Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-12
INAUGURAL BALL.
May Be a Contest Over Hold
ing It in the Library.
Mr.. SpofTord Does Not Like It'll
Might Delay Occupancy.
Building is One Of the Grandest Structures
in the World.

understanding at the present time Is thai
the Mckinley inaugural ball will DO held
In the new National library building.
There are objections to tho use OF this
building for this purpose, but they arc
mainly of a sentimental character. lht
joint committee of congress on the library,
which has the building directly under Its
control is opposed to having the ball III
the new structure SO is Librarian spot
ford, whose opinion counts for much with
members of congress- 1nasmuch as the
consent of congress must be obtained, there
is likely to be u contest over the matter III
case the citizens committee decides III ia
vor of the library. Still, the chances are
the Inauguration committee will have its
way
A Beautiful Building.
The difference between the pension office,
In which inaugural balls have recently been
held, and the library building. as Senator
Proctor pointed out to Mr.. Hanna the other
day, is that the former Is u baTrack, while
the latter is a palace. The new library of
congress is, without doubt. the most beau
tiful building in Ghc wdrlC. devoted to IL
brary purposes, and it is one Of the most
beautiful buildings of any nature any
where. 1t is richly decorated within, and
its rotunda, though not quite as large as
the rotunda of the capitol. is more perfect
" proportioned and more sumptuously or
namented. The new library will he ready
for occupancy about the 1st of March, and
preparations are already being made for
removal of the books and pamphlets from
the capitol to the new building This will
be large job, and the present plan is to
shove the books through an underground
tunnel built for the purpose. When the
building and its appliances are in perfect
working order, the tunnel will be in con
slant use Senators and members of CON
gress may call for their books in the CAPT
tol, the orders will be given by the attend
ants over the telephone lines, and the vol
umes will be quickly dispatched to the
capitol by the tunnel, about quarter of a
mile long.
One objection to the use of the library
for the inaugural ball is that it may delay
the removal of the library. Mr.. Spofford
is as eager to get into his new building as
small boy ever was to get his feet inside
n pair of new boots. Nor is it any wonder.
For quarter OF il century the old gentle
man has struggled along with the cramped.
and gloomy quarters in which the literary
treasures of the nation are now stored. He
and his assistants have been compelled to
go about with lighted lamps in order to
see their way in the dark alcoves. They
have piled books upon books in great,
dusty heaps. 1t is not surprising that
they are eager to get into tho palace. built
for their use, where there will be plenty of
light, air and room
A Veteran Librarian.
Some day the nation will realize how
much it owes to the patience, the skill, the
genius, of this veteran librarian. He has
been the life and soul of the great library
for quarter of /. century. The library
has been his hobby, his passion. He knows
literally every book and pamphlet within
its walls. He gives more suggestions to
students and Investigators than any other
librarian ever seen in this country. He
has made the great library what it Is, and
the whole country will be reioiced to see
him installed with his literary treasures
in tho splendid building now almost ready
to receive them
Some time ago there was q great ado
about the accounts of Librarian Spofford.
Careless newspaper men even went so far
as to insinuate that he was defaulter.
1t was true there was an apparent short
age in his accounts, but the trouble was
wbollv ono of hool,l,no,,;n,, AVA ,,o+ ~
incubation or irrc,,,,1a,.it,, Str S,,ofrord e
friends meyer doubted he rngooll hones+r,
and in the mind of the ,resj,or+ thore ,,,, :
never /, tborght If ro,,n,,ino hin, mo
trouble was Wholly ono dnn 70 +ho conf,.
sion attendant unon tho coryriolt b,si-
ness of tho lihrorv which nv law k, in tho
librarian's hands hut With ro adaon,te
nrovis;on for disch.r,,n If tho ,,,orl-
'' anu
IL the paii DE heiu IN the library, thou
sahas OF Americans VIII be given an op-
por'uhlVy % see "hae magnificent struc-
lure congress mas PROVIDED lof the literary
accumuiatiohs OIL the past 90 years, The
cniei 'rouole WIN 'hls building ior the
Purposes vi an lhaugufai Dali Is that the
"iiair VIII nave 10 pe sl,ilt up between 1our
apartments instead OIL BENG concentrated
in one great nan, us Is the case at the pen
SION ONCE Ahat may destroy TO some ex-
tent the ensemble and mar the picture.
But from every other point OF view 1t will
DO an advantage. Inaugural balls, as a
rule are Iarcical SO far as dancing ia con
cerheo- Inc crowd IS SO great that waltz
ing Is almost impossible. Try as hard as
they may, tho floor managers are unable
to keep sufficient space in which the rev.