The Washington times., 1905-10-06
ALL PLAY SOLITAIRE
AT CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Heating Found Clerks Too Busy With Cards to Get him
Book on Naval Engineerng-Struck Series
OF Human Photographs.

(Kansas papers please copy-we need light)
Dear Editor:
take nv pen in hand to let you
know what 1 think OF certain things
which interest me. In the first place
there is the Carnegie Library, over on
the corner of Mt. Vernon square, where
there used to be triangular circle
park. The people who live near there
sometimes wish the library wasn't
there. as they have 10 walk around it
on rainy days. and have to keep off
the grass / am an educated public.
and do my best by learnedness and its
vital principles Of encouragement, SO
1 am glad the library Is there instead
of the park.
Now, being educated. and being 8
working American, 1 write my true
grievance to you. for you, too. Mr..
Editor, earn your living by the cold
sweat of your brow, and suffer gen.
orally from education. You at least
will sympathis with me-
1 am used to getting books TO read
az home from the big libraries in the
other cities where l have toiled. and
was always proud to be seen oftener
in a public library than at the otAer
libraries were in close touch with other
refreshments which appealed more TO
the inner man. / used to think the
city was first rate philanthropist for
supporting libraries, where the young
men could get the best reading easily.
and not drink in the odor OF beer or
inhale the smoke of cigarettes In the
operation. The public library, when
in, a. % u.
touch with its patrons. is a grand
thing. Many a lad wanders in and
gets so interested in reading up mat
ters OF business and general informa-
ton. that he forgets his visit to the sa-
life through the free and easy use of
good library books.
But it is the fool library which lets
it's readers have a wholesale lot OF fic-
tion for the asking, and helps to keep
the public from ever getting UP from
the slough of sensational and trashy
literature. You might as we'll supply
the city with free pop and cheap soda
water
The first free time had to myself I
1 read. THE University OF the People.
or something like that. / felt all-over
proud and patriotic, just Ike when we
spoke pieces in school some Friday af-
sernoons. When 1 got in was disa p
pointed, because j saw only few books.
like samples, so / went up to the coun-
ter and see a lady bent over some cards.
and when she got through playing her
little game of solitaire. l asked her II
this was the city library. and she says,
used TO answering that question. She
was going to start another game OF
some kind with the cards. and 1 said
quickly:
Can 1 get a book on naval engineer
ing to take homer
She didn't seem TO care much whether
could or not. but kept fussing with the
thought she was going to let me play
the next game with her, and said. No. .
but she didn't deal out, so 1 knew
wasn't in II.
Resident-of-the-city?"
Yes"
''Then-apply-to-the- registration-desk
-the-other-counter-w er-where-you-can-get :
a-library-ticket and that-entitles-you-
to-the- -use-of-books"
Dodging around a bookcase marked
History, l ran against crowd OF COL
cred youngsters who evidently were en-
joying Carnegle's free ice water more
than I was enjoying his books. / found
another piece of feminine mechanism at
a desk, and she, too. was interested in
card manipulation.
How can ! get a book on naval en-
gineering TO take hom?''
.Are-you-a-resident-of
Yes"
'Is-your-name-in-the-
All In a breath like her companion e
stereotyped questions.
.Verywelltake this tickethome and
flllitouI"
when can I get a book7''
After s-proper1y-register-
l began 10 see the interest in cards.
Red-tape and technical devises were