Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-09

attendants in congressional reference IL
brary at the Capitol. Nothing can be done
toward this until Congress determines the
uses to which the rooms in the Capitol
heretofore occupied by the library shall be
applied. Those attendants nominated under
the act have been employed in the removal
OF me books to the new library and their
classlhcaton. While under the discretion
granted by the act, the librarian might
nave eliminated out of our general re-
sources working reference library, it was
feared that this would have been ques-
tfonable anticipation of the wishes of that
body.
Rules to govern the proposed congress
sional library should be considered a
part of the library administration. If it is
to be for the uses of Congress alone, it
would be inconvenient to make another rule
for the law library. This might be hard
ship to the students of law. The Capitol
however. being in pneumatic communica-
ton, the student reading in the general Ii
brary could have the law books sent from
the Capitol.
The Toner Collection.
THE collection Of the late DR.. Toner,
which, by law, became a distinct but in
tegral part of the library. is in course of
classification. DR.. Toner gave many years
of his life and painstaking zeal in gather
ing this together. AS collection it is origi-
nal and valuable. There are 1884 books,
pound and unbound, besides large num-
Der in the law department. OF PAMPHLETS
and periodicals. there are about 25OO0, al
though, as they are principally III bags and
boxes, an estimate can only be given.
Inc value of the Toner collection may be
understood by this analysis of its contents:
Religion. 500: Jurisprudence, so; philosophy
and morals, 100: political science, $50: mil
ltary and naval science, $50; natural sci
ences. 300: medicine, surgery and hygiene,
1000: industrial arts, 200: general history,
2oO0: American history, 100: local histories
1000: biographical. 1900: geography and
travel. $50; literature in prose, 1000; litera-
ture in poetry, 200; language, encyclo-
paedias, 800: education, 1850: photography,
100: statistics. 80: periodicals, 200: miscel-
laneous, 1.5uO: Washingtoniana, 2,7S4. Total,
"a. 4S4
THE unbound pamphlets and periodicals
chiefly relate to medicine, history and biog-
raphy There about 800 maps and
charts. There are in packages nearly
million OF newspaper clippings, and at least
$4,000 upon miscellaneous themes adjust ed
upon foos of uniform size, clippings of
biography from various sources, arranged
in alphabetical order in three large cases
convenient for reference.
THE manuscripts in the Toner collection
chiefly refer to Washington, biography and
medicine. The Washington department is
especially valuable. 1t was the aim of Dr.
Toner 10 copy every known writing of
Washington. This was done with literal
eXactness from the original manuscripts
and annotated as to time and place by the
doctor. These manuscripts, arranged care
fully and chronologically, cover Washing
tons life from his fifteenth year until that
of his death. 1t was gathered by the doc
tor at large expense. and should be re-
garded as among the most notable con-
tr1but1ons to any public library-the most
complete collection of Washington's writ
insS in existence.
I'VE have. in addition, thirty-six bound
volumes OF Washingtons diary from Janu-
airy, 100, to December. 179s, copied like
wise from the original with exactness In
ADDITION there are sixteen copy books con-
tanning copies of Washington's account
books, memoranda and surveys The
Toner collection will have a place near the
manuscript department and contiguous to
the WaShlngtoniana, and, as soon as the
exigencies of the library service permit.
be more completely classified and cata-
logued.
The Neutrality-suspicious..
1.-THE number of volumes in what is
known as the Washingtoniana collection
comprises 2,62S bound and 2,495 unbound
volumes. The books referring especially to
General Washington may be divided as fol-
lows: Biography, POS; Washingtons writ
ings, o6s; eulogies. 247; portraits and mon
uments, ~; ancestry and kinsmen, co; mis-
cellaneouS, 1927.
There are 1861 volumes pertaining to
washington city and the District of Co
lumbia There are in the general collection
many oupASdtSS VI certain w dSnlngtOliana
books, and many that do not appear in the
Toner library. This collection will be care
FULLY guarded, as many Of the euloeies and
early biographies are valuable and could
difficulty.
we have shown that as the result MAIN
~ OF copyright deposits library may be
strong In American literature, but not in
broader INES or research. The tendency
OF private muniticence. of state, local and
personal pride has been toward the endow-
ment OF local or college libraries The Ii
brary OF Congress has not been for years
IN condltion to welcome private bene-
1actlons. That Limitation has passed away.
Inc history of the National Library of
England, now part of the British Muse
um f. Is instructive. Beginning with the
which had gradually been collected bv The
Engilsh soVereigns from Henry VII To
William Ill, the British Museum has been
IN constant receipt of benefactions. George
Ne ~ gave me unrivaled collection Of the DO
iitieal literature of the civil wars; Garrick
endowed 1t with his collection of nlavs.
George Nv presented his fathers mapnifi
cent library, and the story of it's growth 10
nr"nria ply ,isate huhlncence and ample ap-
iatlons from the public eXcheauer
An Endowment Needed.
Whatever Congress may do in the vav
Oh appropriations, little more could be ex
pected hitherto than that we should keen
and other lands-more especially that of
the great continental nations We NAV in
dulge in the hope that the public shirt of
Amerlca-now that Congress has done So
noble part-wll aid in the realization of
u worthy endowment. In the interest of
special research, for instance, what is more
important than what has been written bv
Goethe, in every known edition and trans
latlon, as Well as what has been written
about him? The same is true as regards
Dante, Shakespeare and the classical writ
ers. we have fine collection of Bibles
but complete set would have measureIess
value The hope is cherished that we NAV
soon have a copy of the Holy Scriptures in
every tongue into which they have been
translated. wv"
we may, in a measure approach this
consumr alton by a careful study of cata
lcgues, by exchange. by watching private
collections as they dissolve under the ham
mer and a prudent use Of the money an
propriated by Congress. The library shonId
be In position to take ADVANTAGE of
windfau. "
IT should keep in touch with the centers
of literature and thought. Invaluable aid
could be rendered by gentlemen in the dip
lcmatic and consular service. as we'll as
those who go to other lands to serve reli
gion or trade. One Of the best collections
of the British Museum was that of a Brit
ish consul at Hong Kong. namely, of 70
ON volumes of Chinese theoopv pootr,, 81