Arizona weekly citizen., 1895-04-13
By E.. Hopkinson Holgste.

wo weeks, after which a fine of oDt cent day is imposed until the return.
 They have French magazine, severa German and numerous books of both languages; there are shelves on which you can see the new books; two systems of cataloguing, one by book catalogues alphabetically arranged of English volumes, also catalogues of Germsr books; the other by case of drawers containing cards with the names of the books written on in print and with a brass rod running through them hold ing them so they cannot be taken out of the drawer, the names can be read by showing the cards backwards or forward on the rod, the different drawers are classified as Juvenile Authors" "Bio- graphy and Travel" "German" etc.
 Up stairs is the reading room with chairs and tables, ore section IS for gentlemen, inside of the railing for ladies and outside long table for child- ren, here can be read the daily papers, current magazines and any book in the library; in closets with glass doors is a fine collection of encyclopedias, bIog raphles and similar books of reference a card is kept on the table with the vlsi- tors name on, which he asks for upon entering, the date is stamped upon the card and when leaving he returns if until his next visit. The interior wood work finishing of this building is oak.
 Apprentices Library is conducted by the general society of mechanics and tradesmen snd is used by them and their children.
 At the Young Mems Christian Asso- ciatlon Library many young men spend many quiet, pleasant evenings reading books and periodicals.
 The Young Women's Christian Asso- citation Library is frequented by lady teachers and writers, A refined class of bread-winners draw books from there. The books are arranged in cases accord ing to subject as "History," General Literature" "FictIon;" the visitors go up to the shelves and select the volumes they desire; the books are catalogued in drawers, alphabetically; in the reference room are chairs and circular tables, here among others are numerous religious books, works on art, large books hand somely illustrated ss "Venice," "Flor, ence," "Historic Costumes" "Soft Porcelain of Severs' and "Monuments of Nineveh; those desiring to go in this room obtain ticket at the desk and drop it in a box with slit when they leave.
 Cooper Institute was founded by Peter Cooper wealthy iron founder and glue merchnt who stated his ideas as follows, "The duty of a business man is to make money: the duty of chris tian to spend it." This building is de- voted to the free education of the people in the practical arts and sciences In it is Cooper Reading Room which upon entering you are given check tC draw whatever you wish and which you return to the boy at the door upon going out. Here on @ cold day in winter in the easy armchairs around the table: can be seen 8 room full of trsmps, we hope improving their moral natures from what they read. There are side rooms, one for ladies, another with a notice "Use of books prohibited in thil room" is for people writing. The books are cataloeued by the drawer system one set being the Authors Catalogue. In the main reading room are stands with the current magazines; papers foreign, religious and those of different sections of the United States, in th, western section is seen the Arizon; Weekly CITIZEN. In this room is large oil painting of nineteen noted in ventors including Peter Cooper and s F. B. Morse.
 The Mercantile Library was opened il 1920 and those obtaining It's advantages have to pay an annual fee of s4 or S5 but occasionally if one IS very humble and polite they will allow a non-membel to look at book there. Nearly ever, magazine published in the country car be seen here.
 Astor Library was founded by J. J Astor who endowed it with S400, ,0OO The structure is Romanesqus in styl, and built of red brick ornamented witt brown stone; in the entrance hall are 2! marble busts; the library hall is reached py 2S marble steps, the hall is 50 fee high. It is a reference library and con sists of careful selection of valuable works on all subjects and is open freel! to the public but no book is allowed t, be taken out of the building; here ar, | found the bookmaker, inventor an( those making reeearches into deep su b iects, with books ponderous in weigh and size and pile SO high it looks as l it would require several days to pene trate into their depths. There are man. | Greek and Latin Mss. here and black letter volumes. In glass cases are som, old books wlsh the capitals in colore,
 letters and some of the pages artisticsll. decorated, "Molins's Mexican Vocabu
 lary printed at Mexico 1569-71," "Mr
 William Shakespeare's Comedies, His
 tories and Tragedies" printed in Londol
 1852; letters written by Frederick Vii
 liam l of Prussia, Goethe, BenJami
 Franklin, Benedict Arnold and othe
 nosed people. The last three librarie
 nsmed are short distance apart. Tn
 libraries mentioned in this sketch ar
 those best known to the general pub
 lie; there are many more splendid libra
 ries in the city. It has been decided t
 combine the Tilden Trust Fund, Asto
 and Lenox Libraries which will mak
 one of the finest in the world, it is inter
 ded to make a great reference library C | it, the combined money value will
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