The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-07

/ brarian Spofford of the library of congress
Y is impatiently awaiting the adjournment
of congress, so that he may remove his
stores of books and pamphlets TO the
r splendid new building across from the
D capitol. The new library is ready for the
books, and stands vacant and perfect
week after week and month after month";
Mecca for the thousands of visitors TO
the city who flock to see the beauties of
, the palatial structure. 1t is not often that
a public building is ready for its tenants
long before the latter are ready to move
in. Librarian Spofford is ready, but he
fears removal during the session of con
gross might impose too much inconven-
fence upon senators and representatives
who use the hooks, and he has for this
reason decided to wait till the national
legislature adjourns in the summer
Rare Autographs.
When the library shall have been in
stalled in its palatial new home, the
people will begin to appreciate what a
great collection of books, works of art,
pamphlets manuscripts, ETC., they have
accumulated There is one room in the
old library which is filed from floor TO
ceiling with the rarest literary treasures.
| Here are old and rare books, and perhaps
the most valuable collection of autograph
| letters of famous Americans to be found
| In all the world. There is only one key
10 this apartment, and that Librarian
Spohord never permits 10 pass out of his
custody. Not long ago n young man en-
ployed in the library managed TO steal q
number of the letters of Washington,
jefferson and other famous men and sell
them at good prices. Al first il was quite
mystery how he had managed to gain
access 10 the treasure room, but il was |
finally learned that he had done so by |
means of a duplicate key One of the |
eldest employees of the library, one who |
has been there for more than 20 years.
tells me that in all that time he has never
been in the room and has never seen any
one there but Librarian Spofford. AS
soon as the removal IN the new building
Is effected all these rare letters and books
VIII be displayed in cases made especially
for their accommodation. Then, for the
first time, the country will be able to de-
rive some real benefit from the valuable
accommodations of the last century
Librarian Hid of the Chicago Public IL
brary was here the other day in consulta-
ton with Mr. Spofford. Mr.. Hid told me
he had been on IL tour of the great cities of
the east, makinga special study of libraries
|
Boston public library is the best all round
library in the United States The Har-
ward college library is superior in some
things and this may be said of most of the
larger libraries, including the library of
congress. But, take it all i'm all, the Bos-
ton Public library undoubtedly stands at
the head. The people of Boston are Justly
proud OF 1t, and their pride is quite as
much in the magnificent collection of
BOOKS rs in the splendid building which
contains them.
More European Books Needed.
The library of congress is rich in ali | {
Americana, and has a larger number Of ,
volumes than any other library i'm the |
united states, but many of them are du.
pllcates, owing To the provision of law
winch requires two copies of every book to |
DE deposited for copyright purposes. The ,
national library Is deficient in books pub.
lished in Europe and other parts of the :
world, and If IL is TO be brought up to the
high standard Of comprehensiyencss which
IL should maintain congress will have IN
large sums for the purchase of
books published in other countries than
our own. 1t is estimated that 500. 900 n
year would be proper sum for some years
10 come for this purpose
ihprardns are wondering what they are
gong TO do with the newspaper files which
are now SO rapidly accommodating. 1t Is
not SO much that there are many news ,
papers, OIL large superficial area per COPY,
1lling many volumes a wear but that
houerh journals are printed upon such
poor paper. How 10 preserve them in any,
hing like decent condition is a problem
which all the librarians are now consider.
ng. The wood pulp paper of modern ,
lines grows yellow in very few wears.
In few years more the fiber shows tend
'hcy 10 dlsintegrate. Compare bound vol I
lhes OF papers published before the war I
WIN those printed five years ago and the ,
orher are In much better condition The
PAPER hOlds Its color, the ink is clear and
Diack The old papers were printed on 8
'ag stock, while the new are composed al
most entirely of wood pulp. In the Chi .
ago Public library and some other libraries
hey have had constructed light tight COM {
Dartments in which to store files of mod {
'rn newspapers.
Rare Bibles.
Probably every large library i'm the $
United States is trying to procure copv
d the Gutenberg Bible Gutenberg Bibles
are rare What IA shame" said Mr..
iflld, that the congress of the United I
''hues shoulu say that every man who
imports Gutenberg must pay a fine of
10000 for doing it, whereas he should he
with the thanks Of congress and
a gold medal"
DO you mean TO say that u Gutenberg ,
Bible is worth SIS. 900 or S2O,OOOy"
Yes. / doubt if you could buv one
Tor less than $4,000 AS far as is known.
there are only 20 or 80 copies in existence. :
Ihey are nearly all in libraries. and of ,
course cannot be had at any price. There
are only three copies in the United States
or perhaps j should say 81. One of
these Is In the Boston public library. one
In Washington, one in the hands of n col. ,
lector In Chicago, and the half COPY is in
Syracuse, n. Y"
MIR. Hid then told me a prettv story
some years ago he was In Mainz. Ger ,
many IL was there that Gutenberp ,
printed his famous edition of the Bible
while walking through the museum Mr.
HID asked the curator where his COW ~ [
the Gutenberg Bible was. The old mans {
eyes filed with tears. .
we have no Gutenberg, he said. no
soon rs he could brush the tears away
" We Ind nm. b,,t 49, a