Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
MR.. RIGGS GENEROSITY
The Handsome Library Hall He Has
Given to Georgetown University.
A FITTING HOME FOR BOOKS.
Some Rare volumes in the Colsectieu-Bits
OF Interesting Informatten Culled From a
Newspaper Published In This City By Col.
Peter Force In 1875
Written for The Evening Star
VISITING THE VENERABLE croR,

Written for The Evening Star.
VISITING THE VENERABLE GEORGE
town College. as it was called for many
years. put now raised to the dignity of a uni
Serslty and installed in a building proportion
ate to Its elevation, was shown the Riggs Me-
mortal Library, which is just finished and
INTO which the collection of rare books has
been removed. The old library was the
wonder and admiration of my boyhood,
and was supposed to be ample for the
accommodation Of the collection, then
looked upon as complete. The need of more
space became apparent. as additions were being
constantly made. and in the magnificent pile
In which the university will find ample space
large enough for some years to come pro-
Vision was made for a library commensurate
With the growth of the institution. Mr.. Peltz
when he designed the university building made
special provision for this great need, and in the
southeast corner of the third story a
hall was provided for this storehouse OF knowl-
edge. but the straitened circumstances Of
the college when this great building WAS COM
pleted rendered delay i'll the preparation of
the library almost indefinite At the celebra-
ton OF the centennial o. the college Father
richards, the rector, announced that Mr. E.
Francis Riggs had volunteered to provide the
approved manner IN memory of his
father and brother. The elder MIR.
hlSgs was lover OF books and u
man of extensive reading. He translated
from the Spanish for private distribution
some rare manuscripts he had obtained rela-
tive to the early history of this country. The
brother of Mr. Riggs was a scholar anu Mr.. T.
francis Riggs Is a gentleman of thorough
scholarly attainments- This appropriate me-
mortal is now finished. at cost OF s27. GOO, and
N h.. f,,I
where. More elaborate there may be, but for
the purposes of a library, embellished with
taste and skill, / do not think the
hlggs library can be excelied. The
plans for the execution Of this
work was submitted by Mr.. Paul J. Peltz. the
architect OF the national congressional library.
He proceeded with the work. and after some de-
lays. incident to the prosecution of such an I'M,
dertaklng. after two wears labor it was COM
pieted, and now contains the collection of rare
and valued works winch has been from time
to time accommodating during the long years of
the college existence.
VAST HALL OF MAGNIFICENT DIMENSIONS.
The library is a vast hall of magnificent
dimensions. forty feet wide by sixty feet long
and thirty-two feet high from floor TO ceiling.
The center portion, or reading room. is open
ana unobsti ucted. aiforGiug full view of the
sixteen coiumnal upriGhts. Out from the cen
ter OF TIE library there are twelve aicoye
spaces. and these twelve spaces are subdivided
INTO four stories. thus creating forty-eight
aicoves Staircases lead up and connect with
these upper galleries. Above the top alcOves
there Is a corElce which terminates with a
glass ceiling. Two skylights supply the
amplest light for all the upper alcoves. and
the eight Large windows. divided into saslIes
by muiions and transOms. are In geometrical
designs. All the posts ard uprights and sa,ier,-
floors are OF iron and the floors are of sla,e sabs
The shelves are of California redwood In the
cornlce eight OF the columnal uprights carry
coats -of-arms, the Riggs family arms. tue col
iegc shield and the shield of the Society of
Jesus. and the national shield and coat-of-
arms with the motto, "E pluribus unum.'' The
emDiaZoning or painting in heraldic colors Las
been done under the supervision OF experts in
hcraidrv. the United States shield being kindly
furnished by Mr.. Seyelon ii. Brown Of the De-
partment OF State. an aiumnus of the college.
There are many points of artistic interest in
this beautiful hall. The grotssaue figures
from the animal Kingdom ornmantir2 the
window muliions are By Sir. Henry j. Ellico.t,
sculptor, and the capitals by Mr.. MORGAN.
The charm OF the whole is the exquisite
decoration, which is a masterpiece Of its kind.
the tones 30 blended thar, rich as are the
hn1shlnSs, they do not dazzle, but satisfy the
artistic eye. The library has a shelf ca, ,acity
for 100000 books, and if the friends Of the
university VIII emulate the hberaiity Of Mr.
llggs these shelves will not long remain
empty. The whole of the work has been
admirably executed, and the plans OF the ac-
coinplished architec: fully carried to compile
non by our own citizens. The iron work is by
Mr. +. l.. Dent. carpenter work bv Mr. j. H. Kid
well, sheet metal work by Whyte Bros.. tile floor
ing by Haywood 4 Hutchinson. in ali of which
they have eXcelled Through Tie princely
generosity of Mr.. Z. Francis kiggs us Il tribute
to the memory of his father anu brother this
venerable institution of learning il enabled to
present to those who visit il one Of the most
cOmrnO,tlOts "A Y ylp of nnSt henu if.l
repositories of books in the country. The Rev.
Mr. Mulvaney, the libraIia ian. will be pleased TO
extend to all who visit the university Il cordia,
welcome to the library. Too much praise can
not be bestowed on Mr.. Peltz whose study OF
this branch of his profession will lie DEMON
strated III the great national library.
THE NATIONAL JOURNAL OF 1925.
Enjoying the beauty of this new home for
books / came across two volumes Of the Nd
t,ondt Journal. published by Col. Peter Force.
OF the years lS25-2S The very first page OF
the Journal oil April %, 1926, contains law pro-
ceedings against the corporation of Washing
ton by Chastain Clarke to compel the PAYMENT
of prize Of 100000 lie drew in a iotter,-
chartered by Congress for the purpose of build
ing "Lancastrian school house. penilen tia,.y
and town hall" The case was removed to
Alexandria and the celebrated William Writ
aud Mr. Swami appeared for plaintiff and Gen
Walter Jones for the defendant the defense
being that the corporation had sold all their
rights to AIR. Gillespie for 10000, who u.s.
sumed all risks.
The journal appears to have been the organ
OF Mir. John Quincy Adams administration,
and the editorials full OF commentator Of
it and the President. Much space is devoted to
the defense OF MIR. Clay, then Secretary of State.
from the charge OF bargain and corruption
made against him for having voted for Adam
and then accepted Office under him. Geurse
Kremer OF Pennsylvania, the tool. az MIR.
charged. n 1,
here stated to have written letter to
Mr. Clay withdrawing the charge and
apologizing for il, which letter. the Journal
says, Mr.. InShan. Member Of Congress OF Penn
syivania obtained and suppressed; aud IN a
later Journal reply appears from MIR. Ingham
admitting he had the letter. but mislaid it,
Mr. Clay always regarded MIR. Buchanan as tho
author of the charge, and refused to recognize
him ever afterwards; and in the correspondence
which DIR. Given showed me Just before his
death III New York, between himself and Gen.
eral Jackson, the old hero before Joining
the church in which he died emu
merating the enemies he had forgiven said he
forgave James Buchanan for having caused
him to treat Mr.. Clay with such injustice.
SOME ITEMS OF NEWS rHES.
The news from England contained in the
Journal Of that year announces the acquittal Of
Warren Hastings and the defeat of the Catholic
emancipation bill
The May ball of Lewis Carusi is advertised
to commence at 7:S0 o'clock. How long before
that Mr.. Carusi had been teaching dancing in
the building known as Carusi Saloon do not