The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-13
MIR. HOWARD AND THE LIBRARY.

Library Director F. Ii. Howard has
written letter to the HERALD anent
the expose by this paper OF the pres
,nce of vile books in the pub
lie library and particularly the con-
summately obscene volume. LIE Cade t.
by Richepin. Mr.. Towards communi-
cation is not characterized by excessive
politeness, go it 10 not published in full;
but as he offers what he evidently con-
siders an excuse for the polluting pres.
ence OF the volume referred to, he will
be given the benefit of that much of his
letter, and the public can accordingly
judge of the care that the directors use
in the selection of works.
In the first place Mr.. Howard protests
against holding the jack of all trades
Dobinson, res ponsible for "the short
comings of the administration" of the
library, holding that the whole board Is
equally Rnswerable. This may be 40
technically, but is it true practically?
Has not Dickinson personifed the Ii
brery management? The public
have had little or no reason to consider
that the other members OF the board,
who are men, as a rule, of excellent repu.
tation, and unsullied moral character,
have done more than acquiesce in the
all pervsding. all managing part usually
ascribed to Dobinson.
Mr.. Howard was evidently still I'M
aware of the unspeakably vile character
of LIE Cadet when he wrote his letter, or
he would probably admit that no excuse
was sufficient to pardon the fact that it
has been on the shelves of the library,
open to the perusal OF any young boy or
girl, for he says:
But it is my purpose in this con1mu.
nication to speak only as to your atrict-
ures upon the fact that book in the
French language entitled "Le Cadet" by
Richepin has been placed upon the
shelves. AS one OF the book committee
end conversant with the French Ian
guage, and to some extent with its liter
ature, | am as responsible as anyone for
that fact. | find that the book in ques-
ton was one OF lot sold US by Tanzy &
Co. of San Francisco, under the follow
ing circumstances: There being great
demand for French fiction, we asked
that firm to make US an offer of such
books as they might have, suitable for a
public library, and they did go. Mr..
Dobinson and myself examined the list
they sent, and as far as we were able to
be SO, without reading the works offered
book by book, were of opinion that it
was fair lot and reasonable in price,
and accepted the offer. / submit that
we could not be held obliged to read all
these books and that 1t is inevitable
that an Objectionable book should from
time to time creep into library.
Mr.. Howard further asks whether such
books as ''the Bible, Rousseau. Fielding,
Voltaire, Paine. the older dramatists
the Decameron" should be taken from
the library. The books in question are
classics. and as such have place in lit
erature and value to scholars, but there
can be no question that to the youth OF
either sex Fielding, Rousseau or Vol
taire would be most pernicious, and that
the issuance of such books from public
library should be surrounded with all
possible safeguards.
The author OF LIE Cadet, Richepin, is
not recognized writer of literary quail
ity. LIE Cadet dscloses the fact that
he does not even write good French. He
rose to some notoriety when Sarah
Bernhardt had an alteration with a
well-known woman Of Paris. The latter,