Evening star., 1895-05-28
" HEAVENLY CREATION"
The New Public Library Which Delights
Cultured Boston.
A Washington WOman's Description
of the Institution for the
People of the Hub.
cornsnnndence nf rhe EreuInc Star

Correspondence Of The Evening Star
BOSTON, May 25, 1895.
Just now Boston is reveling in its new
possession, 1.-The Heavenly Creation" as
the Public Library building has been aptly
called. Situated at the junction of Hunt
ington avenue and Boylston street. with
Trinity, the shrine of the beloved Bishop
Brooks, just across the way; with ivy-cov-
cred Chauncy Hall and the spre of the
new Old South at the left, it has found
fitting setting gem of art.
Boston has awakened from its dream of
aesthetic culture to PROSTATE itself in en-
thusiastic alteration at this new altar of
learning. and the library has become the
Mecca for the student of art. and as strong
q center of attraction as the capital show
places abroad, for the famous frieZe of
Abbey has drawn ardent a throng of
sightseers as ever gathered to gaze on the
decorations of the Sistine Chapel at Rome.
Within the Doors.
The public has proudly watched Its
growth from the first cornerstone, until
now it opens its huge bronze gates and in
vites the beholder to enter You stop on
the threshold to note the rich effect of the
great green branching lamps against the
groundwork of gray granite, the dainty
Grecian dado. the medallions in bas-reief,
the bust of Minerva, with the invitation,
free to ALL" above, and the seal of the
library with the seals of Boston and Mas
Sachusetts on either side
Once within the chevaux de frise you
pause to drink in the nobility and stately
beauty of the interior. The mosaic fresco
over head and the delicate tracing of fam
iliar names, such as Pierce. Adams, Haw
thorne, Emerson. Longfellow, Garrison,
Choate and Webster.
The marble floor is inlaid in squares, on
which are inscribed the twelve Signs of
the zodiac, the names of the founders
and the reproduction of the library seal.
To the right and left are the coat rooms.
lavatories and elevators, and directly in
front is the marvel of beauty-the Golden
staircase" in Italian marble, that seems
to have centuries of sunshine imprisoned
within it. The ST. Gauden'S lions clouch
On guard at the head. on the sides of the
pedestalS on which these Sc ulptured giants
rest inscribed the famous battles of
the war and a memorial to the second and
twentieth volunteer regiments of Massa
ChusettS. At the turn of the staircase are
window emhrasures, where you can sit and
look out into the cloisters of the court
yard. with its Moorish columns and splash
Ing fountain.
The Reading Room.
On the second floor is Bates Hall, the
reading room proper. 1t has an eminently
scholastic appearance. with its rows of
tables down its entire length of 217 feet,
at which students are always occupied.
The walls on either side are lined with
books history. literature, biography,
heraldry and encyclopedia, and with busts
of noted men. while above frieze of gilt
letters is dedicated to the great in every
line of life-Beethoven, Humboldt Titan
Milton Luther, Calico, Noses Bacon. &c.
The vaulted ceiling. with its wonderful
arabesque carving, and the. dark massive
doorways of veined marble all unite to give
an artistic effect of great beauty. But
the delivery room is the chef doeuVre of
the building thus far. for here the mural
decorations have arrived at a state of
completion to be fully appreciated, ana the
blue tints of the ceiling and the door col
umns and entablatures are more in har-
mony and enhance the effect. Edwin L.
Abbey, who has gained so much prestige
by his recent work, was assigned the deco
ration of this room, where the people come
and receive their books. 1t seems par
tic ularly appropriate that he should choose
to depict the Quest of the Holy Grail"
as, according to mythical tales, the posses
sion of this receptacle gave one the
achievement of universal Knowledge. The
portrayal of the legend in the five panels
thus far completed is so exquisite in its
color and grouping. in its lofty magma
ton and sympathetic treatment, that it
holds one as if by a spell of subtle fasci-
nation.
How the Books Are Delivered.
The click of the pneumatic tubes draws
frcm study of the ornamental to the
o
ing apparatus in the new library. 1t re-
quires a special permit to view the stack
room, where the books are kept, which has
q capacity for 2.0Oo.0oO. there being about
1,5oo,oOo now in the collection. Lamson's
patented book railway system is the one
used, and it is the first time it has been
put into operation in any such building. In
the of the delivery room is this ele-
vatOr system, by which the books are de-
HEered to the people. On the right-hand
side of this room is row of wire baskets
labeled with the names of the different sta
tiOnS ana departments: these are connected
by pneumatic tubes with the stack room.
When a slip is brought to the delivery
room ii is inclosed in a small pouch and
dropped in the receivers of the tube and
shot into the stack room. When il energies
at that end it strikes a bell, which calls the
attendant. If the book is out the pouch is
flashed back into the basket if in, it is
placed. according to the number of the
stack. in the carrier basket and propelled
along the track on little to the ele-
vatOr. which carries it to the delivery room.
one of these baskets carries six or seven
ordnary-sized books there being six stacks
In all. marvellous part of the mechan-
is m is that if the elevator is already at the
end of the track. the car slips immedi-
ately: If not, instead of sliding off into
space, it waits until the elevator ascends
to meet it, This inanimate Intelligence is
caused by the working of automatic
springs.
where Newspapers Are on File.
Across the main hall is the regstrati ton
room. Back of this the reference ROOM and
leading from this the newspaper depart
ment, which is very unique. Two thousand
dollars was contributed for its establish
mcnt by Mr.. Todd of Newbury, n. II. They
expect to have over two hundred papers
on file. Most of these are fastened to a
slanting shelf. which extends around the
sides of the room and down the center at
a height convenient to ISLANDERS. To the
left. OH entering, are the Boston dailes;
along the northern shelf the New England;
at the right the foreign editions, including
English, French, German, Armenian,
Greek. Irsn 1sraelite and Scandinavian.
In the central row are the western, south
ern ard Canadian journals. while New
York has a whole row to herself.
on the third floor is the special library,
where are kept those volumes that are rot
in general demand, and gifts to the build
ing that are not to be taken away
The Sargent decorations occupy the
north end of the large hall of this floor.
The scaffolding detracts from full view,
but one can see the glitter of color and
briiliancy of design. 1t represents the re-