Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-10-18
PLENrY or so = !. \

PLENrY OR BOOKS. d
\ ribrariss q -Four Nations With Kllislls.
~ sss OF volumea.
The British Museum situated N 0ns
Great Russell street. in London was
founded in 1853 It contains collec-
Itions Of antiquities. drawings, prints !
and library Of about two million
volumes. 5000 MSS. and 700 char lla
tiers. The Harleian MSS. purchased
In 1855, and the Royal Library. largely
taken from the monasteries by Henry
VIII, and $1,000 volumes given by
George III. and George w. raised the
library to a position Of great import
ance. The first great Egyptian acqui-
sition consists of the objects taken
with the French army In 1901. The
Assyrian, Babylonian and Greek col 5
1ectfons are undoubtedly the best sint
any contemporary museum. The.pre
ent building, finished in 1S47, is one,
Of the best structures OF the classic
/, revival" It was designed by Sir Rob-
ert Smirke, completed by his brother,
Sidney Smirke, and was commenced
very early in the nineteenth century.
About $4,000 volumes are added annu-i
ally. Modern publications in Britain
are added free of expense by receiving
gratis a copy of every book entered at
Stationer's Hall. La Bibliotheque Ma
tionale, the great French library. is
the largest in the world. 1t has been
called successfully La Bibliotheque du
Roi, Royale, Rationale and Imperiale.
The Bibliotheque du Roi was original.
ly in the Palais de Ia Cite, consisting
of the library Of King John. He be-
queathed 1t to Charles ". who re-
moved it and collected a library of $40
volumes In the Louvre. This was sold
to, the Duke of Bedford Louis XII.
partly repaired this loss and added the
first results of the new invention OF
printing. Louis XII. established 1t at
Blois, Incorporating it with the Or
leans library. The Gruthuyse collec-
ton was next added to 1T. Francis l.
transferred the library to- Fontaine-
bleau, and placed 1t In charge of John
Budie. Henry II. made obligatory the
deposit Of one copy Of every book pub
lished in the kingdom. Henry ~.
brought it back to Paris. where it.
changed in location frequently, before,
resting in its present quarters in the
Palais Mazarin. Rue Richelieu. Ma
poleon I. increased the governments
grant, and under his care the library
was much enlarged. 1t contains about
three million volumes and about a
hundred thousand MSS, besides col
lections Of prints and medals. It is
especially rich in Oriental manu-
scripts. The Royal library of Berlin
was founded by the Great Elector.
Frederick William, and opened in 1861.
The University of Berlin, it is not too
much to say, is the leading university
in the world. It is attended annually
by about 5000 students, and has fac
ulty Of about 500 professors and teach
ers. It has most magnificent library.
The two libraries combined contain
about 100000 volumes and nearly
sc, 900 MSS. The Library of Congress,
as the National library Of the United
States is called. was, founded in 1900,
and is supported by: the national gov
eminent. It contains upwards of q
million volumes (250;0OO' pamphletsl.
Liberal: provisions are made for the
yearly addition Of volumes; through
purchase, and in addition, the copy
right law requires that every new pub
LEGATION shall be deposited in the IL
brary without charge: Although the
library of Congress; is not as rich in
manuscripts and rare books as its
great European rivals, on account Of
its more recent beginning, it is never
theless richly stocked with the books
that can be, obtained by purchase in
these later days, and its purchasing
committee are always alert to pick Up,
treasures from such private collections
as are from time to time thrown on
| the market. i