Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-07

| were no iOnX VlStaS IOr the VduItS aTe
curved. following the general outline Of the
dome. The gropers were then under the
main portico Of the building.
III you should follow that passaSA" said
If you ever could be located, somewhere
| near the place where you take the steps
outside to go down to Pennsylvania avenue
l seldom go around there. for the air 10 not
as good as it might be. But I know the
way perfectly. and can put my hand on
| any volume In this vault
The books were arranged In alphabetical
| order of states. beginning with the earlies,
newspaper Of Alabama. published in 1879
A Few steps took the two around in a circle
which completed the list of states and
brought forth the names Of the European
capitals.
For We have some very complete files OF
| foreign papers," said the custodian. 1--WE
| have the London Times from it's beginning
from before it was the Times, in fact. Then
here are files Of the Manchester Guardian
ana here is set of Galignanrs Messenger.
we receive a great many files from the
state Department that furnish us with
many valuable additions Here is a COM
piete nile up to short time ago Of lie Con-
sti.utlonel, Spanish paper. And here are
the magazines. both Of this country and
europe Here is about the best collection
OF the Gentlemen's Magazine In the
Now: you have seen the files that are
referred to the most on down there" in
creating the mysterious passage that led to
tne other side Of the Capitol, "are the old
fellows that are in duplicate upstairs in
sne library. The Intelligencer is there in a
special case Here" showing the way into
a perfectly dark vault about four feet wide
| ana turning OFF to the left at the lower end
lar, are copies OF every map that has ever
o oeen copyrighted In this country. The gem
OF this collection is not very well known.
II consists or all the maps that were used
curing the various wars in which this coun-
10y uy mas peen engaged. The maps were is
no No. y &,
back after they were needed no longer. and
tnen turned over to us for preservation
There are some curious relics down there. -
s the custodian: tantalizingly. as he
turned back out Of the dark
Are you troubled much with dampness ?''
one spot That Must BE Watched.
Ihere Is only one spot that have to
watch was the answer, "and that is down
there where the vault wall is on the out
size and projects beyond the walls of the
portico foundation. have to take the vol
umes down once in awhile and shift them
around and let the air in Other than that
there Is no danger Of mold. Occasionally
Dug gets In and begins to gnaw the backs
OF the books. but I soon find him. Alto
sether have had very good fortune with
shape"
Are the files used often?"
Oh, yes: Yesterday there were two
members OF Congress down here looking at
son, oio papers; there they are now. 1
said they might need them later in the
Week This morning a member from Rhode
island wanted to look at a paper of a GER
. .a,n uate TOUR years ago to see about a
utes" i"u ~ IA ""e "ih-
Mr. Van Ness led the way I'D into the
aresner air of the higher vault and spoke
files. Ho''e WIN cut TIC
I'D like to catch them at It," he said. an
srmy, shouldn't stop to ask what the
them very summarily Once in a while
some one clips a bit down here. but as a
hov mo sn,t OF the cutting is done upstairs.
70 m,s 20 ons lost one paper that was sent
20 me 70 keep, and that was a local paper
tnat contained the account Of the hangine
o, Guiteau 1t was sent to the binder
a and wi with , other numbers Of that volume
1mo some Fellow down there distracted II
tor relic. doubtless. 1 have tried my best
| 70 replace 1t. but without success.
The n NE, are very prompt with my work at
getting the papers back here on time
Iney nave to. for occasionally a Senator
wants paper and he wants it right of,
as rule. I have to tell him that it is af
the bindery. and then there is trouble down
on North Capitol street So that Leens
them hurried up.
His Little Annex.
You think you have seen all nv books
but you have not Come across the cor.
| ridor and see our little annex" and the
way was led to little bit of a room that
has been built among the pillars of the
crypt, where the papers Of the new west
are stored.
Our policy has been to take two papers
from each large place, one Of each party.
but out in the west we have to take three.
now that the populists are given to publish
| Ing their views on things.
Here Is a curio." said Mr.. Van Ness. lay
Ing his hand fondly on pile of three port
fo'ios labeled '"rhe National Anti-slavery
Standard"
THAT is one of the most unique files of
the lot. for 1t contains a vast amount of
| information about the first anti-slayery
movements. 1t was published in New York
| from ls4l to 1870. This is the only file In the
| few copies missing from the first six vol
| umes and the last two, SO we have not had
them bound regularly. Then here is a
| record Of other days than those Of war and
strife-a record Of New York's political con-
| ventiOns and Of fashionable doings 1t Is
| the Daily Saratogan complete. and is very
often referred to, for 1t contains complete
| records Of the proceedings Of the state con-
ventions
| Well" sighed the custodian, IT dread
umes, nineteen or twenty thousand Of them,
| into the new building. I don't know what
| sort of a room I am to have for my books,
but I hope IT will be better lighted than
| this. I have nothing but gas here and 1t Is
| trying on my eyes. But the moving won't
| come for two or three years yet. and you
know what the Bible says: Sufficient unto
| the day is the evil thereof"
And with that the custodian bowed adien
| and went back to his den, his cat and his
| morning mail, as yet unsorted.
Presence of Mind.