Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-30


furnished for business. war. and enter
prise.
The gentleman escapes from his office.
leaves all that behind. and rejoices IN
the luxuries Of a cultivated home.
There are divers ways OF regarding
private library. Our old friend. Mon
taigne, perhaps. enjoyed his nearly In
perfection. He was a well-bred, culti-
waited and religious man. with large
estate, and enough Of public employment
10 compel a good deal OF intercourse with
all sorts OF people. His residence was
lust far enough from Paris TO be agreea-
BILE. And his library, bright and Well
supplied, was his Heaven. he would
ride into the city. get through his day
work: and then so back and have eood
time with his familiars. consulting them
lust as no pleased, and thinking, Writ
ing, and philosophizing to suit himself
And Shakespeare and Lord Bacon AFTER
ward enjoyed and quoted the fruits OIL
his cogitations His essays are now tEe
brightest and most wholesome pleasures
Of every gentleman's storehouse
To man who has nothing OF inc
flavor Of manhood or the love OK the
Z ~,
set of books Is as good as another. he
can order them by the yard, or let them
be only dummies, the work or the car
Denter. But 10 one who has walked up
TO tho privileges, responsibilities, anu
possibilities OF his supra-proIesslohb
being. the library ia quite another thlns'
an inestinabla delight. Among his DOCKS
he is in the centre Of the word us
authorities are as vistas radiaung anu
extending In every dirscuon-apoFe'
around. and underneath-around MN 70
every region Of the earth; above MN 10
the remotest star; beneath Nun 70 'Hs
paths which the vulture'S eye naIh Ho'
seen nor the young lion rod. Inc iheS-
sures and distances or the heaFVIl'
hodies are laid before him, ana the "oh-
So~tTI n,acbinery OF the smallest insects.
And in the presence of his books ne Is d
citizen of every period, past present
and TO come. All good men that ever
lived are his friends. To him there IS
no more time. All ages are about hiIh'
a Grand cyc.orama. And what a strange
being is this master OF the library. Ou.
of his dominion, he is but an enlightened
man. n well-mannered gentleman. On MS
throne In his dominion he disappears
from among men, and Is an offence 10
none. He has nothing TO DO WIN inc
praise or admiration OF the crown
No envy, hatred, or malice can fea0H
him. The form Of pride comes not near
him. His life is pure, free, and positiVe'
with the spirits Of just men maze pr
fect And he is the master OF all MS
frionds From his shelves the good and
Great Of all ages look lovingly down on
Siro rrbe,r names are on their foreheacs.
And they are ready at the call OF their
Lord.
AT his bidding the soul Of the sage
the philosopher. the scientist, the hsto-
rian. or the prophet descends anu uoSs
obeisance. He does not awe the man WIN
bis greatness. nor excite his ambition or
nride with his companionship. lie comes
like Ariel TO Prospero, TO know his wishes
and supulv his wants. He comes to fur-
nish the very best things that ne ias'
That done, he goes back among the Steep
ing kings and councillors OF tne eaIln'
where they lie tanned and suDiilhaleu'
And these being departed, for his enter
tainment the heroes and great men come
- bis call make their bows. and exeunt
omnes. A library is an Interesting p4"Se
to an embodied spirit.
Then. there Is another way OF looking
at q library. 1t 10 as II were. great
organ. A man knows his authors no"
they think and feel about matters; their
WAYS of regarding things; their tones
and temper. They are ranged around IN
their places. Ike small and great pipes
| The glance OF his eye wakes them up
One by one they respond. and a strange
mysterious music possesses his soul; en-
liebtening. comforting, animating. what
an Organist Is pure-hearted, sympa-
tbetic. even-minded, devout man! VINO
knows the full meaning Of those WONDER
ful words: The communion OF saints.
The story Of Nunoa and Egeria, away
back in the mythic past, was OF man
communion with wisdom. "Sne shall
bring thee 10 honor. when thou oost EN-
brace her" The Holy Scriptures, 10
small and great. supply and realize more
than all the Libraries OF all the world can
furnish. or than human fancy, magma
ton. or hope can conceive. A divine
organ a harp Of thousand strings.
Within that awful volume lies,
The mystery Of mysteries.
And happiest he. OF all his race,
To whom his heart has given the grace
To read. TO hear, 10 hope, 70 pray,
To lift the latch, and ops the way.
But better had he ne'er been born'
Who reads to doubt. or reads to seorn.
''The Kingdom Of Heaven Is opened,
not 10 the great and learned proprietors
Of great libraries. but to the poor IN
Spirit"