davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

logue 1t follows Poole in the indexing
Of every magazine article published in
any part of the world and classifles ar
ticles not only by titles. but by sub
iects 1t is a perfect work of it's kind,
just as the library OF the surgeon gen.
erals office, with its 10000 volumes, is
perfect. our catalogue would be much
more general"
How would you distribute it. to IL
braries?"
Either 10 libraries in exchange or
through members of congress, or pref
eraby | would have it sold at cost, as
the British museum does with it's cata-
logue. That would be something for
congress TO determine when ii author
lied the printing of the necessary vol
umes."
"Will the new library follow the plan
Of the surgeon generals library and
send books for reference to libraries in
other cities?'
THAT is n serious question" said Mr.
Spofford. The practice of sending
books by mail or express is growing all
the time The Boston Public library
does ii. SO do the state library at AL
bany and many others. Some Of them
not only exchange books. but send
books to individuals. So far as the IL
hrary of congress is concerned. the
practice is open TO many objections. 1t
Is TO be supposed that only rare books
would be wanted. and | would be en-
tirely opposed 10 letting rare books
leave the library because of the danger
of losing what could not be replaced.
There is the unavoidable danger OF fire.
and then there is the chance that a
man who was trusted by the library to
| which we sent the book would prove
recrcant OF course there is much TO
be said in favor OF the plan as aiding
la the dissemination of information.
But IL is possible TO establish a system
such as now exists in the Boston Pub
| lie library and some others. by which
student could obtain through persons
connected with the library at small cost
| information aud extracts from the
books here. This is something which
congress could authorize"
1T seems 20 me- | said. that the
! library's great misfortune Is the fact
that IL must go TO congress for every
/ little regulation concerning the Ii
| brary"
1T would he better" said Mr. Spot
ford "if congress would create board
of trustees like the regents OF the
Smithsonian institute. TO have three
members from the senate and three
/ from the house. like the joint commit
/ tee on library, and four members who
/ would be distinguished men from pri-
] vate life living In or near Washington.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

assistant librarian. occupying virtual
ly his old position in relation to the
books but freed from the anxieties OF
the librarys executive management.
One of Mr.. Spofford's reasons for ask
ing to be relieved of this responsibility
was that his life had been made bur-
den In the last two or three months by
the swarming applicants for office. Mr..
Spofford is the most accessible public
oficer in Washington. He sits at
desk in the old library room within
speech Of the most casual visitor. and
his work is interrupted constantly by
persons who seek Information. When
he wants TO hold a conference with any
one, he goes into one OF the alcoves
opening off the main room of the libra
ry, but even there he is in full view and
easy call As sat talking With him a
few days ago young colored girl, hold
ing volume of the Encyclopedia Bril-
tannica opened the wicket and inter-
rupted me TO ask where she could find
the text of the British navigation law.
60 down 10 the law library" said
Mr.. Spofford. "and you will find itthere.
The date is lS46. None of these books
has the complete text"
He answered promptly without a visit
BILE effort 10 recall the reference, for Mr..
Spoffprd is the most complete catalogue
not only OF the books in the library
but of their contents in detail.
Librarians are put through an edu-
catonal course nowadays. Men and
women take the librarians degree now
as they take a degree In medicine or
philosophy. but Mr.. Spofford, who
stands at the head of the profession.
had no specific training for the work.
II was bookseller for 10 years be-
fore i entered the library" he said.
my chief occupation was the coll
lection OF scientific works. The study
of catalogues was my daily occu-
patton. In that way | became ia
niliar with books before ! entered
library. But I had had no library ex-
perience before 1861, when / was made
assistant librarian here. Three years
later Abraham Lincoln made me libra
vian in chief. i held that position until
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
Mr.. AinsWorth z. SpOffOrd Tells Of
Public Libraries and the Duties
and Trials of the Librarian OF
COn6reSS.

