The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-05-06
IENeN LIBRARY.

ings and possibly Sundays, there will be q
large circulating department., and all in
all the consolidated institution will far
better carry out the philanthropic intent
of Messrs. Tilden, Astor and Lenox than
the three separate libraries they founded.
The new library will have about 374, $50
books az the start, and its books, endow-
ments and property generally are valued
at about SS 900, 600.
The Astor library was founded in 1913
by John Jacob Astor, who left $500, 600
for the purpose. With this money the
present site Of the library in Lafayette
place was purchased and most Of the
building was erected. Different members
OF the Aston family have added to the en-
dowment until it is now 50, los, s71. The
institution has 260, Gil books, and in 1894
IS, Sol persons visited the library as read
ers despite the fact that the doors are only
open during the day. Last year the IL
brary had an income of So, GOO, and its ex-
penses were $22, 7e0. The interest on in
vestments Of the Lenox library endow-
ment for 1894 was $I6, 453. 19, and the to-
tai expenses were $16, Zoe. 10. The com
bined salary list of the two libraries is now
$2S, 7i3. 09. This probably could be re-
duced to $50, 600, leaving nearly So, 600 a
year more for the purchasing OF new
books. The combined revenues Of the
two institutions would be about $50, 900
year, adding TO which the $50, 600 revenue
that could be derived from the Tilden
fund would make total OF $40, 600.
The Lenox library was the creation OF
James Lenox, a wealthy and eccentric
bibliomaniao Of New York city. He was
the only son of Robert Lenox, who re-
moved from Scotland TO New York IN
1884 and made fortune in business.
James was educated at Princeton and be
came very strict Presbyterian. His ia
ther left him q fortune and about 80
acres Of land on Fifth avenue, near Seven
tieth street, New York, for which So, 90
had been paid. The property is now IN
the center CT the fashionable quarter OF
New York and is valued at about $40,
600, COO Young Lenox took no interest IN
social, political or commercial affairs and
seemed to have but single ambition
the collection CT the rerest and choicest
works in literature and art. Soon after
he left Princeton he spent seven or eight
years in Europe studying old and rare
books and becoming a connoisseur. He
was soon without q rival among the book
buyers Of the country, and before he died
he was one Of the most expert bibliCmani-
acs in the world.
For more than 40 years he was repre-
scented at every book sale OF note in the
world and he often oUtbid the great IL
braries, museums and private collectors OF
Europe He loved his old books as q miser
loves yellow gold, and as he collected them
and stacked them away in his library he
guarded them with Jealous care. Scholars
and bibliomaniacs were rarely allowed to
see them, and it Is said that even Pres
colts request to study the Mexican manu-
scripts was refused. When on rare occa-
sions a book was allowed to leave the Il
brary, servant accompanied &c, waited
until It had been examined by the favored
friend and then carried It back to the &c
centric biblIophile's residence.
Late in life Mr.. Lenox completely
chan ged his tactics concerning his vaIu-
able collection. The literary miser became