The morning call., 1891-08-19
THE VISIT OF THE BOOK MEN.

At the last conference of the American
Library Association, held at the White
Mountains in September, 1890, il was re-
solved that the next meeting should be held
in California in October of this year Ac-
cordingly, on September Both next, a special
train of Pullman yestibule-ears, containing,
1t is hoped. representatives Of every library
in the United States, will leave Boston for
San Francisco, and will arrive here on Oc-
tober 10th. remain here nine days, and
return home by way of Los Angeles and
San Diego.
The visitors may be regarded as repre-
sentatiyes of the reading pu bile. Among
them will be found book men of all classes,
from the librarians of free libraries, who
cater to the rank and file of mankind, to
the erudite scholars who have in charge
scientific libraries, collected through the
munlhcence of milliOnaires. Every branch
OF photography Will be represented; there
VIII be men IN the assemblage who can tell
from memory what are the.b books to con-
suit in any language on every branch of hu-
man knowledge, and Mr.. Poole will be there,
who carries in his head the subject of every
notable article that has appeared in the
leading periodicals published in this country
or in England during the past gu arter Of
century.
knowledge of books is not necessarily
knowledge of things. Some of the most
completely equipped librarians have not
been men of wide information. But as it
has been said of lawyers that the safest
counselor is not he who claims TO know the
law, but he who knows that he knows
where to find the law, so the most useful bibIi-
ophlle Is not the man who has read the most
books, but rather the one who knows what
DOCKS to read when exact and complete in
formation is desired upon given point. A
typical librarian may be said to hold the
key to the Store-house of information. He
may know little or nothing himself, but he
knows what closet to open With his key
when specific knowledge is wanted. 1t
would have diverted the attention of Panzzi
and Mezzofanti and Tasehereau to have re-
quired them TO study science or art; their
real vocation in life was to study books, not
in detail, bul so as to obtain general notion
OF their contents.
The book men Of the East will fad three
libraries in use here-all of them small, but
fairly well selected and fairly patronized
II they visit the Free Library they will
be surprised to see the crowds which gather
In its halls since Mr.. Cheney took charge,
and they will form favorable opinion of
the ldlr sex On tnlS coast IL they observe the
swarms Of young ladies who visit the Me-
ehanieS' The Mercantile Library is in
transition state. 1t has been turned out of
Its old quarters and it is doubtful If the new
building which 1t is erecting on the corner
OF Van Ness and Golden Gate avenues will
be ready for occupation by the time the
strangers come. But at the Mercantile, as
at the two others, the Eastern visitors will
IND polite, well-informed librarians, who
are confirmation of the adage about the re-
Inning influence Of literary pursuits.
1t Is rather desirable that these Eastern
gentlemen, who are centers of influential
circles at home, should have a suitable re-
cepnon here. 1t is TO be hoped that the nine
days which they spend among us will be
made pleasant to them all. For that pur-
rose money will be required-not much, but
still some money. They should be enter
talned and shown the sights: something
should be done to the end that San Francis
co shall dwell as pleasant memory in their
minds. To raise the required fund a fiuance
committee has been chosen, consisting of a
representative of each Of the city libraries
and Of the University and State libraries
they will probably find no difficulty in rails