The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25

es. Although the oddly OF these cuts
Is exceedingly enjoyable II II douo.'ui ).
they do justice 10 the teacher OF AIpeI
Durer" who, the preface tells, hlusuate'
great contrast to the rough work OF
the Nuremberg Chronicle is the perfec'
tyne and beautiful finish OF an even o,t-
err work, an italian copy OF Pl'ny' prlhF
ed in lil6. -,
But these imperfect gieanings give but
a poor idea Of the wide field OF literature.
Among the fifty thousand volumes arr
TO be found many rare manuscripts, His'
editors" and curOs of every descrip-
ton. In looking at these one is not sur
prised 10 learn OF the many years taken 10
gather them. In 1906, the House OF buI-
gesses imported number OF law, doom" eIN5
for the use Of the General Courts anu i
Assembly" at jamestown. THIS IoIIiiJu
the nucleus Of the present COLLECTION, az
though II was not until 1871 mat tntousm
the efforts OF Madison the STATE Library
proDer was founded - 49,. -
IL any one be of an irquirlng. TURN vi
mind, IL is easy 10 follow a guiue up
dusty flight of steps. 10 locKe,g door WIN WIN
mo Admittance" ever it, There wait
until the guides produce. the Key, ana
with that "Optn Scs anne gains an ci-
tran ce to the treasure mouse nlustS
old room IL rs. lighted by an unDrokeI
reach of dingy skylight, and carpeted
thick with dust and shivered glass. Inc
se. cover the tOdr walls. nlied
with roll after .OlI VI I1p'i2f NhA'N'N
historical documents many OF them are
no doubt but VerY stupid from romantic
point of view Many treaties with tue
irdians the guide lnfolds 10 us, ana one,
on parchment so yellow ana brittle Una,
u seems mat IL would crumble AT
touch, dates rs far back rs 1GS.
But the most dstOnismnE ana hoVei plt
of paper holds petition from three
notorious pirates to the bnGlsn eVyExfyhin1
ment, signed by DR.. James Blair men
that worthy minister WAS endeavoring 10
found a college at WILLIAMSBURG ne had
occasion to 70 10 England. While ne was
there these pirates, who had come IN the
reach Of the law. wrote to him and beg
ged him to help them regain their con-
Gscated goods. Or. Blairs pet scheme
had prospered none too well, so SAVING
his conscience perhaps with the sayHs
'the end juStifies the means ne consent
ed, on condition that they would give
him three hundred pounds toward car
ryinG on the pious design OF Tree school
in Virginia" The pirates agreed IN
pardon was obtained, and the proceeds
Of this unique bargain helped TO pull1
William and Mary College. VINE on
searches for the moral in THIS last re-
Cital. the guide tells US that all the sur
rounding walls are OF WoodWork so ar!
and combUstible that 1t Is feared tnat
these old documents. yellow as gold ana
far more precious. may be destroyed by
fire. 1t is partly for this reason, ana
partly for the lack of space that II has
been decided TO remove them to new
fire-proof building. The guide leads the
way down a narrow passase-way WIN
books on either hand. At this Juncture
one is apt 10 lose all reverence for such
pamphlets on agriculture and books OF
advertisements that have tumbled from
the shelves, and use them as stepping
stones to cross the stagnant pools of
dust. Emerging at last into another
room, one finds books. books, books. The
floor is strewn with them, the walls pa
pered with them. and the ceiling honey
combed with Virginia Records. Never
has knowledge seemed so awesome ana
impressive, never has the wisdom OF
the past pressed with such weight upon
the present. 1t is a relief to turn away,
and stumbling again down that suicidal
pair Of stairs, find oneself in the cool
and life of the library. Its dignity ana
sObuety impress one afresh; yet II is
hard to say wherein its fascination lies.
BY the early spring the new building
will probably contain the same enter
tanning books, the same interesting docu-
ments, even the same maps and charts
and pictures, but the quaintness, the
restfulness, the subdued charm, / fear
me. viii have gone forever.
CAROLINE LAMBERT SPARROW.