The times., 1899-12-03

The Library Of Congress approaches its
centenary. though it is said there is not
now q single book upon its shelves when
formed part Of the collection when it was
founded in the year 1860. This is due to
The torch of the English invader.
Herbert Putnam. Librarian Of Congress,
in the report which he already has under
consideration, will tell the whole story OF
the bibliothique in graphic form and the
work done during the last year in detail.
The report viii be submitted this month.
The custom OF transmitting the an
nual report OF the Librarian Of Congress
10 the President Of the Senate is one which
has been observed ever since the founding
Of the Library, at least from the time
when John Beckley. the first librarian Of
Congress, presented his first report IN 1s02
10 Aaron Burr, the third Vice President OF
the United States. The reason for the
presentation Of the report to the President
of the Senate is that the Library OF Con-
gress though IL is the library OF the whole
people and directly serves the whole coun-
t1y. was founded for the use of the mem
bers OF the Senate and House Of Represen-
tstives
The Library was founded at about the
TIME OF iuE removal o. LuE seat u TIC
American Government from Philadelphia
10 Washington. Al appropriation OF $4,000
was passed by Congress on April "A, 1900
The appropriation bill would probably
aeyer have been passed had il not been for
Thomas Jefferson. But the power Of
Thomas jefferson prevailed, and he has
been reyerently referred to by former Lii
brarian AinsWOrth r. SpOnord and the late
Librarian John Russell Young as the
-. ,,Fr Nha
forthcoming report of Librarian Putnam
viii state that the Library contains $780,,
600 volumes. exclusive OF duplicates, di-
vided into eighty broad classes; SO, 600
maps and charts; 50 600 volumes of period
icals and newspapers, a 600 manuscripts,
$4,000 prints.
The report of the first Librarian of Con
gress presented in April 1902, gave The
size OF the Library as follows: Folios, 2I2;
quartos. I64; oetayos, 81; duOdecimOs. Z;
maps, 9. The total is short OF 1000. This
small collection OF books was destroyed on
August "a 1914. when the English entered
Washington and burned the public build
ings.
Burning of the Capitol.
An old American writer in describing
The burning Of the Capitol, wrote as fol-
lows: The British first occupied the Capt.
tol. only two wings Of which We're finish
ed. and these were connected with a wood
en- pssssgeway erected where. The rotunda
now stands. The leading officers entered
The House Of Representatives, where Ad-
miral Cockburn. OF the royal navy, who
was cooperating with General Ross, seat
ing himself in the Speakers chair, called
The assemblsge TO order. Gentlemen
shouted Admiral Cockburn. the question
is. Shall this harbOr OF Yankee Democracy
be burned2 All in favor Of burning 1t will
say. Ave There was a general affirmative
response. But when the Admiral added,
Those opposed viii say, Nay, silence
Teigned for moment
Light Up, cried the bold Briton, and
The order was soon repeated in all parts Of
the building. while soldiers and sailors WED
with each other in collecting combusub' e
material for their incendiary fires. The
books on the shelves of the Library Of Con-
Eress were used as kindling for the north
wing and the much admired full length
portraits OF Louis XVI and his queen,
Marie Autoinette. which had been present
ed by that unfortunate monarch to Con-
gress. were torn from their frames and
trampled under foot. Patrick Magruder,
then clerk Of the House Of Representatives
and Librarian OF Congress, subsequently,
endeayoTed TO excuse himself from the
charge OF not having even attempted TO
save the books. but II was shown that the
books and papers in the departments were
saved and that the Library might have
been removed TO a place Of safety before
the arrival Of the British"
Vandalism Denounced.
The news Of The destruction of the Gov
crnment buildings and Of the burning OF
the books maddened the people Of the
United States. Jefferson heard the tidings
al Monticello and he denounced that van
dalism Of our enemy which has triumphed
1T Washington over science as well as the
arts by the destruction of the public Ii
brary as well as the noble edifiCe in which
Il was deposited. Jefferson then offered
TO sell his private library. compris ne
about seven thousand volumes. at a price
TO be put upon il by Congress. On Septem-
Der q 1914, Jefferson wrote 10 Samue
H. Smith publisher Of the National In
telligencer" at Washington. asking him L
bring his tender TO the attention of tht
Library Committee Of Congress. He added
in this letter that a valuation might be pu
upon the library by persons named by tbs
committee and he was willing to take pay
ment for il in annual iustallments, or IL
stock 0f any loans, existing or future, 81
as to spare the present calls Of our coun
try and await its days Of peace and pros
peTity-'
Mr Smith brought the letter and th'
catalogue 10 the attention Of the Librar!
Committee The Senate committee com
prised Messrs. G0ldsborougn, Tate, an,
Frcmentin, and the House COMMITTEES
8Iessrs. Seybert L0wndes and CASTOR. Tn,
committee presented a favorable report
The purchase was opposed by Daniel Web
ster. then a Representative from New
Hampshire: King, Pickering. Farrow. Can
r--s.=9-rr-.-- nlT-T oh.
Reade The bill was passed on January &
1915, by a vote of Il To 81, and was signei
by President Madison, January 30 1916
The books were packed in wagons at Mon
tieelIo and hauled 10 Washington in May
George Watterston had been appointed Ii
brarian and jefferson entered into cor
respOBdeHce with him respecting the meth
ods Of classification, explaining his Owl
method which he said was based upol
Lord Bacon's classification of humaI
knowledge. This classification forms. wit
slight notifications. the plan of arrange
neut OF the books ia the Library OF Con
gress today. Thus again did Thomas JET
feTson help TO found the great Library d
which America delights.
Progress Of The Library.
Fire destroyed S5. 600 volumes on Deccm
Der "a 1851. Since that time. the progres
OF the Library mas b-eA HAf4etAtd an
the forthcoming report Of Librarian Put
nam viii show a decided gain Ia the mum
ber OF books, maps, charts, periodical.
newspapers, pamphlets, and pieces Of mu
sic.
one oi the features which IL is presume
that Librarian Putnam viii touch upo
viii be the success OF the night opening.
The evening visitors are mainly student
and IL is said that the titles OF the book
they select show the serious aim OF III