which have been added to the library
since | came here almost every one has
passed through my hands l have made
a point of going over the invoices OF
books purchased and the copyright list
every day, and ! know pretty well the
contents of the library shelves"
1t is well for those who consult the
I library that Mr.. Spofford has so re-
tentive a memory. for there is no sub
ject catalogue of the library books,
only a catalogue by authors.
when we have catalogues Of book
sales, and we receive them from all
parts Of the earth" said Mr.. Spofford,
II go over them and check off the
books which think we need and which
think we have not. Then one of my
assistants takes the list and consults
our catalogue 10 see if we have the
books. He very seldom finds that am
wrong"
The books which are bought for the
library every year represent the small
or part of its acquisitions. but some
times the most important. Congress
does not allow very much for the pur-
chase OF books.
some libraries" said Mr.. Spofford,
"have $4,000 n year for books. We
have never had more than $4,000 and
that was cut TO Sl1 600 under Mr.. Ran
dali on the plea that we had no room
for any more books" With a sweep OF
his hand Mr.. Spofford indicated the
aisles piled high with pamphlets and
books covered with dust of many years
accumulation But now they cannot
give that reason for cutting us down.
have been preparing list OF books
which we should have. in the hope that
when we move into the new building
congress will appropriate In a single
sum enough 20 make good the deficien-
cies. A great national library like this
should be as nearly perfect as possible
in Jurisprudence, political science,
economics and Americana. l think it
especially important that this library
should be equipped with everything
procurable in the line OF Americana
Some things. of course. we cannot OBJ
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

mo great library In the world has
a complete catalogue by subjects and
authors" said Mr.. Spofford. 'The Bes-
ton Athenaum has such a catalogue
1t was made by Mr.. Charles Cutter. Al
the time II was made the library had
100000 volumes. and the catalogue was
in five volumes. ] have formed no esti-
mate OF the number OF volumes we
would make. but the work would take
several years If we had the full force OF
cataloguers provided by congress-i7.
The reason the work has never been un-
dertaken before is that the demands OF
the copyright work have taken from the
catalogue work one after another OF the
clerks until very few were left. Under
the new law there will he a sufficient
force Of clerks in both departments"
Would you make the work as COM
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

quickly. II would give the practical
librarian the preference il he had had
only one years experience. The work
of the schools is valuable. but 1t is
wholly theoretical"
What should a librarian be?'
He should know the ancient and
most OF the modern languages so well
that he could open a book in any one
of them and read it. He should have a
comprehensive knowledge OF bibliogra-
ply, or the field of books as applied to
catalogue work. He should have a
good memory we'll trained and be fond
OF the work"
THAT means. many years OF pract-
cal experience in a library, does 1t
not?"
1T depends on the individual"
Take a man of quick intelligence
at the age OF 21 and put him in libra
ry. What would be his novitiate"
IF he knows the languages and has
an intellect that works like lightning
and applies himself very diligently.
/ should say he could be vastly useful
in two years. A man of less active in
telligence would be longer in appren-
ticeship. There are men of genius and
men OF talent. The men of talent are
the plodders. They are very useful,
but they are slow in finding their
places"
Mr. Spofford has had many applica-
tions for places from men who are now
employed i'm libraries elsewhere. All
of these he has referred 10 the new IL
brarian.
Surely no man having a pride in the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

