The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-17
A PUBLIC EDUCATOR.
Story of Boston's Great Library, Now Second
in America.


Story of Boston's Great Library, Now Second
In America.
The Boston Public Library is the best illus.
tration Of vast library, going back to the
smallest beginnings. Although the subject of
library was agitated some years earlier it
was not until 1S41, when Alexander Waite
mare, founder of the system of international
exchanges, after visit to this country sent
back so volumes as gift from Paris to Boston,
that the future center of American culture mad
even the nucleus of library. And it was 10
years longer, so slow IS pubiic sentiment III
reaching point of action, that public library
was dedicated in building on Boylston street.
By this time the so volumes sent over by
Vattemare had reached the number of 10000
volumes and in response to suggestion OF
Edward Everett made on dedication day, that
every person present donate one volume, the
number was increased to n, 500. This was IN
1858, in the golden age OF American literature
when Emerson, Longfellow, Hawthorne. Low.
ell. Holmes and Whittier in beles-lettres;
Ticknor Motley, Prescott, Parkman, and Pal
frey in scholarship and history Story. Green
leaf, and Parsons in Jurisprudence. ana "eo-
ster' Winthrop, Everett. and Phillips in ora
tory made the name Of Boston synonym nous
with the United States in the history OF intel
lcctual progress.
For nearly 40 years the Boston Public Lii
brary has been as much a department OF the
pubIic service as the FIRE department., the
police or the water works. Besides building
and eauipping the present magnihcent lnstitu-
ton the city main tsins II branch Libraries IN
the suburban towns, and maintains reference
libraries for supplementary reading, in con-
nection with the public schools. In lts numoef
of books it ranks as follows:
The National Library. Paris, tho largest IL
brary in the world. 100000 volumes; the
IMPERIAL Library, st. Petersburg 1.7S7,OO0 vol
umes: tho British Museum, ,000,60 volumes;
the University of Strasburg and the National
Library at Washington, 100000 volumes; the
Boston Public Library. 100000 volumes. The
new building is the glory OF Copiey square,
and dominates, by its classic grandeur, SUCH
picturesque buildings surrounding it as the
Museum of Fine Arts, Trinity Church. and
the new OLD South Church. and is lifting
depository for the treasures it contains.
| The Boston Library was begun in 1883, and
was occupied in 1895, and cost s., 1853 600. 1t IS
| built of gray Massachusetts granite, in the
style of the Renaissance. or revived Gr@co'
Roman architecture, its immediate model be-
| ing the Bibliothcque st. Geneviere of Paris.
| 1t is 225 feet long and 227 feet deep, and its
| hight from the sidewalk to the top OF the
| cornice is 20 feet. The lower story Is OF
| rusticated masonry, the upper arcaded. the
| front with l3 superb windows. On rich
| cornice, meeting the purple tiled roof, are tho
words: HuDIlC LlOIaTy VI tuo Niey W
Boston. Built by the People and Dedicated
to the Advancement of Learning, A. D..
! WORCESTERSHIRE"
| There are arches on either side OF the build
ing making 80 in all. The lower portion Of each
arch, except the three Immediately in 'front.',
are filled with memorial tablets inscribed with
the names of the greatest writers, artists,
scientists and musicians of all ages, from
Moses and Confuscius down. Tho three CEN
trail arches are occupied with the library seal
| in the center and the seal of Massachusetts on
one side and the seal Of the City of Boston on
| the other.
The inscription on one side Of the library
building is significant reading: 1.-The Com
mon wealth Requires the Education OF the
People as the Safeguard OF Order and Liberty
| The interior of the library is imposing with Its
vast marble arches and floors, magnificent
stairway of yellow Sienna marble. aud walls
and ceilings frescoed and adorned in the
highest style of decorative art. The walls Of
the delivery room elfin series Of paintings the
whole story of the "Quest of the Holy Grail,
the old Teutonic legend, immortalized by
Tennyson in poetry and Wagner in dramatic
! music.