The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-25
THE STATE LIBRARY.
A MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION or
BOOKS AND MANY RELICS
Some Of the Curiosittes and Treasures Now
In the Old Capitol But Soon TO BE
Removed.

In the heart OF the city or Ncnnlonu
Hands the Capitol building, ana arounu J,
there lies a PHEASANT square Of grass ana
trees. Until OF late the Capitol square
has been a quiet place enough put now
from the extreme southeastern corner VI
the square there comes sound OF cav it,
sering ana hammering. The new CaptoI
Library Is being erected. AL summer
long the workmcn have been busy, anu
now, though still far from completion,
the new building presents very gracious
and attractive aspect. The cream color
ed brick and marble decorations FORM
pleasant relief 10 the dull hues OF the
business portion OF the town. Indeed, SO
hospitable and inviting does the new
Library look. that IL Is with some sur
prise one learns that II Will not be READY
for use until New Year at the very soon
At present the Library is in the third
ntory of the Capitol building. The VIDE
fights of steps seem TO lead up 10 II
alone. and the stately men OF long ago
who wait in the adjoining picture gai-
leiy, seem ushering US In. TO give a
special distinction to the unpretendlnB
room. AT first glance there Is niue
striking or Imposing In me long, hieh-
pitched room There are ink spots on me
green covers Of the marrow central tables
and such parts OF the walls as are n0t
hidden by maps and manuscripts loon
diney and paint-worn. Al one eha "
low railing (uncommOnly ike chdH-
CeD enclOses the librarians sanctun, anu
two magnificent fre-places, one at either
end of the room. are part OF the heat
deep bookIined alcoves. enclosed by great
glass doors. which seem like those OF a
conservatory to shut in mellow az
mospbere OF their own, and to eNcluue
any chilling influence cast by crude,
uneducated public. But the public, as
whole. is not much given TO the ire
quenting of the old Capitol Square Ii
brary. rhe few who wander INTO that
silent room are impressed and reyerent.
They seldom speak above Whisper.
and the low hum that rises now ahd
then serves but 10 intensity the impress
sion OF stiffness. The great black-print-
ed silence is a useless and an Offending
adjunct of the walls. Who would dare
to chatter when Washington, Clay, anu
jefferson are leaning from the walls TO
hear. Then, too. the double GALLERIES
stocked with unread books, affect the
average visitor with an overwhelminG
sense Of the vast wisdom Of the anclents
and the Vaster ignorance of himself.
On the further side of the room only
every other alcoVe is used for books.
In the intersecting spaces are great WIN
dows whose broad cushioned seats form
q delightful nesting place TO rest, READ,
sink deep into ones consciousness. These
windows indeed, are a feature OF the
place. Apart from the valuable ala tney
render the two sky-lights they have
less practical. but not less real, advan-
tage. The breeze from the river sweeps
mp fresh and cool the view up and down
the James is very pleasant, anu hIltH
the spring freshet raises that lazy, yell
low stream to a sense of conscious power
II Is surely more than pleasant to look
down from serene heights on the noisy,
foaming torrent far below. The clanklnB
of the engines, the grinding of the fac
tories, and all the striving inharmonious
sounds OF the busy city come up sottened
TO the ear, and even the whizzing OF
the electric car and the changing of the
electrician bell fail to arouse the ac-
Sustomed sense of irritation. one feels
in just the mood to enjoy the treasures
which hang upon the walls; old docu-
ments carefully printed or written, and
letters penned by careless hands in We
olden time. without a thought TO poster
ity. Daniel Boone's quaint letter Is
trying to ones reVerential gravity 1t is
hard to feel properly sympathetic when
81 am Sorry to here of the Oath of
your Brother as ] make no Doute 1t
puts you to many Disadvantages how
ever We must submit to providence and
provide for the living and talk Of our
lands" Then he proceeds to follow that
last practical bit of advice through an
other page of uncertain spelling and err
ratio capitals. Let us hope that that
Iordly We" and diminutive providence"
are unintentional and due only to the
mighty than his sword. Wandering away
from this odd specimen of English, one
finds In another alcoye a play Yes.
a genuine play-bill! Yellow and wrnkled
fury Of existence, yet not so different
after all from the boastful announce
ment of to-day: AN entire New Play
translated from the French of Didurot
Dy a gentleman Of this city, called The
Father or Family Feuds.' a rather
queer name for "a gentleman of this
city IT seems at first; but on gaining
understanding, we read on and find ITO
which will be added Cfor the first time
here The Favorite New PantOmime Of
Raymond and Agnes, or The Bleeding
Nun"
What 4 tragedy awaited that blatant,
commonplace poster The theatre was
burned 10 the gro und during the first per-
Torrance of the entire New Play" The
indignation of the Jesu'ts rose high at
the bitterly protestant play, so the le-
gend-bcarers say and a fantastic Roman
list kindled the fire. Others of less ro-
mantin turn, suggest that we should Took
10 swinging lamps, used In one of the
acts, for the true cause Of the tragedy.
However II was the pous folk of Rich
mond saw in the fire of judgment Of God.
and on the site OF the theatre. they built,
In 1872, CHI rch and called 1t the Monu-
mental. Among the folklore OF the pc
Rod is the sad history of that bright
little maiden who the day before her
birthday when laughing and talking in
the midst Of gay company heard
voice
Sweet Susan Green, sweet Susan Greer.
You Will not live to see sixteen"
The story tells how she rallied about her
unusual depression, and laughed into go
Ing to see THE FaVorite New PantCmine'
and how the prophecy came true that
night in flame and smoke. An, il brings
a whole world of old wives tales back
10 us. that Playful!
There is no lack of more substantial
material here The whole history of
Virginia, nay of tie United states, is
written en- these walls, often with cpl
grammatic terseness James lists laws
against tobacco side by side with The
resolution of the House OF Burgesses
against unjust taxation. The parole OF
Lord CORVALLIS. hanging just above a
skecth of Lafayette's body servant "a
Jolly. irresponsible darkyJ, while just
across from II. is a painting OF Pocahon-
tas. looking most digniiied a~i sedate.
and the ordinance of Secession Just
above hangs sOiled and CTumplCd frag-
federacy. An ugly iron pike. stamped
with John Brown In red letters. is rest
Ing on iron hooks Just between the orr
Binal BIZ OF Rights and a copy OF the
Declaration of Independence Here are
some stupid letters by the Father Of his
Country which all corners duufully read.
and there, in striking contrast TO the POM
posity OF the surrounding documents
are the few scrubbed lines OF General
Jackson's 1asI dispatch. one rapidly
loses all due sense Of proportion in these
rapid transitions. 1t Is well to drop
these puzzling contrasts and bewllder-
lag parallels, and leave time, that uniVer-
sal solvent, 10 reconcile our heroes 10 fiji
IN the gap which lies between the past Of
Washington and the past OF Lee
To ma the greatest art treasure of the
Library, one must rot look at the paint
ing OF Henry Clay at one end Of the room,
nor nj 10 md Itte -