The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-20
A GREAT LIBRARY.
Method Used by the British Museum
in the Buying of hooks.
From Nc London Daily News.

From the London Daily News.
DR.. Garrett, who some time since retired
from his office as keeper of books in the
British Museum, whoch he had held for
nearly fifty years, gave an interesting in
terview 10 the Daily News:
How do you keep yourself Informed as
to the books that are in the market?"
asked.
I'VE have catalogues from all parts
which we are always perusing. If we
see a good thing. we bid for it, just as the
public might"
And you speud-?"
well, Panlzzi used to have 10000 a
year. My allowance has been a little less"
IA is not so great; you buy many for
eign books?"
Yes; we always think it our duty not to
miss any important book or subject For
example, we have just ordered a collection
of Dreyfus volumes"
Can you give me an example of lucky
purchaser"
"Oh, yes-let me see-we bid in the open
market for some volumes which Colerdge
had nnotated-extremely vauable-got
them cheap"
The ring didn't run you up?'
Il suppose they didn't know their value -
knowledge is power, indeed. Then, Dr.
Garnet, you have gifts, l presume?"
"Certainly-let me think-well-Mr Pal
grave gave us quite priceless treasure
Il was tiny volume containing the first
two Idylls of the King which Tennyson
had privately printed. few copies only
He sent these to a few friends begging
for criticisms. These were so severe that
he got them back and des troyed them
keeping this single volume, in which he
has pOta1 "a II fe -
very interesting to compare the two YER
slous."
Can you give me another instance OF
booR you have bought?"
YES; consider one of our treasures is
copy of a History or the Campaign of
1900 which Col Emmett lent to Napoleon
al st. Helena. Napoleon annotated this
extensively in pencil After he died, En-
nett, fearing that the pencil marks might
be defaced traced them in ink This / got
for the trihing sum of twelve guIneas."
surely, it was worth more. 1 hope the
British Museum does not play tricks"
II think we may say that we always
deal most honorably with our customers.
No-the family thought that the volume
should come to the museum"
He then glanced off TO the cataracts Of
books which the presses of the day are pro-
ducing, copies of which must be deposited
with the keeper
May 1 ask how you keep your eye on
the publishers"
'Oh, We have a copyright department,
which is always on the lookout. But l don't
think we miss much"
Would IL be impertinent TO ask if you
think II necessary for the British Museum
TO give home to carloads of trashy now
els?"
DR. Garnetts genial couutenance smiles
all over; his eyes CLEAN through his spec
tacles; his cheeks are all wrinkles He
answers in beningn accents: DO you
know, ] don't think it is ever wise to give
a librarian. any Librarian, the right of cx-
clusion You never know"
l pushed further, for DR.. Garnett wa
chuckling, doubtless rowing in imagination
over the tribe of librarians he had known.
each with crank, a crotchet. lie must
be right. He gave me some facts.
Cambridge excluded Wordsworth's 1cx-
cursion' and SCOTS Guy Mannering'
Bodloy-who founded the Bodleian-said h,
would have no trumpery plays"