Evening star., 1898-06-18
Its Growth Recalled by Sir Edward
Bonds Death.
CAREER OF TEE Late LIBRARIAN
CarIyIe's Bitter Quarrel With
Panizzi.
IRVING'S IMPRESS SSIONS
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
There las just passed away in Europe a
librarian whose career affords an extraordi-
nary example of possibilities under mon
archical institutions, of asceEdancy from a
very humble to exalted position. Sir
Edward Bond, who received only the day
before his death the coveted title of K c.
B., served the British Museum for period
of ever fifty years, the last ten Of which
he presided over its destinies the princi-
pal librarian. In 1893. at the age of seven
teen, he began his apprenticeship in the
government service assistant in the
public record Office, then under the charge
of Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy, name
familiar to all students Of English docu-
mt ntary history.
In 1887, at the age of twenty-one, young
Bond entered on his duties at the British
Museum as an assistant in the department
of manuscripts In this department. cata-
loguing and arranging manuscripts. he
labored Tot less than forty years, rising
by slow promotion to be the keeper Of
manuscripts, and in 1878 he acceded to the
! post of chief librarian.
During Sir Edward Bonds fifty years
connection with the library vast changes
were wrought in the institution. An ad-
mirable picture of the changed conditions
from about the period of Mr.. Bonds first
association with the library to recent times
is afforded by "Espinasse's Literary Recol-
iections. published in 1888.
The Museum Fifty Years Ago.
Fifty years ago." he says, 'it was still
Montague house-an extensive red brick
mansion, fronted by high brick wall.
through an aperture in which intending
visitors passed by French-looking lodge
and were surveyed by the obesest of por-
ters who might have been evolved from the
fat how In iclyx yipl ntap
has disappeared, and it is needless to say
what different aspect the frontage now
presents, with its gilt raiings, Ionic col
umns and other stately Greek architecture.
Numerous and important changes have
been made since 1S43 in the structural al
terations and expansions of the library,
but the greatest of them all is the ransfor
nation of the grass plat which was inclosed
by the four wings of Montague house.
What was then grassy quadrangle has
since been covered by the most magnti-
cent of reading rooms, peopled from morn
to dewy eve by hundreds of students au-
thors. compilers. journalists of both sexes
and Of many ages, in quest of information
Of every kind, from that pertaining to the
remotest antiquity down to unknown
or uncertain address discoverable in the
post office London directory, which is not
the least sedulously consulted of the thous-
ands or volumes accessible on the shelves
Of the reading room itself"
The author here presents a picture readily
paraile!ed in our new library. He does not
record many humorous incidents which
came to his observation. but one which is
perhaps characteristic will bear repeating.
He gives the story secondhand. A friend
relates that he was searching in the cata-
logue for the editio princeps of an obscure
work of Petrarch. He says: Besides me
was lady engaged in a different quest.
as II proved. She was evidently perpIexed
while she turned over. with a look of weary
disappointment, one of those catalogue VOL
umes devoted to periodical publications,
which are rather puzz!ing to the uninitiat-
eO. with my usual gallantry l offered the
lady my aid, and on this being accepted |
asked her the precise object of her search
on. was the reply. I want to find Brad
shaw l am going to Exeter this after
noon, and 1 wish to know the hour at
which my train starts
In those who know something of library
work TINS will awaken responsive thrill
"hen they recall some similar experience
with the earnest but misguided searcher
But the most curious instance Of eccentric
reading was that ot a library habitue who
laboriousiy, but persistently, devoUred the
encyclopedia Britannica from the beginning
OF to the end of Il, and upon the conclu-
SIGN OF this gigantic work lamented being
at a loss for what to read next After
much meditation he found solace in the
pages of Mrs Southworth.''
Growth of the Institution.
The material concition of the library of
the British Museum having been greatly
were rot allowed to lag. The devoted
labors of Cary. Panizzi Jones and Bond
rot only augmented the collection of books
but brought it from mere store house of
ill-asSorted literature into a Symmetrical
Ceuy CT pest writings of all lands and
tongues. provided with a thorough cata-
logue of its treasures The printing of
that monument of bibliographicaI lore. the
British Museum catalogue, is in a great
n easure due to the efforts of Sir Edward
Bond after his assumption of the principal
litrariapship. II no other service had been
performed by him, this boon to biblio.
graphers would entitle Mr. Bond to i'm
mortal fame as those who have used
library unprovided with Thorough cata-
logue will painfully recognize
HCweVer grave and awe-inspiring such
an institution the British Museum is to
the rious, there is always some humorous
feature within its Precincts which comes
TO the light now and then for the deiecta-
ton OF the unreSenerat ate Espinasse who
was an assistant in the compilation of tie
catalogue. relates that Panizzi. having
quarreled with Sir Francis Pograve found
oo Ca sion to irritate the latter by having all
his books catalogued Under Cohen the pa
t1cbymic which Polgrave abandoned on be-
coming a Christian. and which he wished
tn have committed to oblivion
Panizzi compiled ninety-nine rules fo~
cataiogulng which he insisted upon having
siavishiy followed. carrying his system so
far as to cause Scott's Waverly to be cat
aiogred under the title because 1t was orig
irally issued anonymously. But the most
perverse case of his close classification
vas the placing of Millions "Comus' under
Ludlow Castle" the excuse being that
fere the masQue was first performed
rms goes to show that any system of
catalosuing, close or expansive" ought to
leave loopilole for common sense and use
full ess. During Espirasse's term there
found his way into the service of the Brit
fsh Museum an ex-attcrney's clerk, who by
some influence gained a position of power
which, after the mar ner of small minds
he exercised to the EXTREMIST extent over
his sIbOrdnates. 1t is related that several
of his underlings laboring under the notion