The Washington times. (Washington, D.C.) 1894-1895, 1895-06-09

books accessible for twenty years or
more.
Mr.. David Hutchinson, a sturdy, earnest,
alert, ready, more accessible gentleman,
is the principal assistant
SOME OF THE ASSISTANTS.
He is about as well informed concerning
books as is his chief, and. If possible, is
more suave and accommodating to the ap-
plicant who has gained approval. An
other assistant of whom the public sees
much is Mr.. John G. Morrison, a model of
kindness and direct, plain, common-sense
methods Of dealing with student and
dilettanti. His knowledge of books is not
at all so extensive as that of his senior
officials, but he is much younger man.
If any OF these gentlemen possessed infal-
libility the condition of the wayfaring
worker at the library would be better.
An illustration VIII show that Mr.. Spot
ford himself sometimes falls into error.
A gentleman was seeking some information
at the library one day, and happened to
remark that some appropriation giving
Mr.. Spofford $50 900 with which to
bring up a branch that had fallen in
arrears. Mr. Spofford replied with en-
ergy, supposing that his irierlocutor was
an applicant for a place under the bill.
BE said:
The money will not be available for a
year, and can give you no hope. There
are already nearly a thousand applications
for places under that bill"
bur, Mi. SpolIord, was the reply,
81 have never asked anything here, except
the privilege of consulting some of your
books 4"
"oh indeed; I misunderstood
And the same sort OF misunderstanding
would have sent his visitor away empty
handed had he sought help in books, for
the explanation would not be so easy and the
facts not so clearly on the visitors side.
OF the readers who come To The library
the ex Congressman is always easily dis
tingUished from the common herd A
former member who was there frequently
is a tall white-haired, dignified man, in
personal appearance much like Senator
Morrill,, of Vermont. He walks in a
loose-iointed fashion through the rooms,
procures the book he wants and lounges into
chair W hen ne has found where he wants
After finishing the passage that in
terests him he wants to find another in the
same book He stretches his long legs
under the table, draws himself up to it
like an awkward schoolboy and begins to
turning the pages wetting his thumb at his
lips, as if is convenient TO bring the refractory
page over.
Gimp SEES AT CHARACTERS.
Another character about the library is
the student of pedigrees This library
is one Of the best in the country for looking
up family records. 1t contains scores of
books published in the past thirty years by
leading families in different parts of the
country and III addition TO large number
books relating to the early history of the
country.
The student is usually a woman. The
Latin maxim viii serve in this case. Elk
uno disco omnes, She is matronly, just
little on the shady side of forty. Her hair
is combed demurely down on each side of
broad forehead and drawn smooth and
low along the temples and over the ears
alter the fashion of our mothers. Her
bonnet is fluffy bit of black lace and crepe,
with two or three sprlgs of elive green
stuck in the middle. Her shirt waist is of a
bright blue and her skirt is a sober hue.
She is seated behind q rampant of volumes,
some huge, some medium, and some small.
She opens little book and gets point,
thenlaboriously turns & he pages of a twenty
pound quarto county history and YerIfieS
a name or locates hamlet or country seat
and carefully makes a note of il. Her
patience is unwearying and other informa-
ton and minuteness of observation in re-
gard to her family prodigious.
THE PEDIGREE HUNTER.
Sometimes, however, the pedigree hunter
is a mere trifIer. Then she laughs and
talks and fools with the books. Her
pencil must be sharpened to a particular
tip and knife must be borrowed to sharpen
il. 1t viii break again presently and
she will then have an opportunity for re-
lief from reading which evidently hurts
her eyes.
She may attract attention. She doesn't
mind that; she enjoys it in fact. taking
it for admiration. She may or may not
be pretty; she thinks she is.
Another case is represented by the
school girl. Lessons suggest points that
may be made clearer by investigation
at the great library and teachers are glad
TO see disposition TO do this sort of study
and encourage it all they can.
These youths are ordinarily modest,
quiet and respectful, but occasionally are
noisy, which they may be under the
general disregard of the rule against talk
ing, and keep up such an exchange of
fooieries as TO make themselves an un-
endurable nuisance.
OF late irregular foundations OF a motley
crowd have attracted some attention.
These are the applicants for civil service
examination, usually for some special
subject which requires some spe cha
knowledge and one or two languages.
There is a great demand then for three or
four weeks for certain books in which most
complete and ready information can be
found.
PREPARING FOR EXAM.
The student works eagerly and zealously
with increasing trepidation as the close
draws near. 1t means to him, at least
he thinks it does, a chance for 81 200