The evening world., 1890-05-29
BABY BOOKWORMS
Tho Little HabitueS Of the ChildrenS'
Library.
Ey1l Nelson Tells About One OF the
Prettiest Little Institutions
That New York He's.
Rabv b~ookwormsi

D1L ~ 1NaNN - ~ ~ -
intellectual dirty faces IL is impossible to
And outside of 500 Seventh avenue. They
come in rain and sunshine, in Summer
and storm, every afternoon between 8 and
s O'Clock and all Saturday and stay at the
reading tables, arms akimbo, bending
over books and laughing, crying and low
ing Red Riding Hood" Lion Jack"
Hop Only Thumb" " Cinderella " and
The rest of the heroes and heroines Of
Wonderland.
They come in gingham aprons, patched
trousers. brimless hats and treacherous
shoes from the humble homes in the i'm
mediate neighborhood for O book or
another peep at the red hat. league boots
or magic wand of the chrome chefs
d'auvre. They come before the library is
opened and remain until elected by pretty
Miss Edwards. They come with dolls in
their arms, sometimes with moon-faced
babies In their laps, and more than one
yellow dog has slept between a pair of
warm little legs while the master followed
fourteen-year-old hero up the Congo
where diamond mine and q beautiful
bicycle awaited him.
The library has had but one birthday.
yet In that time an average of 1, 900 chill
dren have patronized II every month. the
difference In the sexes being about one
tenth Of 1 per cent. in favor of the boys.
The best time for a study of these lite
rary midgets is Saturday before the circus
and baseball season. Then the tots come
in groups, arrange themselves about the
little oaken tables, all the small boys in
the large chairs aud the big girls squeezed
into the kindergarten seats, the reason
for which choice Miss Edwards Ia unable
10 account. The coveted book is reserved
for home and the time given to pictorial
series, in which the library abounds. By
way of preparing these poor tots for the
wisest use Of the larger free libraries and
reading-rooms no talking is allowed.
Books may be changed, the owner pass
from one table to another, and he may
call for as many books % he likes. but
silence il required and hints are given in
the matter Of position and the proper
handling Of periodicals and books. A
child who has been Q reader one week
does not wet his finger to turn a leaf nor
does he dog-sar . page.
By having the following blank filed
any child may borrow books:
The undersigned. an inhabitant Of the
city of New York, between 5 and 12 years
Of age, residing
hereby applying for the right to use the
Childrenb Library. 300 Seventh avenue.
49, III Ia DalAa A-I 80 4f.A
Immediate notice at the LIBRARY or any
change oTrestdence.
tSf0B Mann.
NO. OF bcnO0l
Name Of Teacher
believe IL will be safe to loan this appli-
can't books.
Satisfied as to the residence of the little
would be book borrower, the next requi-
site is q pair of clean hands. and some
clever schemes arc resorted to by the
small boy. who to escape o hand bath will
wear mittens, pin q brown paper over his
hands, or buckle them behind and at
tempt to carry of the book in his mouth.
Clever as these lodges are, Miss Ed
wards insists on seeing the little palms
and then begins q hunt for cold water.
On rainy days the puddles IN the side
walk are resorted to; if an ice wagon hap
pens to be in the neighborhood a cold
rub against the crystallized block intended
for the butcher. and II the book is partic-
ularly interesting and there Is danger in
delay q brave pull is made at some base
ment door and permission asked OF the
astonished maid to wash my hands q lit
tle." As O rule. however. the pretty, If
grimy little hands are taken home at a
speed TO break all previous runs. Some
times the return trip 10 made Immediately
after ablution and more often deferred.
I sat with o group of boys the other
afternoon and tried to harmonic the re-
lations of one small, bony fellow of seven
named Louis. with the fair but obdurate
librarian. He was looking through a
Chaaey6o1 and had ~. Nicholas in his lap,
neither of which he cared for. He wanted
. book but Miss Edwards wouldn't let
him have none"
why ?"
well, cause the last one got tore. l
didn't tear it. II was my baby"
opened my eyes and pursued his baby
with interest.
Its Emma. She is two. but"
Pretty p"
Yes, but she hnds my book every
place l hide 1t. jess Is soon n l 90 in
the house she comes at me and bites me
with all the teeth she's got till / give 1t to
her. Then she laughs and tears 1t. !
can't help her. It amt my fault" and
the little forehead wrinAlsd and the small
face looked unspeakabls misery.
mo" said Miss Edwards when I tried
to intercede for Louis. "other boys have
babies, and that excuse has been given
too often. II is his fourth ofense. He
may come TO the library and read, but !
cant let him take q book home until /
can trust him."
Louis's eyes were becoming very misty
when a small nsighboT with cherry cheeks
and blacA hair began TO tell me about his
baby and her respect for library bookL
Still l vas sorry for poor Louis. He
wanted to read Lion Jack since before
and II was always out. II