Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-24
|ALONC CIVIL SERVICE LINES
Elan Works Well with Public Library
Applicants.
WILL BE MADE A PERMANENT FEATURE
S"iidreh's Book Department is Being
wen Patronized, Showing that
Ihey Are Rapidly Becom-
Ing Great Readers.

AT 1:30 O'Clock last Wednesday afternoon
when Miss O'Brien entered the lecture room
OF the public library to conduct the examipa
uon or applicants for the vacant position OF
assistant librarian, she found fifteen young
women seated at the desks before her. all
anxious to tell Of their knowledge of litera.
ture, ancient, medieval and modern. There
were forty applicants whose names were on
| file, and all had been notified by Libra ria n
| Barrows to be present at this time. That
| twenty-five failed to appear is due to the
fact that the applications have been accumu-
| lating ever since the last examination, held
over a year ago. Some of the applicants
have doubtless moved from the city in the
tons.
MISS Alice Egbert, who won the coveted
position, handed in a paper that would do
justice to college graduate. 1t showed that
great amount OF home reading had been
done, for Miss Egbert said in her paper that
she had not even enjoyed the privilege of
High school education. Not only were the
questions answered in correct and direct
manner, but whenever an authors name was
mentioned 1t was not merely his last name,
as In most of the papers, or with his ini-
tlals as in others, but it was his full name
in every case II the author had a title, it
was always given, as "Sir Walter Scott" Miss
Egberts paper was exact in almost every
particular. For instance, In speaking of a
prominent English writer, most of the young
women termed him a scientist, which was
right; but in the winning paper he was
called biologist, which was not only cor
rect, but specific. Miss Egbert's handwriting
was neat and legible; on that score alone she
led all the rest
MISS HALBERT GETS SECOND PLACE.
The applicants were given two hours and
a half to work on their examination papers,
thA ia -
papers long before o'clock. Miss Egbert
was evidently out to win, as she did not
pass In her paper until the clock was striking
the hour. The new assistant lives at 524
South Twenty-ffth avenue and has resided In
THIS city ten years, having moved to Omaha
from Lincoln. She has been a regular patron |
Of the public library for several years past
and 1t has been noticed that she invariably |
called for the works of the leading English |
authors and paid but little attention to the |
much sought novels OF the day. Her IA |
with the best literature is due to
her homo reading, as she is self educated |
Young woman.
Miss Hester Halbert succeeded in taking
econd place in this difficult examination, her
'aper not being far behind that Of Miss
lgbert's in point of excellence. She also
as lived In Omaha ten years, having for
nerly resided in Buffalo. la. Like Miss
'gbert, she never enjoyed the advantage Of a
curse in high school, Her home Is at 1921
lodge street. The third place was captured
y Miss Grace Williams OF 1880 Sherman
venue.
Misses Halbert and Williams will be placed
n a reserve list and they will be appointed
D fill the first vacancies that occur. This
act makes another examination within the
ext year improbable. II Is hardly likely that
lore than two vacancies will occur during
be year. All three OF the papers mentioned
TODD very near each other when the results
ere compared That Of Miss Egbert was