The plan was abandoned two years ago
after a five years trial. and l feel safe
in saying that 1t will never be re-
adopted"
AS have said. Mr.. Spofford's life has
been burdened with requests for APP
pointments in the new library.
Some days receive DIS many as ib."
he said. They come so fast that 1
ceased long ago keeping a record Of
their number. In addition to the appli-
cations which come by mail. / have
many made to me by members of con-
gress, and a great many applicants
have made personal appeals to me.
| They would come TO my house to seek
| interviews with me, often at unseason-
able hours, and they pursued me with
| pitiful appeals and stories of their
needs. There are three reasons for this
raid on the library. think. The first
is the great publicity given to the COM
| pletion of the beautiful new building
| which the library is TO occupy. Many
| feel that they would like to identify
| themselves with It, The second is the
very general belief that q position in a
| library is an easy job and one peculiar
ly suited 10 a man who feels that his
future lies in the .howery paths of liter
ature. Men who have taste for read
ing think that they can gratify II in the
library If they are employed there. This
is mistaken idea. The librarians po-
slton is not an easy one. The man
employed in library work must be en-
gagged on the catalogue. and that Is
thoroughly mechanical work, or in the
copyright division. where the work is
clerical, or in the issue OF books for
reference, and that is hard work and
mechanical work, though, like the 9TH
ers, it requires intelligence as well as
application. The men in this library
work from to 4. and their work is
harder than that of the clerks In the
departments AS for reading, the last
thing a librarian does is TO open a book
during office hours. j never read while
the library Is open. The third reason
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
OLDEST LIBRARY IN AMERICA.
oks like a veritable fortress Of

learning. The windows look not unlike
portfolios, and one might easily imag-
inc cannon protruding from the mass
i've walls shotted with printed pages
instead of iron and ready TO fill the
whole world with huge chunks OF WIS
dom. But IT'S mission is of peace not
of war. The names engraved in the
solid granite are the great names III
literature the arts and the sciences
This library IL the one public building
in the country which the architects
have designed as a whole. There was a
lively competition among architects Tor
the prizes offered by the city for SUIT
able plans.
The original appropriation on S65o-
900 was increased to $1l66,O0O and theh
TO $2,21S, sos. exclusive OF the furnlsh-
ings. The architects were given apso-
lutte control OF the building, ana they
alone determined the quality ana Color
OF every bit OF masonry and irescolng'
As a result Of this system Boston mas
building which Is absolutely hafmo-
nious in every detail.
Chicago has recently erected q mag
niflcent building for its public library
The building cost over 81. .250,OO0 ana - ln
every way worthy OF the great city In
which IL stands.
The Chicago university has a library
Of $50. 600 volumes. The Newberry H-
brary. on the North Side near Lincoln
park has 10000 volumes. ClnciHHTVTs'
Philadelphia and the other large cities
throughout the country are well equip
ped. and. despite the fact that we are
such n hustling. money making nation.
there are n great many people I'M oGc
heterogeneous population who find time
to read and use tho books thus provid-
ed. as Is well attested by the reports
got out by the different iih'arioS
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
INTERVIEW WITH A FAMOUS BIBLIOPHILE.

administration which leads many men
To think that there is going 10 be a
change In the working force of the gov
ernment.
II had one protection against the
army OF ignorant, incompetent men and
women who besleged my office. The
act Of congress authorizes the librarian
TO employ men who are especially quail
fled for the work. l take IL that that
means men who have had experience
in library work or who are graduates
of one OF the four training institutions
for librarians.
There are training schools con-
nected with the state library at AL
bany, the Pratt institute I'm Brooklyn
and the Drexel institute. Philadelphia.
Each OF them has three year course
Strange to say. most OF their gradu-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

ates are women. and women form a
great part of the applicants for ap-
pointment in the new library. We have
several women employed here now.
The first was appointed only few
years ago. They are engaged on pure
ly clerical work and they do 1t very
we'll"
Would you give preference TO the
three year student of one Of the train
ing schools or to a man with two years
experience in library" 1 asked.
ITO the latter" said Mr.. Spofford
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

brary open in the evening" said Mr..
Spofford. because we had no means OF
lighting II. A great many times / have
urged the necessity of introducing gas
here, but congress has always hesitated
because Of the cost, some $4,000, and in
recent years the fact that the new Ii
brary was being constructed made II
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

