The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-24

Bibles and other ancient and valuable books
were ranged on shelves at the open front win
dows OF the shanty. one window being filled
| up completely by q giant volume OF Audu-
bon's Birds OF America" opened wide to
display the fine colored plates. Books were
also ranged on rough wooden shelves all
around the interior walls Of the shanty. Other
books still wore piled on long pine table In
tho front room. and still more were heaped
on the rough bare pine floor The house
was thrown open back and front. and all the
windows were open. too. The house was next
| door but one to musty second hand furni-
ture store and looked to be the most tumble-
down structure in all the Brooklyn streets.
noted among Brooklyn's oddities. The irish se
nan was "0ld John Cronn." the South
eentTy t Hed bous over 6aa a Sssn
storehouse for his book treasures. Moth.
I IIns less oa s1ited to the purposes Of
wealth err beaten and decaying dwelling, and
there The Is nothing In Brooklyn quite a, odd a.
al sorts we're on exhibition whom a New Yorker
CHANGED to pass tho eccentric book el!er as he
edly youbie the nom nt the visitor m entioned
that he liked to examine old books.
sad si sHar and can the old man
And This SO I'ye got to get out Of the business
| "a Europe ami this country know them all.
out solely by the sense u feeling.
wall as G ha . man tEron"d his Wy t" the T0n
backs Of so s,s an @ r"n .o me- "S''' "'0AS
All. there you are" he cried catching a
large worm I ;! eaten and tim" worn book Here
II Is called the Bail Bible and it was printed
In I5i4; Isn't it beauty
He laid 1t on a table TO be Identified by the
visitor. and went on with his chatter
Oyer there in the corner isnnother treas
that belonged to, Burton; tho actor. 1t has
some fine illustrations too. that can't see any
more more On that rgnt hand shelf shelf, is an original
RG%TSS s is sst his eS%i q ARM ; n
gilded edges. finely bound. again using his
was tho first volume OF tho 'Universal Ills.
te ." that ont ns
the thirteenth century. ionY in soa and silver sr
on parchment He stroke! nfrectionately tho
sides o. an the d rst yolnG OF the L" bn A
a mistake. although it Was evident that e'h he
strongest Classes did not better his vision sion inc
said are rot Marc 6a
b Was ,s offered 1 fortune for ONCE and refused.
dladn't toll whore he kent it; a., ,.,,-. -,
uo WIN one 1901 IN Inc grave ne Chucklei,
INTO be able to keen, such prize. isn't It ~
lhen he sat down in the doorway again. and
ohatted further about himself entertainingly
II started to learn the trade Of book selling
Edinburgh. greet town for book sellers. after
sailing vessel and I've been in the business
S ever since ,io I've sold books TO- many well.
hadn't big reputation. but who knew what
New York and BROOKLYN than you'd think Tor.
MY vile died some years ago, and / haven't
had anything else to live Tor since than these
books Anybody who brings mo letter Of
Introduction from some one know is free to
come here and spend an afternoon with my
books They can make feast OF dead mems
brains, for what arc these old books put
d nnn ySa' n be here very much longer to
A good many book lovers have avaled them
selves Of the privilege the queer old book
whiled away hours with his musty tones. Few
OF the neighbors seem to know or appreciate
what there is about the Cronin shanty that
brings 30 many we'll dressed men to see him,
and the gray haired bibliopoe seems to en-
Joy the mystery with which his neighbors re-
gard him. He says he 10 going to part with his
collection in It's entirety before very long. =