philips of $50. 900;
Miss Charlotte Harris, $4,000. March
60, 1854. { reading room was opened On
Mason street, and SeDt. II, 1866, the
corner stone Of the present library WIS
laid, and the building dedicated Jan. /,
1853. the addresses being by Hon Rob
ert c. Winthrop and Eon. Edward Ever
EFT. The cost, with land, WIS about
$3GJ,0J0
Among the rare collections of books
which have come into possession of the
library from time to time may be men
toned the Sllakspcaraaa works, which is
the finest collection Of it's kind in Amer
ic&. and VIII rank among the best IN
Europe. 1t embraces aEout 2,000 vol
unes. Then there is Benjamin Frank
Inns collection Of books and pamphlets;
q copy Of the first edition Of Don
Qni1ote,7 one Of the rareat OF Spanish
books. This wss iccluGsd in the Tick
nor library Of Spaz,i2i and Portuguese
works, which was bocueg,led to the
pCbLo library by George IiclnoT, the
historian Of Spanish literature. Thee
dore Parker also contributed his rare
library Of classic works. Rev. Thomas
Prince n I7J8 beqEe1thed 70 the Old
South church, Boston, his books and /
manuscrPEs, and n 1855 tsey were de- I
posted = Jae public library. It Is one I
Of the mos5 unique collections n exist .
ence. Ano1g the rare BOOKS which It /
includes are two copies OF the Bay I.
Psalm Ecok,' which was printed IN I.
Cambridge N 100, and which was the I.
first book printed IN the British pos .
sessions.
The oldest complete specimen Of print /
ing IN the library Il the Supplementary
Of N.colaus Ar1Zz2anus. printed il Ven |
ice about 1+7l. \ Latin Bi5se. known +
as "ESgestei1's Fi-s1 Bible, lie frst vol- /
tine o2ly. from Gspss.s % Palms, /
printed 81 S1rzzsb1-g q I<S6. - Book 4
= re Lives 81 D~7rhs e Poets AID I
PA1CsCphe-s,7 II Latin a2d u Gothic /
type, 81 Walter Barley, printed n I
Nuremberg L 1872. j rearly complete I
SET CT the original ed;Eon ca the spec /
ulum QUad-upJex Of FinceatiUs Hello /
vacensis, CT de Bc-rTIT2Gia, n eleven vol /
u1es, printed IN 1875 = Strausbe-g
AID AUgsbrlrg. Il kzs tde chain and !
staple 5v which It vas t7@sSs1st 70 the /
desk. The Nurem5e-g ChEo1cla,' 50 /
called. printed n Izfs}. Interesting Zct +
only Is a specimen Of early Tl-.zz1lRg. but !
tC- many bznzed c--ia1s wood cuts 4
-ELiCA i contains. yzich illustrate tie /
carly Eisc-y CT tie art = German 4
5.0le, with many ooAcTed TT-lEss. soma Of /