The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-22
THE VALUE OF THE BOOKS SAVED
IN THE STATES LIBRARY.

The structures of The Times on the
attempted sale of books from the state
library have referred in general terms
IN the great value, I'm a literary ana ms
torical sense. of very many OF these
volumes which were condemned as JUNK
matter. but are now happily restored 10
the Library more special statement
NJ their character and value IS perhaps
needed TO Justify their valuation and to
nrove the ground taken in recent discus
sion OF the matter-that the sale. II con-
summated. would have destroyed the
foundation Of the Library, deprlVlng IL
OF the Characteristic feature that distin-
guishes a State Library from an ordinary
and miscellaneous collection, such as Is
usually found in circulating pubic
library.
The purpose OF state library 'De
first reason for its existence ana mann
tenance. Is to collect and preserve the
books and documents that primarily con-
tain and represent the history OF me
country and the state. This fundamental
fact is so obvious and reasonable that lis
mere statement must meet universal as
sert and approval. Many States OF the
Union attempt no more than collection
of such original authorities. ana the
shelves Of their libraries present only an
array of law books. with the other BOOKS
commonly known and described as pup
lie documents. our own state Library
commenced with the collection OF such
books many years ago. and this collec-
ton had attained considerable and Valu-
able growth before the liberal policy was
adopted of adding books of general litera-
ture. thus making the Library somewhat
miscellaneous. An examination of the
library catalogue will show however,
that the great bulk Of the general litera-
ture added to the Library is in the line
OF illustration and comment on its run
damental characteristic as State Libra
ry Its rich collections of English ana
American history. biography. and politics
are. in one most important sense, but
running commentary on the great store
house OF facts and history embodied in
the volumes of so-called public docu-
ments Isis very true, and readily grant
ed. that 90 the general and casual reader.
the perusal of the average public docu-
ment, or government publication would
be a dreary and repulsve task. But let
even the most casual reader have the
need or wish TO settle definitely for him
self any disputed and doubtful point IN
history or politics. and he will then ma
the indispensable need for the original
authorities. which will become invested
with an interest and value perhaps never
before dreamed of.
The wise policy of the State has there
fore. for century or more, collected anu
preserved books OF this character as the
very beginning and foundation of her
Library Generations Of Virginia states
men and scholars have delved in 'hese
mines OF knowledge and wisdom-the wis
dom. of course. often hard 10 fpd amid
its dreary surroundings OF chan and
worthless stun, and from their findings
have fashioned the weapons for their in
tellectual contests. True it IS. that IN
collection OF such books. very many o.
them are SELDOM used or referred TO, hut
they are like the arsenals In which every
country. with even the instinct OF self
preservation. keeps its ornaments stored
away. The common-sense of mankind
says. Woe to the people or State caught
without equipment when comes the time
OF war. physical or intellectual Such IN
teloctusl war is on us now. Confederate
camps and discussions I'm our papers are
denouncing many of the histories used in
our schools. and are clamoriag for The
true Interpretation and statement OF our
national and State history; that history
has been generally written and interpre-
ted by men prejudiced by sectional or
other bias. and in too many instances -
grossly unjust 10 us and our institutions.
TO yindiccte ourselves. yea, even TO saw,
ourselves from the contempt OF our chill
dren. whose minds are being poisoned
with the so-calied historical instruction
with which they are daily stuffed that
history must be written by southern
man. But no man, southern or norlavrn.
can begin TO write that history without
access 10 the facts and records stored IN
volumes after volumes OF public docu-
ncnts. The northern writer. whom we
condemn. has used the records OF these
documents and given US his version Of
tAs faets 70 correct him. the southern