seem unnecessary. We have never had
a means OF lighting this library at
night. except as we brought a protected
kerosene lamp here. To close the IL
brary In the evening Is a great hardship
to- the many thousand clerks who have
no other time 10 avail themselves of its
riches. | am also in favor Of opening
the library on Sunday or at least for
half OF Sunday. All of this. OF course.
would have to be done by granting ad-
ditional compensation 10 the library
clerks for the extra hours OF work. We
would have TO use our regular force.
because IL would not be practicable TO
run the library at any time with mex
perienced men,"
"win the library be library of is
sueP'
mo. IL Will be a reference library
only except as now provided. and con-
gress may see ft to restrict the issue
of books even more than at present.
We issue books now 60 the president
the vice president. members of the SEN
ate and house. the heads Of the depart
ments. tho judges Of all the courts the
secretary OF the senate and the clerk OF
tho house. We tried the experiment OF
issuing books under an old bylaw which
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

who would be appointed for term of
years and confirmed by the senate.
This commission would have a greater
degree OF permanence than the joint
committee, which changes from one
congress TO another"
Mr.. Spofford spoke OF another ques-
tion which congress will have to con-
slider. There Is great pressure now
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

gists OF Europe and America. and mod
els OF Il are now on exhibition in the
museums Of London. Paris and Berlin.
The fort. which covers about 100 acres
and iS7 acres outside OF the walls. Is
now the property OF the state, part hav-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

the valley Of the Little Miami river.
near Lebanon. Warren county. O.. is
believed 10 be the largest best pre-
served and most interesting work OF
the mound builders. IL has been visit
ed and studied by leading archRolo-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

discretion on deposit of a sum equal TO
each books value, but there were Pc
culiar objections TO the system here.
There is such a cosmopolitan gathering
of people in this city and such lax ideas
concerning the governments property
rights that II was with much difficulty
we recovered the books we had lent
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

cries have been made or are now likely
Co be made. a decrease i'm the pressure
was first noticeable in 1895. and u is
still diminishing.
Fort Ancient which, is picturesquely
situated on the high bluffs overlooking
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

ing been purchased in 1890 and the re-
mainder In 1896
The Imperial library Of ST. Peters
burg is the third largest i'm the world
and now claims to- uossess 1000. 900
printed volumcs.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
ODDS AND ENDS.

ture. The territory that now produces
natural gas includes a region OF about
$500 square miles. and no new discov-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24
copyright. 1871

- " vASHINGTON, July "a
NJ To the thousands OF peo-
INV" pie in every part of the
sTwWA United States who have
Nh business with the library
@M -<9of congress IL win seem
strange 10 receive letters
and notices with the signature OF John
Russell Young instead of the "A. r.
Spofford" which has been familiar to
them for so many years. On the LIST
Of July Mr.. Spofford retired from his
position as librarian after rounding out
36 years OF service. and today he is the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

The report Of the state geologist OF
Indiana for the last year predicts the
failure OF natural gas In the near fu-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

"In history. II Is especially dercien'
I'm the earlier historic works OF othe'
countries. Fortunately We secured some
years ago a full set OF the county his
tories Of England and Ireland Almost
all American geneology can be traced
To them"
Another plan Mr. Sponord has had in
view for the new library rs the Cata-
logulng Of its contents by subjects.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

tain. but we should make the collec-
tion as nearly perfect as possible"
In what department. is the library
woakestY
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-24

Jury 1. II is a long time to have been
in one place"
"How large was the collection OF
books when you came here?'
Seventy thousand volumes"
And now?"
"1t is $4,000 volumes"
"And you are familiar with all these
oooks7"
Il may say that Of the 900 books
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-08


starch" A severe blow was dealt
the reform in a recent decision Of the
court OF appeals of that state, in which
one of the judges expressed the opinion
that the constitutional provision should
be literally construed so as not to of
fend the people," and thereby endanger
the whole system. In striking and
pleasantly surprising contrast to the
New York efforts of Republicans to
eviscerate the reform is the statement
of Mayor Harrison, of Chicago, who
was expected to aid in It's overthrow in
that city, that hel would strictly en-
force the law Washington dispatches
inform us that Pension Commissioner
Evans is slaughterng the chiefs of di-
vision in his ibur@au at a furious rate
where the uhforA1nates happen to be
Democrats, hoping to be able to select
Republicans from the list of eligibles
or by promotion of subordinates The
fight is now to hold what has been Sc
cured against assaults that would de-
stroy the whole system, made by it's
hypocritical friends.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-08
FARM HOUSE TRAGEDY.
What May Prove to Be a Quadruple
Murder Committed.

