The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-25
SKELETONS IN LIBRARIES.
They are Hidden Away From the
Public Eye SO Very
Carefully.
They are Only Selections of Books i,
But They are Quite
Improper.
The skeleton in the Library of Congress
Exhibited by Mr. Spofford--People
Who Frequent Libraries.

Have Won ever examined the skeleton in
the library of congress? asks the Washing
ton Star.
Every big library has its skeleton. 1t is
kept hidden away, SO that people shall not
see it. though one may obtain glimpse if
he is old enough and knows how to go
about it, Usually it is secreted in a locked
chamber by itself.
The library skeleton, Star reporter
learned, is its collection of improper books.
Unhappily there is great deal OF ltera-
reverse of moral. Much of this is really
classical. Not so very many years ago it
was decidedly the fashion to be coarse and
vulgar even in what was then the polite So
ciety of the period. People laughed SO
hard at the pointless filth written
to this day it is considered
the proper thing to pretend to understand
and admire him. Sterne and Smollett
earned their regulations as much by their
indecency as by the skill with which their
pens were welded. The gentlemen in
Pickle'' are hopeless blackguards, while
scarce any person nowadays can read
s.Tristram Shandy'' without being dis
Rusted by its laborious effort to introduce
an improperly in every paragraph. Dean
Swift's 'Gulliver's Travels appears in
the book shops of to-day in expurgated
form. Nearly all the great writers of those
times had the same habit; the age was in
fected with it. Besides what they produced
here is much of the literature of other CEN
turtles that is not adapted to domestic
circles.
To be sure, Smollett and Sterne would
not be relegated to the skeleton closet; they
are not bad enough for that. Unluckily,
there are plenty Of other books far worse
more particularly certain class of them
written purely and simply for the purpose
of gratifying morbid taste for immortality.
Mr.. Spofford says the worst book he knows
of was written by an English clergyman.
Every big library has its collection Of such
works, as matter of course. They are
kept apart by themselves and are not per-
mitted to 90 out; permission to inspect any
of them is granted at the discretion of the
librarian.
Mr.. Spofford is fairly liberal in exhibit
say, he will permit any male person who
appears to be as much as twenty-one years
Of age to read any book from the private
collection that he may call for, SO long as
the volume is not taken out of the library.
Women never ask for works of the sort.
man who should come in and ask merely
for something immoral" would assuredly
not be gratitied.
Rules on this subject vary in different To-
calities. In Boston they are probably more
strict than anywhere else. The skeleton in
the public library there, which is one of the
largest in the world, is hidden away in a
series of little closets designated as the
Inferno" In these, on shelves, are ar
ranged in suggestive rows all such volumes
as ought to bring blush to the cheek of
innocence. The restrictions with relation
to them are very rigid indeed. For it
l,,A4 ! IoA. "a 10 s,,
the modern Athens who are always trying
to get hold of something immoral in the
literary way. Almost invariably they give
it as an excuse for demanding such books
that they are going through a course of En-
glish or French literature and are compelled
reluctantly to peruse the Objectionable works
as portion of the task before them. The
rule in this library is that if reader comes
up and says that he has heard that such
and such a book is wicked and that he
would like to see it his request is granted
usually; but if he tries the course of liter
allure" dodge he is apt to be refused. The
applicant for an Objectionable work is, as a
rule, asked to fill out slip, giving his age
and occupation, together with his name.
reference for character and reason why he
wants the book. This slip must be Endorsed
by the librarian before the petition is COM
on the attendant always says that the vol
ume desired is lat the bindery," such be-
ing the formula in use for cases of the sort.
A library is always the chosen retreat of
cranks. Such an institution has its regular
patrons, who turn up every day like clock
work and spend most of their time over the
books. Nearly every one of these has some
screw loose. There is the man who reads
the volume over and over again for years,
the aggressive female student of mathe-
mates, who brings her lunch, and not least
important, the almost inevitable epileptic.
One of these is numbered among the habit
ual frequenters of nearly every library.
About the same time every day he has a fit
on the premises and has to be brought te
again. but the constant customers are used
to it and don't mind. Only the casual WIS.,
itors look up from their books when the
unfortunate tiops over, All sorts of peopl!
who have no occupation in life are found
in library. Some, perchance, are ou
of employment and try to while away the
time and forget their difficulties among thu
books. The average or happiness In llbrar,
is low. Some are rendered independent, b.
the exertions of others or by small means o
gravitate naturally to the library to reliev
somewhat the ennui which makes life des
pair for those who take no part in the indus
try of the world and are for that reason dc
prived even of companionshlp. The librar
lend almost inevitably grows sour and ul
social.
For tramps library is most benefcis
institution. In Boston, at the publ
library, the big reading room down stain
IL known as the Cramps Retreat" Whe
cold weather comes these professions
idlers forsake the benches in the park
and take up their quarters by the day j
the library. They procure books fo
appearance sake and go to sleep owe
them, but no one objects SO long as the
don't snore. To save trouble they brin
food with them to eat when they are hun
cry, pie only being forbidden on account 0
IL sickness. When the attendants ar
not looking they remove their shoes slyl
and toast their damp feet at the radiators
Chicago's public library is largely used q
tramp's retreat also. sign in the dooi
way, however. says that "dudes and masl
ers are not wanted The st. Louis publ
library is the greatest trysting place of til
town for lovers, who meet there in the al
ternoons and hold hands in the windo
seats, which are happily just big enoug
Tor two. When the lovemaking becomes to
violent the librarian stands near them an
stares at them until they go away.
Knights Of Pythias Excursion to milwaukee
Take the Vestibule Line.