Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-02-24

and labels were also issued under the
copyright law, but in 1874 these were
transferred to the patent Office. The
issue OF copyrights by the librarian Of
congress is now confined to literature
and art In their various branches Al
copyright secures the author against
pillage Of the product Of his brain, as
patent does the inventor. Tho life
of copyright is twenty-eight years.
At the expiration Of that time it may be
renewed for fourteen years more by the
author, or by his heirs, If he be dead
It cannot be extended beyond forty-two
years. There are very few publications
the vitality of which is not exhausted
long before even the first limit is
reached. "
"The number of entries for copyrights
approximately indicates the birth of
new books in each year. The entries
are somewhat larger than the actual
issue, for in many cases the enterprise
ends with the copyright-the manu-
script never goes into the hands of the
printers. The qualification of liter
airy ambition is more or less expensive.
To the publisher 1t is a simple, sordid
question of dollars and cents in which
sentiment is scarcely appreciab1e fac
tor. He will not publish book unless
he thinks he can make money on it. If
the author has means and faith enough
in his work to assume the financial
risks, he will, Of course, have no diff
Guilty in getting his book into print.
One whose reputation is assured as a
successful caterer to the reading taste
of the people, in any department of
literature, will always find a ready
publisher. 1t is the ambitious noviti-
ates in authorship who suffer frequent
and grievous disappointment.
Gas do the bound volumes in the
library, the 200, 600 pamphlets cover the
widest possible range that the mind
can conceive. They are upon every
subject that has entered into the mind
of man. Naturally much of this class
of literature is ephemeral, having only
a temporary or local interest. Many of
these pamphlets, however, are of per-
manent historical, statistical or scien-
tific value. These, as well as all bound
books, are recorded in manuscript
catalogue classified by topics and by
authors, so that anything called for
may be readily found. Years ago it
was attempted to keep up printed
catalogue, but this proved impractic-
able, by reason of the large and con-
stantly growing increase of the library
and the copyright business, and the
plan was abandoned. The manuscript
catalogue is found sufficient for all
practical needs. This is kept closely
up to date, all publications received
each day being at once entered accord
ing to their proper classification. The
catalogue is somewhat ponderous with
its 700, 900 entries, but so perfect is the
system that there is little delay in find
ing whatever may be wanted"
''How about newspapers" asked.
Besides complete issues of maya
zines and reviews of all kinds" replied
the librarian, "there are in the library
very large number Of newspapers, in
Guiding 5000 bound volumes. Among
them are many foreign newspapers.
There are English papers running back
more than two centuries, and American
papers from a hundred to hundred
and forty years. 1t may be easily I'M
derstood that these relics of the past
bear little resemblance to the daily is
sues under the marvellous enterprise
and development of to-day in the field
of journalism. These old newspapers,
in quaint Typography, faded and yellow
with age, have a value that goes
beyond the mere qualification of Curl
| osity. AS a record of current events in
years long past, the writings and
| speeches and deeds of former genera
tions, they are often sought by the stu
dent of history and the antiquarian.
These may be consulted in the library
| rooms, but under no circumstances are
| they permitted to be taken away. If
lost or destroyed it would be impossible
| to replace them"
'The library is now very much
crowded, is it not?'
"a new and adequate building should
have been erected years ago. Congress
has long had the subject under consid-
Grafton, and it is a matter of congratu-
lation that at last the project has crys-
talized into definite form, and the
walls of the new National Library
building are slowly but surely rising.
| An entire square, just east of the CAPT
toll, was bought for this purpose. Arch
itects were sent to Europe to examine
| the great libraries in order that the
best possible. plan might be perfected.
| AS matured, It is believed to be second
| to none in the world. The building will
| cover three acres It will be larger
than the great State, Army and Navy
building. Its estimate cost will be
100000 It is the only structure vet
undertaken by the government that
will be built for century. Not one of
the present public buildings in Wash
| ington is even now sufficient to meet
the needs of the vast and rapidly grow
ing business of the country. The new
| library building will suffice for $50
years to come. When finished it will
afford room for 100000 volumes
nearly so per cent. more than are now
embraced in any library in the world.
During the sessions Of congress the
library is often visited by senators and
members of the house in quest of facts
and authorities upon topics in which for
the time they are particularly inter