The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-06
DIR. EGGLEsToN's LIBRARY.

DIR. EGGLEsToN's LIBRARY.
mile number less than a dozen, and some
OF them are owned by old parishioners Of
his In Brooklyn before he became, as he
styles himself, "a reformed clergyman"
The home OF DR.. Eggleston has been
sometimes described as THE Owls Nest"
This name really belongs to one Of the COT
tages close by. His own home seems to
have no name. It is cluster of buildings,
the most prominent Of which are the library
and the dormitory, both Of them built In
solid double walls Of rough stone quarried
by nature on the spot. All Of the domestic
arrangements are in the dormitory, which
is nearest the lake and on lower ground
than the library, with which it is connected
by. a covered walk and steps. 54~4.
OF course the building of most interest
is the library. This stands on a conspicu-
GUS knoll with a broad outlook to the south.
The size and Shape are very like those of
the dormitory. 1t has the same huge
central chimney, but the broad expanse Of
the slated roof is not broken by windows.
A more solid effect is thus given to the
library. The southern half of the first
story Is devoted to the combined study and
library Of DIR. Eggleston. The main light
comes from a large triple window at the
south, while smaller windows in each Of
the three walls appear to find places. like
SO many portfolios, wherever they can
among the well lined book shelves that
reach to the very ceiling. The highly pol
ishcd floor reflects the wood fire that blazes
in the broad fireplace.
Here is the sanctum of the talented au-
thor, and a sauctum it really is. Every
forenoon this place is the private property
Of DR.. Eggleston. No one must enter it on
any pretext, for this is the time given ex-
clusively to literary work. Seated in a
heavy swivel armchair and at a plain desk
of black walnut, the work Of preparation
or of actual writing goes on day by day
until the world has something fresh FROM
the active brain. But in the afternoon the
busy man becomes the man Of leisure. He
is then glad to welcome all visitors to his
workshop. The morbidly curious, however,
have learned not to come. They can i'm
part nothing, neither can they absorb or
appreciate the vast fund of general informa-
ton for which the host is noted. But con-
genial spirits or those who have anything
of value to say can listen by the hour to
the doctors recital of his many strange ad-
ventures at home and abroad. He will talk
equally we'll with the artist or the artisan.
the professor or the plowman, and he will
surprise and please each one by using the
terms that are technical to his particular
work. s.
DR.. Eggleston does not look the patriarch
that his shaggy hair and beard made him
ut to be some years ago. Both of those
ornaments are now more closely trimmed,
and, although they are of an iron gray,
they would not betray him as the ancestor
of grownup grandchildren.
If DR.. Eggleston is writing a new book
today, he is SO reticent about it that the
fact is known only to his family and his
publishers. DR.. Eggleston is under con-
tract to deliver many lectures during the
coming winter. 1t is said that he has on
hand a large amount Of material relating
to the history of the American colonies,
and that he will compile an exhaustive his
tory of the subject. Should he do so the
work will be one of great value.
F. E. MATTHEWS.