The morning call., 1894-10-26
TO LIFT A DEBT.
Hope for the Mercantile
Library.
Samuel {. Bigelow Starts the Sub
scription List With a Cool
Thousand Dollars.

Raising the wind was the principal topic
for discussion at the qusrerly meeting of
the Mercantile Library Association last
night. There was an attendance of about
200 members, and when the meeting was
called to order President Tauszky pre-
sented statement of the financial condi-
ton of the institution. 1t was not parii-
cuIarly cheerful, and the president did not
attempt to palliate any of the narshness
of The facts presented.
In the first place, he said. the associa-
ton was in debt S73, 500 and had been
running behind a. the rate OF $4,000 year.
It was necessary to raise sufficient money
at once TO pay the interest," for year to
come-tO raise ten, or twenty or twenty-five
Thousand dollars 10 carry on the as>Ocia-
ton till such time as the increase in
mem bership w0uld make it possible to re-
lieve the stress He hoped that this money
could be raised and enough in addition to
have a downtown annex to the library,
where subscribers could procure desired
books.
General w. II. l.. Barnes. who was one
of the early officials and always a staunch
friend of the library, was then introduced
and proceeded to t,ll his audience what he
knew of its history. He remembered it
way back in the seventies, when il was
very feeble institution, lettering along
with hardly friend to lend it a helping
hand; aud then. how happy inspiration
came. and it was resolved e. get up gift
concert fer the institution. The first snag
the projectors ran against was the law
which prohibited such entertainments. A
bill, however dr. fled by u neral Barnes,
was introduced by Ezekiel Wilson, who,
the speaker said. occupied about the same
social position as Buckley and Burns at
the present time. Wilson, nevertheless,
was a friend Of literature, and he doomed
bill through allowing the association TO
give three gift concerts. Governor Haight
signed his name TO it, was Immediately
scratched from the list Of Lick trustees
and the association prepared tor its con-
certs.
were sold, the largest sum ever taken In
by any concert fund ic the world, half a
million was returned in gifts and, after all
expenses had been paid, the library netted
$3.50. 900. That set Il on its feet at ouce
and friends fairly fiocked to 1t.
The speaker was sorry To see that 1t had
now encountered poor stretch of tinan-
mem ers would stand idly bv and see the
magnificent library fall into the hands of
creditors. San Francisco, the largest city
in California. which was destined to be-
come the literary center oil the country
some day not far distant, should not stauu
idly by ana see OD6 VI ito HleI lDSt1-
buttons totter to decay. Something could
be done to stop it, What would it be-?
The only thing he could suggest would be
the selection Of "a committee to solicit SUBJ
scriptions. He was sure It's members
would meet with success, and himself
volunteered TO act ia any capacity the
association might designate.
General Barnes was heartily cheered for
his address, and more particularly for the
words of hope with which he concluded.
Despite the stern figures presented in the
report, every one present could almost
see the light ahead, and when Samuel G.
Bigelow arose and said he would head the
list with subscription Of $1,000, the ap-
plause was deafeDing.
A number of ladies and gentle e en-
volunteered to act on soliciting commit
tee. Mrs. Henry Gibbons promised that
twenty-five ladies OF the auxiliary would
cheerfuly lend their efforts. Several
gentlemen present spoke cheerfully of the
outlook, and President Tauszky pointed
out that the membership having doubled
IN the past year was good sign that 1t
could be doubled again were the proper
energies bent in that direction.
Before the close of. the meeting II was
decided that The hoard of trustees should
select and secure additional members on
the committee 10 those who had already
volunteered, and the meeting came TO a
close wit& very hopefui feeling.