The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-08

day the publication by the end Of the
month of section V of our finding list,
the practical completion of the work upon
which we have been engaged since the
purchase of the linotype in 1898. Some
illness in the staff and a reluctance on
my part to have Miss Countryman who
conducts the work, draw too heavily upon
her time and strength, have stood in the
way, and I can only announce that the
finding list is on the eve of completion.
It's completion will leave the hands of
Miss Countryman free to undertake the
chief librarianship.
Librarians Literary Work.
May I be permitted, now that I am
about laying down my position, to speak
again briefly about certain work in which
I have been engaged? 1t is in, accordance
with the best traditions Of such institu-
tons as ours that librarians shall not be
entirely absorbed in administrative de-
tails, but shall be fruitful Of works, of
benefit first to the communities which
they serve, and, secondly to the world at
large. They have at hand, as do no other
men, the treasures of the past. What bet
ter than that, SO far as time and strength
allow, they shall express the essence Of
these treasures, and impart 1t In a form
convenient for their generation. So Les
sing, librarian at Wilfenbuttel, in Ger
many, -amassing learning among the books
of the Duke of Brunswick, gave presently
to the world the LAGOON" and the
Education Of the Human Race" and
Nathan the Wise.:' His contemporary,
David Hume, librarian Of the faculty Of
advocates at Edinburg, making useful the
stores Of the most important collection in
Scotland, gave presently to the world the
first proper history of England. In our
own time Richard Garnett, librarian of
the British museum, has been usefully
prolific in the field of belles-lettres; and
-, -, i
Cambridge, j. n. Larned; at Buffalo and
w. F. Poole at Chicago. laid the cities
where they lived and the country at large
in their debt, by producing works of the
first Importance. These men are the he
roes of our profession; in no way am I
to be classed with them, except that I,
too, am a humble member Of the pro-
fession which they nave adorned with
their power and learning. But following
the tradition bequeathed by these great
men. I have written some books To
write them I have not secluded myself I
have done the work in leisure hours, or
while holding myself prepared to answer
all calls that came to me. My thought
has been to supply to busy men and
women in succient and convenient form,
out Of the materials packed away in this
library, some parts of the story Of the
land in which we live. I believe that in
my work of this kind I have had the ap-
has ever reached me that such an appli-
cation of my time and energy was disap-
proved. 81
Contributions to History.
It seems proper that there should be a
record somewhere Of my work Of this sort,
and beg your Indulgence while set out
in order, as a; contribution to the history
Of the institution, what I have written
since have been your librarian: In 1894
I published a novel, How Thankful Was
BeWltched," the purpose Of which was
historical, the design being to present the
life of 200 years ago, as it went forward
In New France and New England In
Hutchinson" royal governor of the prov
| ince of Massachusetts, bay, who laid down
| his office In 1774, so far as T know the
first respectful biography Of any political
! figure Who in our revolutionary days,
took the ground that the English speak
ing world ought not to be divided, and
that with little patience a redress OF
grievances might come which would pre-
vent the Anglo Saxon schism. In 1898 the
editor of the Atlantic Monthly wrote me
| that James Bryce had contributed a paper
on American conditions which he wished
to print in connection with an article by
some American writer, on some similar
theme. This article was invited to fur
nish, my papers bearing the title 'The
| American NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. indie.
pendence, Interdependence.'' In 1901 ap.
peared "a Short History Of the Mississippi
Valley" an effort to compress into brie
and readable shape a very large story
and in 1902, a History of the Louisiana
Purchase in which is given a somewhat
unusual view of that transaction. In 100.
also I supervised and furnished an intro
duction. for, a handsome edition of the
"Expedition of Lewis and Clark" A yea
or so since T was invited by Professol
| Howl 81
sity, to be one Of a company of writer's il
the production Of an extensive work IL
twenty-five volumes to be called tn,
American Nation" accepted, receiving
as my part. Of the work the volumes re
lating to the civil war. Soon after max
ing this engagement, was approached
by Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co. will
reference to undertaking the editorship o
a continuation Of Justin Winsor's Mar
rative and Critical History Of America.
The work Of Mr.. Winsor, interrupted b,
his death, stops about the middle of tn
nineteenth century; the publishers ex
pressed their wish to continue it down t.
the present time This interesting sug
gestion I was obliged to let pass, my con
tract with Professor Hart and Messrs
Harper Bros. putting it out Of my powe
to undertake such thing; nor, indeed
were Messrs. Houghton, Mifflin & Co
prepared to make any definite proposition
the amount Of capital necessary to suc]
a venture and the risks involved, causin,
; them to breach the topic with hesitation
Besides these more considerable labcrs
I have also sent articles to the New Yor]
Nation" to the ''WorId To-day" and t.
other, periodicals, and have contribute
a number of critical papers to the Litter
| allure of American History a compila
ton Of appraisals Of books in that fell
issued by the American Library associa
ton. This list Of undertakings may per
haps stand appropriately In your records
The Progress Made.
In our institution the powers Of the cit
librarian are restricted. Since the success
Of the library is due much more to other
than to me, may the more freely spea
of what has been accomplished We hay
maintained steadily large per capita cir
culation, the largest I believe ,maintaine
. in any city Of the first class lover 200, 90
population) in the country. Harmony ha
I reigned within, and from without ha
come remarkably little criticism. believ
our city has taken pride in it's library an
felt that those concerned in its admins
, tration were efficient.
> The Athenaeun1.
It would be hard to exaggerate the oh
3 legation the cityis under to the Athenaeu1
for the high standing of the library. At it
: foundation the Athena elIn hro11pIt RI