New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17
NEW LIBRARY. GREENWICH, CONN.

gre or bare in its appearance The basement OF
heavy blocks OF light granite is surmounted by
high single story Of white brick with trimmings
OF Indiana sandstone. The dimensions OF the eK-
terror are about thirty by sixty feet. The entrance
Is approached by broad granite steps. the doorway
being nanked by heavy Dorc pillars with carved
capitals well d carved ornamental panels
each side. over the doors are carved
wreath and double cornucopa in solid stone.
The doors OF solid oak, richly carved.
and ten feet In height. From the rotunda, twenty
feet square the eye glances unhndered except by
the heavy pine Orders and trusses up to the
vauted roof. while each side are heavy Doric
pillars thanking the openings into the reading-room
in the south end and the stackroom in the north
end. will be five alcoves on each side,
seven feet deep, and calculated to hold 1900 vol
umes. These are lighted by first tier OF narrow
windows, fourteen inches wide, which give almost
a military armorial look to that part OF the ex-
terror A second tier OF triple windows six and
nine feet in width admits a flood OF light from
north. east and west The acoves Will be barred
from the rOtunda by counter.
The reading-room in the south end is charming
interior with It's large fireplace of white brick at
the end. its great double and triple windows and
its high barrel-vaultei ceiling of yellow pine. 1t is
eighteen by twenty-sx feet in size. Here are
tables and easy chairs. racks OF newspapers and
files OF the best magazines. At the back OF the
rotunda is an extension in which rooms for the
librarian and the directors. The rotunda Is also
ornamented by handsome brick fireplace. The
whole interior is lighted with incandescent lights
In the south end OF the basement are living rooms
for the caretaker OF the building. The whole makes
a rich and handsome memorial OF Mrs. Mbank
who was probably the most wealthy resident OF
the village. and whose massive brownstone cottage
remains one Of the finest villas along the Sound
Mrs. Anderson is the wife of an artist and Is also
a resident OF the place. The architects are Lamb
& Rich. OF New-York.
SOME INTERESTING BOOKS.
The literary relies and traditions OF the library
are Of an interest to repay the searcher after
curious things. the germs of the institution date
back into the last century Reminders OF the age OF
candles frequently found in the list of fines i'm
posed by former Librarians. such the following
Creased FIVE pages. dried three pages; fined "A
cents" The opening preamble with which the
originaors Of the institution set Themselves about
the task is we'll worth perusal now
I'VE. the subscribers fully impressed with the
utility of literary institutions the means OF infus-
ing In the minds OF youth the principles Of truth.
religion and virtue OF checking that dissipation and
lcentiousness Of conduct which naturally results
from ignorance and idleness; of making the period
of manhood peasant and useful and the retirement
of advancing years satisfactory ana d.gnihed Con
ceiving therefore. that the dissemination OF useful
knowledge tends TO reform the morals enghten the
understanding. refine the manners and disposes
the support Of good government and civil
society. trust that no institution will contribute
more TO these great and important ends than the
establishment Of public library on the most liberal
principles.
THE MEADS WERE PROMINENT.
The originators ideas Of liberal principles" may
be hard to define this da' but at any they
admitted a few cminently proper novels. well as
historical and theological works. and they put the
annual dues at the low rate OF 80 cents The sub
scrption for shares start the enterprise was
literally headed by John II. Cozne. who took TWO
shares at 81 each No one else. however took more
than one The list Of the subscribers would be IN
teresting. II II only for the preponderahce OF
Meads tireenw witch being stronghold OF that ram
ily. The names are as follows: Sainue-, bul
Mead Richard Mead Jared Mead. Zacchens Mead
Noah Mead Abraham Mead Gopher Mead. Ephralln
Mead Zenas Mead, Charles Peck. Peter Husted
Nathaniel Ferris. Thomas IluggefOrd, Silas DAVIS
Nehemiah Wilson Reuben Holmes ana l'eai ~
Lewis 1t was from the house of a Theodore Mead
that the library circulated Tor many yeaIs
afterward being in charge OF the Second thurch
ard al one time housed in the old town hall near
! the site of the soldiers monument.
Among the relics still sept IN the library Is the
first copy OF THE Hartford Couran', issued &c
ohor ~ l76A and con aiming the promise. on due
announcement TO be continued every MONDAY, ana
ing-house" There are also copies Of The New
York Gazette" OF May .. 1871. ana or 'The spring
field Republican, Of March T. 1906 Prominent
among volumes in the library Is Guthries mas
sive "History Of England from Edward II 20 Henry
VIII" two volume given by Nelson r. Mead
Curiousy enough. there Is now In IN" library, stlV
ing TO absorb a literary favor. htavy BLACK wal
nut bookcase that once belonged 10 BOSS IWetu
here she was not SOW in huslne all OF his ELECTS
tainted with the odOr Of Tammany orgies out o.
her sight The bookcase found a lodging IN the
library, and is respectable LOOKING piece OF Iurn-
two busts Of Shakespeare and Franklin. gif.s OF
Mrs Mibank which gaze down from its top