Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-03
SPLENDID OLD BOOKS.
A Valuable Addition Made to the
Pittsburg Library Shelves.
THE M'ILWAINE LIFE COLLECTION
Of Ancient Literature Now Occupies an
Alcove by Itself.
ONE OF Tue LATE WM. THAW'S GIFTS

The McIlwaine library, consisting
nearly 1000 volumes, which the late Will
lam Thaw purchased and presented to the
Pittsburg Library Association, has been
catalogued and placed in an alcove by
itself, and is now open to the public.
1t is a very interesting and valuable col
lection of books in literature, travel and
history, collection that could not easily be
duplicated, for it is such library as only
genuine lover of books, with more than
ordinary opportunities, gathered about him
during life time.
In this addition to the Pittsburg Library,
Shakespeare plays the leading part. His
works are represented by reprint of the
first folio and BY MaIone's. Johnson's
Stevens and Golfers critical editions, al
of which possess great historical worth. In
illustrative material and Shakespearian
criticism, there are Golfers and knights
lives, the Shakespeare Society publica-
tions, Lady Montagu's, DIR. Johnson's,
Dyce's, Hunters, Lord Campbell's and DIR.
Kellog's essays, Cohn's Shakespeare in
Germany" Browns "Disquisitlon on the
Sonnets," etc.
DRAMAS BEFORE SHAKESPEARE
English dramatic literature preceding
Shakespeare is we'll represented by the
standard editions of Lyly, Greene, Peele
and Marlowe, by select plays of the old
mysteries and miracles. and in its critical
aspect by Golfers Annals OF the English
Stage" The dramatists Immediately fol-
lowing Shakespeare and the long list begin
ming with the Restoration and extending
down through the eighteenth century are,
most of them, present. Should anyone care
to become acquainted with the history of
Shakespeare's plays on the stage be will
find much to aiG him in Cibber's "Apolo-
gy," Davies "Life of Garrick" and Boaden's
"Memoirs of Kemble and Mrs. Siddons.''
The library broadens out far beyond the
drama into general literature. This is es-
pecially true of the Elizabethan period. It
contains Chapman's Homer" Fairfa1's
''Tasso," the Arber reprints, fac simile re-
prints of ''The Paradise of Dainty De-
vices" and England's "Helicon, those lit
tie volumes of Elzabethan lyrics that are
among the glories of our literature; Nichols
Progresses of Queen Elizabeth" +" and Gas
coigne's "Princely Pleasures at Kennil-
worth" accounts of the mag gnliceut recep-
tion the Earl OF Leicester gave the Queen at
Kennilworth when he sued for her hand;
aud Naunton's "Fragmenta Regalia," a Sc
ries OF the best character sketches we have
of Elizabeth and her chivalrous favorites.
| SEVENTEENTH CENTURY LITERATURE.
II anyone likes to feel in his hands an old
book, he may crafty his desire by looking
through a seventeenth century folio of
Dryden or Ben Jonson; and if Ignatius
Donelly has unsettled his faith in Shakes
peare, he may be pleased to read in Jonson's
Discoveries, this passage: II loved the
man and do honor his memory this side
| idolatry as much as any. He was indeed
honest and of an open and free nature; he
had an excellent fancy, brave notions and
gentle expressions" Or If when a boy
| English syntax was to him dry subject,
be may turn the leaves of ''Jonson's
| Grammar" and smile over its quaint humor
and occasionally be moved by an eloquent
| sentence.
The books of history and travel for the
| most part come under the head of "Ameri-
| cana" and relate to discoveries and ad-
ventures west of the Alieghenies. One of
them in particular should not be passed by:
| Hennepin's New discovery of the vast ter
ritory extending above 1000 miles between
New France and New Mexico, with de-
| scription of the great lakes, cataraets,
| rivers, plants and animals" This half
| romantic volume is embellished with a map
| and illustrations, and bears the date 1898.
/ Among other works and volumes worthy
| of notice are Tyrerhitt's "Chaucer;" Ed
wards Lille of Raleigh" ''The Bsviad and
Marviad," bright satire which a century
ago ridiculed without mercy the blue stock
| ings and affected sentiment in literature;
Talfourd's edition of Lamb" old quartos of
| Shirley's plays; Wings "Ephemeris," an
amusing almanac of the time of Charles IL,
and the novels of the earliest man OF letters
in this country. Charles Brockden Brown.