MILWAUKEE,, May What may prove
triple or even a quadruple murder was com
m:tted early this morning on the farm OF
Alexander Harris, of the town OF Waukesha:
The victims were Mr.. Harris, who was killed
outright; Mrs. Harris, who was seriously
hurt, but may recover, and Nelson McHolt,
hired man. and Helen Desbach. servant girl.
both fatally wounded. The bloody work was
done by William Pouch, former employe
of Mr.. Harris.
Early last evening, William Pouch, who had
worked for Harris about two years ago, called
at the house and requested lodging over
night. He was taken in, given supper and
assigned a room.
About O'Clock Mr.. Harris and the hired
man arose and went to the yard to milk the
cows, Mrs. Harris and the hired girl re-
naming to prepare breakfast for the fam
lily. Pouch left his room quietly, and, going
to the yard where the men were milking the
cows. babe them good morning. Harris and
the hired man were sitting on stools near
each other, and before they were aware OF
fired at the farmer killing him almost in
stantly. The murderer then turned the
weapon en- the hired man and shot him in
the body, inflieting a probably fatal wound.
The man fell motionless on the ground, and
Pouch evidently supposed him dead also The
terrible sight did not unnerve the demon, for
he left his victims where they fell, and
walked hurriedy to the kitchen of the farm
hired girl, and chatted pleasantly with them
for few minutes. He sst; Mr. Harris would
not be in for a few minutes, and that he
would partake of his breakfast at once. The
women waited upon the murderer, who
seemed to relish the meal.
After concluding his breakfast, Pouch arose
from the table and started to walk toward
the door but suddenly wheeled around, and
before the women realized what was about
to happen, he shot Mrs Harris in the breast
and then fired at The hired girl.
After finishing his bloody work, the muir
derer mounted bicycle and rode away. He
started in a southwesterly direction over the
Mukwonago road, and the supposition is that
he headed for Burlington
The supDosition of the authorities is that
the man is either insane or that he committed
the terrible deed in order to hide evidence Of
another crime. The manner in which the
murders were committed showed plainly that
he had been deliberate in arranging his plans,
and had carried them out to the letter.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-08
WHICH ARE "THE, INDUSTRIES

1t is not often that We have the pleas
ure of agreeing with our estimable
contemporary, the New York Sun. but
in its Characterization of the Dingley
bill as "a Bill with IN Honest Face"
we admit a concord of opinion. -
frankly avows it's purpose in it's title
and thereby distinguishes itself from
every revenue bill preceding it back
to that introduced in the First congress-
1t says that it is ga bill 10 provide rev.
enue for the government and to en-
courage the industries of the United
States" 1t is the first time in which
our modern protectionists have hal the
candor to make their tariff bill an
nounce distinctively its purpose to "en-
courage" and in this respect # SIR
passes Mr.. McKinley's bill, viii y! the
New York Tribune characterized as
''the best and bravest tariff bill ever
enacted" 1t is to be regretted how
ever, that the bill so couples a legiti-
mate with an illegitimate use of DOW
er that the constitutionality of the lat
ter cannot be raised for judicial de-
termination, for no court would as
sumo to distinguish between the taxes
imposed for revenue and those laid for
protection.
But when one reads the second dec
laration of purpose, in connection
with the industries that are specifcal-
ly encouraged in the BILL the nues-
ton Immediately occurs what are the
industries of the United States? 1t is
a familiar. rule of law that the inclll-
sion of class is an exclusion of all
others, and applying the rule to the
bill and it's title it follows that all Tic Sc
occupations of the citizens Of the Unit