Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-21
IN THE LIBRARY.

In TIE LIBRARY.
Chicago Record.
On the fourth floor of the city hall
above the sordid and troublous regions
Of small politics, is the reading room
OF the public library.
The tables in this large apartment
are surrounded all day by studious
persons, principally men Of humble
attire, but dignifled mien, intent on
acquiring knowledge of kind that
viii never help them to better their
attire, although it may burnish up
their souls.
For minutes at time there will be
no sound in the reading-room save the
rustic OF printed leaves, the whisper
of inquiry or the crealsing football of
some one who is tiptoeing toward the
door and pretending to walk on eggs.
The conduct Of the daily assemblage
in the reading-room ia testimonial to
the clvilizing effect of books.
1t was toward 2 O'Clock and the read
ing-room reposed in such a collective
brown study that tho rhythmic breath
ing of the steam heater became the
only entertainment for those who tired
of reading and leaned back to gather
vigor for another attack.
The attendant behind the desk was
reading small volume with black
impersonal binding. 1t might have
been Hegel or it might have been
Oliver Optic, for in public library
all books, learned and frivolous, gay
and grave, good and bad, are apt to
wear the same kind Of plain Dress
with the same disfguring label. In
this respect they are like Episcopal
rectors who are varying dignity but
who resemble one another very much
when they are lined up
Tho addition of new book to a pub
lie library must be very much like the
entrance Of convict into his prison.
He comes beieweled. mustached and
attired according to the mode of the
world as he knew il. He is stripped,
shaver, clipped and helped into tho
zebra garments, and with the loss of
his attire he loses his individuality.
He has the blue, ashen face, the
stubbled head, the striped clothes and
the rough shoes of any one of his hun
dreds of companions in penitence.
The modern book, proud in buckram
and gold, and with top coat of tissue,
comes to the library, where it is seized,
despoiled Of its finery, dressed in plain
black and sent to its prison shelf. 1t
no longer has distinguishing title.
1t is M-l342 in the warden's register,
or rather the librarians catalogue
Each day, il it be thing of service,
it is brought forth to do something for
the good of society. Its life is short.
ened, but while it is being worn into
dog ears it may share with the life
prisoner the pleasing reflection that
tho world at large is deriving some
benefit.
At any rate the employee behind tho
counter was reading one of the uni
formed books when a tall man with
cbinchilla overcoat too small for him
andsa soft hat at least three Fights
too large walked in and made unneces-
sary noise with his feet. The employe
glanced up from his book with frown
of reproof, but the stranger did not
observe it. He fell against the table
in familiar way and rested his chin
against the palm of his hand.
"What've you got to read?" he
asked, and from the force with which
he said it he might have been address
ing the elevator man at the end of the
corridor outside.
Ssh h-h-h," said the employe, for
every reader in the room had turned
wrathful gaze toward the intrusive
stranger, who lay sprawled against the
table. "You mustn't talk 80 loud.
These people are reading
''Oh, see, ~ he said, coming down
to a conversational tone, swell, this
Is where you get books to read, isn't
Eyes, sir. What do you wish?"
III i tell you. was on an Eastern
Illinois train and the candy butcher
brought me a book to read. | got
through two chapters of il and then
he came along and wanted me to buy
it Tor Is cents. | told him not by a
Jug full, 'at | didn't start away from
home to spend my money for books.
! Gays 10 cents don't grow on every
tree, Just like that, and told him TO
keep his blamed book. "
-Four men at the nearest table We're
glazing at the speaker IN silent
anguish, but he placidly went ahead
with his narrative.
After he took the book away be.
gan to wonder how in the dickens the
thing was goin' to turn out an the
more thought of it the more | wished
could finish the book | spoke to my
cousin Brainerd about it, and he said
he 'sposed J could get it up here, be-
cause you had every book that had ever
boon printed
what's the name of the book?"
/ aalrpl thn Ap1pi1va rpnnb inf, f,. :, ~, a.
logue.
It's something like Cracked to
His Doom, or Tracked to His Death. >
| know there's track in it.'
WHO'S the author-who wrote it?"
Thunderation, l don't know. II
was a kind of red book with pic
lures.
''Well, we haven't that book, I'm
sure of it. You might be able to get
it at some book stand. ="
g don't know as I'd caro- 10 buy it.
| Just wanted to see how il came out.
how he. got away -
"Sit down and look over the cata-
loguo. You may find something that
you like. " Tho young man behind the
table evidently thought that this was
the best plan by which to quiet the
visitor.
For the next 10 minutes the room
enjoyed a grateful rest, while the
stranger in the chinchilla overcoat gave
his puzzled attention TO the pages Of
the big catalogue. Finally he gathered
up the book and approached the young
man.
I'D like TO look at that one, . said
he. digging crease in the page with
his finger nail
|