Evening star., 1898-12-10


readers and the issuance of books begun.
An important feature OF the educational
life of the capital city will then be in active
operation.
The work of registering the valuable vol
umes will be started Monday morning. This
and the catalnguing will require two weeks
or more; and until complete the library will
remain closed. The building has been fitted
up handsomely, and when the book shelves
are all arranged everything will be in rcadi
ness for the formal opening.
The Pollok Collection.
Books have been arriving in large num-
bers during the past few days. Today Mr..
Flint is busily engaged In taking an in
ventory of the Anthony Pollok collection,
one of the valuable accessions to the library.
Mr.. PollOk's books are all richly bound and
the collection includes some of the best
editions eXtant of the standard works. The
collection of French works is very nne, in
deed, all the volumes being printed in the
language of the authors, and bound in
the best morocco, leather or pigskin. Mr..
Pollok appreciated the English authors
well, and his library included the best
works of each His book-pIate, of simple
design, with the monogram "A. p" in the
center, appears in each volume.
While all Of the books have not been un-
packed, and it is not known what the many
cases may contain, enough have been in
spected to evidence the value of the cOllec
ton. Among the most interesting volumes
so far shelVed is q set in full morocco bind
ing of Thiers History of the French Revo-
luton. a quaint set are the volumes of
the Due de Sully's Memoirs of Henri Ie
Grand, which We're published in 1I25 and
came into Mr.. Pollok's possession from the
library Of the Earl Waldegrave. One Of the
interesting individual volumes is a transla-
ton of Gulivers Travels in the French,
richly illustrated.
Other of the finer sets of works in the
collection are several volumes of the Let
tiers of Marie Stuart" by Prince LabanOff;
a handsomely bound old style print of John
Seldens Titles of Honor" Plutarch's
Lives and the works of all the standard and
popular French authors including Guy de
Maupassan and many others. About one
half of the books of the Pollok collection
has been unpacked.
New Volumes.
Perhaps the most popular books in the
public library will be found in the co!lec-
tion of new volumes. purchased by the Off
ciaIs Of the institution after careful study.
The selection shows wide knowledge and
wise judgment on the part of those in
terested in the buying. The collection of
new books brings the library directly up to
date. This will be appreciated when one
observes on the shelves a complete history
OF the War With Spain, the war of 1895.
y companion book is The Nations Navy"
and both are by Morris, quite weil-known
student of contemporary history.
Perhaps the most worthy books In the
new collection, however, are & number of
series of works. one series of forty vol
umes gives the lives of the grea ~riters
another series of like proportions deals
with contemporary science. Other series,
ranging from fifty down to fifteen volumes,
tell the Story of the Nations" laud THE
Heroes n bp NaTiOnS' q
biography of English men of letters
An important department of the library
will be the bound periodical room, where
magazines of ancient date may be found
and referred to.
The Book Plate.
The book plate Of the new library has
been designed and engraved As will be
seen from the reproduction. it is original in
conception and detail and is one of the
handsomest book plates in use by any in
stitution or Individual in the country The
plate shown in the cut is known as the
presentation plate, and will mark those
volumes given To the library. plate of
like design, with the space for the donors
name eliminated, will be prepared for the
other volumes.
The plate was drawn by Miss Blanche V.
King, IL well-known young artist of this
city. the idea being suggested by Mr.. John
Il. i4arner. chairman OF the committee hay-
ing the selection Of Il book plate in charge
1t was engraved on stcei by the NeaIe Com
pany.
The plate represents Liberty, seated, an
interested listener to Literature. standing
with pen in hand. In the background Is
seen the Washington monument, dis
tinctive feature of the capital city. The
rising sun is typical OF the new institution
In the lower right-hand corner of the de-
sign will be observed the coat-of-arms of
the District of Columbia on shield. This
seal is described AS follows:
The device to the left of the figure. look
ing at its face. appears to be n sunrise and
a train of cars on bridge over a stream
leading from a larger body of water in the
foreground Back of the eagles wing is
barrel on its side. a sheaf of wheat, an
other barrel on end and two bags of grain.
To the right from the same point of view,
Is the Capitol, with the Potomac river in
the background, and the heights on the
right bank Of the river on the horizon.
The legend on the scroll is "Justitia Omnf-
bus" The date within the wreath is 1871,
and the letters on the side of the book in
the arms Of the female figure are those of
the word Constitution" arranged in three
| lines of four letters each. The left-hand
| Of the male figure rests on the fasces rep
resenting the union Of the states, and his
| right hand on a sword.
| Tree Ornaments. Jay Gould.-Advt.