The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-13
HISTORIC BOOKS.
A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY OF THE
FIRST PRESIDENT.
How the Collection Was securcd-Chiehy
Valuable Because OF the Autographs OF
the Owner-Preservcd With Care.

TciEplar TO Boston In connectlch win
the triennial conclave aroused lncredseu
interest In its treasures or historic places
and structures as well as valuable relics
of great men ard events.
II has been conceded that no city pos
sssges i'm these respects more memorials.
original portraits and real Souvenirs VI
Washington. than does Boston, lao'
that proves ell the more interesting TO
the fraternity. as he was member OF
the order Even those who come IRON
Virginia, wi ere he became mcmDer
of the first degree before he reached MS
majority. AMI where he was master OF
thc lodge that subsequently, bore his name
have been surprised to ind that Boston
surpasses the collections at Mount YER
non in the most valuable m smorial OF
all-beirg the possessor Of ne lheEucdi
books witch formed his library and
which, In large measure, iniicat-d me
progress of his thought and pursuit rom
boyhood. through his military and poll
teal duties as general and resident.
When the writer OF this article was
shown through the home Of Washington
at Mount Vernon he found shat preFa-
lent misapprehension existed as 10 the To-
cation Of the Washington library, so that
Boston failed 20 receive It's Cue credit
'Therc is the library of Washington
said a guide. pointing 10 a case contain
ing several hundred books.
II thought We had the library OF " ash
ington In Boston," was the remark.
The guide. perceiving- that he was
speaking to a 'doubtng Thomas from
Boston, paused in his rapid flow OF eS-
position. and subsequently, IN side ex-
PLANTATION, said 10 him:
eyes. it Is true that the books that
actually belonged TO Washington are 70
be seen only in Boston, but as We nave
the book case here it was necessary 10
iii ii with books to make an appropriate
showing The library that we have here
was put together in various ways-some
being hooks ABOUT Washington, others
copies. as near as could be found. Of
the editions which he owned, and others
old publications which serve 10 indicate
the library collections Of his time
The institution in which the books are
deposited the solemn and dixn!ned Athe-
nasum library which is notable even
in a city that contains the most masnli-
cent public library structure In the woiid'
is in itself object OF some mystery
to the mass OF those who daily pass It's
somber paladio-fashioned front.
IN THE ALcovF..
After ascending two high stairways
and noting on the way Stuart's original
painting OF Washington, the visitor some
what breathless between his climbing ana
his sense of temerity asks
''Can | see the Washington library?
After the impression caused by the
unusual request has passed he is led by
an attendant up more sets OF narrow
iron staircases, under low alcoves and
along whole catacombs Of literature rang
ing through all the degrees of antique
death and modern vitality, until side
door is unlocked for him and he passes
Immediately under stately mahogany
arch way which is formed by the TWO
wings and connecting head pieces of the
case designed TO hold the books OF WASH
ington.
A glance around the apartment shows
that 1t is devoted TO valuable books and
works of art which are here carefully
locked and vigilantly watched.
But the prime impression is made when
the visitors look up at the life size bust
Of Washington over the case at the en-
trance. and then scan beneath it the very
books that were possessed and were the
intellectual stores for the father Of his
country. As was remarked by the com
mittee of presentation: There can be
few relics of more interest than the books
that have been in his hands and which
are marked by his handwriting
Before there is an opportunity to I'M
lock the case doors, and to handle the
rows of Washington's books that were
handled by him moro than n ..undred
years ago, II is well to note the circum-
stances under which they came into the
possession of this library.
At the annual meeting Of the propri-
etors in January, 1919. The librarian, re-
fc, ring 10 the books that had BEEN donat-
ed to the brary during the year preced-
ing. said
''Fhst in Importance is a collection "a
books which formerly belonged to Wash
ingtoks Seventy gentlemen of Boston,
Cambridge ami Salem. by i subscription
of $50 each amounting TO nearly $1,000,
have secured to the Athenaeum this
treasure. The Fight in which they regard
IL. and the motives which animated them,
will best apIear from their own w1.ds:
Tie greater number Of these books,
they say. contain Washingtor's auto
graph All which are 50 distinguished
and next after them, those which were
presentation copies 20 him, and next
to them. those which contain his book
pate. or can in any other way be proved
to have been in his possession, would be
regarded, even in Europe, as curi)sitics
OF great interest and value. and would
command prices which might seem in
credible TO one unacquainted with the
sums given for objects .lssocid. II with
the memory Of distinguished men
"'But by an American the collection
should be differently estse ned. To no
country has its hi; tory left so valuable
a legacy as we have Inherited IN the
character Of Washington. " 'uch man
all the relics should be yenera.ed; and
there can be few OF more interest than
the books which have been in his hands
and which are marked by his hand
writing.
VOW THE LIBRARY WAS PURCHASED.
In view OF these words from the dlstin-
euished and publicspirited donors 1t
Sc ms astonishi lg that the whole Wash
ington library could nave been secured
for so moderate a sum. Certainly II the
effort were made at the present day,
that sum would have been deemed little
enough for some single volumes which IL
contains II its possessors could re IN
duced to part with them at all.
In 1886 a little book was published in
LONDON. entitled "Recollect.ons OF James
Lenox," the founder If the LenoX Ii
brary OF New York. It was written by
Henry Stevens the bibliog rnpher and
lover of books, so the little page reads,
VINO for many years has lived in London
collecting rare books, particularly Amerl-
can both for American and foreign buy
ers IL was he who got possession OF
the Washington library. and who sold
It 10 the seventy benefactors OF the
Athenacum.
The account of the transactions differs
somewhat from the official report