New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-05
LIBRARY CONSOLIDATION.
Is 1T DESIRABLE?
GENERAL, HAWKINS ARGUES sTRENUoUsLY IN
FAVOR OF PRESERVING THE SEPARATE IN
pIv1DUALITY OF THE LEMON coll

To Editor of The IrlDune'
Sir: I have waited in vain FOR some one TO pr
sort tho other side Of the libraries consolidation
question In to this time the wouldbe consohha-
tors and the newspaper writer's nave nn"eu ~
presenting one side-their side In the arguments
brought forward to sustain the wretched intent 20
suhmerge the two useful libraries now IN EXIST
ence. not one sound reason for such an intent mas
been shown The general idea, however. running
through all that has been printed Is that we must
have one large library
If New-York is to be a city OF one centre then
one library might answer, but since It is long ana
narrow, and is TO grow much longer inv
probabilities in favor Of several centres anu
one of them will not he further south than one
hundred and-twenty -ffth-st. The library INTENDED
by Mr.. Tden will be needed in that location anu
# there f. not money enough in the llIneh luhu "
establish it now. II be kept at interest, as Is
bejnr done with like fund In Chicago, until
Accommodations shall have made the needed addi-
tons to the principal.
The Aston Library is doing excellent work, is
constantly crowded with readers, and although not
large several of the great COLLECTIONS OF rn-
rope is a most excellent library of reference IL Is
in the right location for the lower part OF tho city,
and ought to remain where It's founder placed IT.
Among the libraries of America the Lenox stands
UNIQUE, and in certain very important respects
there are only small number in Europe that can
be classed with It. Leaving out the sreat Euro
pean libraries, which truly National ana to De
found in the old capitals then there remain but
three others which compete with the Lenox ls'
of great and valuable photographed gems. The
Ducal Library at Wolfenbttel. founded by the
Duke Of Brunswick and Nuremberg in l3'S ana the
ambrosian AT Milan founded by Cardinal Frederick
Rorroreo In 1909 and the Bodeian at oxford.
founded in 1902 by Sir Thomas Bodey, are Ike the
Lenox filed with valuable rarItes, the accumuia-
fiona Of centuries while the possessions Of the
Lenox which are equally curious ard interesting
and possibly more valuable, were collected in the
lifetime Of one mana modest. unpretentious
American citizen.
The Lenox collection Of geographic block books
IS one of the most important and valuable kho"h'
certain Of is numbers almost priceless ana
would bring fabulous amounts If offered Tor sd'e'
the fifteenth century books are few in number but
mostly of exceeding rarity and Of great vaire
Among them the Gutenberg Bible lh2 ana
lf4; the Durandus. 1853; the third dated book
the Cathoicon OF 1860; the fourth with GATE
and many Others including eight CaN,ons OF
great importance and value; the Columbus col
lection including the rare printed letters ana
unique manuscripts. II is safe to say II offered ior
sale would bring a thousand times It's weight IN
gold. the Shak, spearian numbers. hchnIhS "e
UNIQUE l6-2 copy. several Of lG2} The other seven
teenth century editions and the majority OF the early
ouartos make one OF the most valuable coilec-
tons IN the world. The early edition OF Milton ana
rare books relating to that author form group
OF exceptionally valuable and curious books the
early books from the first Mexican press the first
the collection is probably the second or third IN
size known; the Drexe collection Of rare books re-
lating TO music is unrivalef in this country. Inc
great collection of Bibles. in many languages Is
POSSIBLY the first and probably the second in I'M
nortance in existence. or the whole collection II
NAV be said that IL Is chiefly characteristic Tor us
grca; and valuable photographed rariies which
at This time are quite beyond the power OF money
10 purchase
The Lenox is far more than a mere lorary-a
useful collection OF books. 1t Is above all else
bibog-ap hical museum Of the first importance ana
the only one in America.
know too we'll tina, such collections unfortunate
~ by verv large majority OF our people are not
regarded with favor but in Europe. where there Is
still 4 little sentiment left for the truly beautiful
and the interestingly curious such collections are
greatly valued The British Museum, The Biblo-
theque Rationale. the Royal Libraries at Munich
Vienna, the Laurentan at Florence the Bod
LEAN at oxford and many others have larse and
exhib.tsd their mos; valuable p5sscsaons and when
eyer open to The public. are filed with appreciat.ve
The isrge collection of oil paintings Owned by The
Ienox corporation is another !mporan; reason for
keeping III" whole intact, and the fact OF Their
being where they are proves that Nh lenox IN
tendel To found something more man a lDraIy.
ton Of that term. Mr. LenoX stood at the head Of
the list among his country men. ana a good
scconI to tn. mos, notabic tha, ever lived. ana.
besides. he was At one" the In"d'! clhzcH, me
benevo!en. man whose charities knew no COUNTRY.
a lover OF arr. and an accomplished bbHophi"
who loved hls book. NOR man al o. ms o' hcr
ana very LIZ PORTION OF hto Ere' fortune IN
ment and instruction Of his fellow mon.
The last work Of Mr. l"noX. the collection OF nc
DUrandus, was completed while confined 10 his bed
during his last illness ana not long before Ms irath
and his last letter written TO the late George II
win the possession Of his valuable purchase. Mr
Moore showed me the letter; ana said he believed y
ana enthusiastic lover OF books he died engaged b.
| Tho more we Contemplate tho origin the carly
education and the surroundings of Mr.. I.cnox, the
| Why should ne have been the lover Of art and
! the ardent collector OF books that he vas He
could not have done otherwise than he I'D. Such
qualities come into existence with life. they are
Wh% the on 3T G e9y oS ysnTs hnSg 5cf@ So
/ collection. 20 a considerable number OF European
| collectors and hhr3gians ana IN no instance eyer
! gems; and am sure in no single Instance was
| accumulations Of centuries, but here less than
half Of one, and made by single individual.
| zeal man, who always worked Understandings, AID
behind the many yGars OF MS ne dev9iei to me
SURPRISING interest. there was wcll-dcnncd pur-
and he to IT in his lifetime that there sholld
BE- no mistake about his Intention. He erected under
placed 1t where he wanted It. there 10 remain. II
possible. to the end OF time AS further evidence
OF his intention, point TO the selection OF the
late George H. Moore. the most conservative and
one OF the most competent among American lihrar-
fans. take charge OF his noble gift II he had in
tended his gift be only 'popular and tiltarian.
he never would have selected Mr.. Moore TO have
! charge OF IT,
| In no other country. and doubt II in any other
place but New York. would the idea of diVerting
from it's intended status. such gift. be enter
tanned by the authorities charged with its care In
acting az they have t. g. voting for consolidation,
hold they very far off from their line of duty. and
they have very poor and imperfect idea Of tho OBJ
feet which called them INTO existence. The para
mount obligation resting upon them Is TO preserve
intact with caution and care, The great. valuable
and important trust placed in their charge. by the
most notable and dsintorcstcd bencfactor New
York has had. whose life's work is typihcd
by a grand and appropriate monument, which should
stand where he placed II. 70 p"rpetuate the memory
| and good deeds Of Il man who left the world the
/ better for his having lived In il.
In Europe there of notable collections
| Of hooks paintings, etc. etc. founded by public.
spirited citizens Ike SIR. LcnOx, many of them cen