Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

only what publications are in a certain
library, but what library contains GER
tain rare publications. reveal the fact
that much that has been published mas
met with the fate of the lost books OF
Livy, and government publications as
we'll as others are on indexes indicating
that copies of them are nowhere TO be
found.
The task of preserving public docu-
mentS is, however. another story, and
while superintendent of documents do
expert library work, allusion 10 their
laborS must be restricted here. and is
only introduced as illustrating one of
the import ant duties of AL libra rians, and
an exceptionally important one on the
part of a librarian in charge of periodi-
Gals.
x x
One of the most important collec-
tons of books in the Library of Con-
gress is the Smithsonian collection.
The greater part of the Smithso-
MAN library is at the Library of Con-
gress, and it embraces journals of various
scientific societies in all parts of the
world. and almost everything that has
been published that throws Light on sci
entific Investigations in any field. The
Smithsonian publications are by no means
the least important contributions to
knowledge With applied science the
1t is not a collection of text books, but
a collection Of histories of experiments,
researches and discoveries that have rev.
olutioniZed scientific views. An elabo-
rate system of international exchange OF
publications prevails in connection with
the work of the Smithsonian. Paul
Brockett and Francis II. Parsons are as
sistants in charge of the Smithsonian Ii
brary.
One of the most distinguished authors
n library service is
James Quay Howard. chief Of the refer
ence library. Lives of Lincoln and Hayes
and The History of the Louisiana Pur-
chase have been written by him. He is
also well known as an editorial contrib
utor to daily newspapers. He is a ma
tive of Ohio and was admitted to the
bar OF that state in 1860 His first public
service was as consul at st. John. SeW
Brunswick. From 1867 to 1872 he was
editor and part owner of the Ohio State
Journal and for several years he was
chief United States appraiser in New
York city. He became chief of the refer
ence library in 1897. and his duties include
taking care of much of the reference
work of members of the House of Rep
resentatives, which, while it has a libra
ry of it's own in the Capitol has one that
does not contain much else than public
documents. The House librarian is John
J. Boobar, middle-aged man. who has
been in charge of the House library for
that work.
The Senate on the other hand, has a
library that contains such a complete
record of the political history of the
country that senators do not often have
to call upon the resources of the larger
library. Besides rows upon rows Of law
books, journals of legislative proceedings
and court reports, the Senate library con-
tains the published works of every
prominent American statesman. In all
there are nearly 10000 volumes. which
constitutes one of the largest collections
of books in the city outside of the
Library of Congress building. 1t is con-
sidered as part of the Library of Con-
-sress collection, though maintained as
separate library. hidden away in a large
room on the gallery floor of the Capitol
building. In this collection of books are
several hundred volumes of English par
liamentary reports, procured by Senator
George F. Hoar.
Until a few years ago AlonZo n.
Church was the Senate librarian, having
filled that post for twenty-seven years.
He was an eminent lawyer, and was as
ISOLATED as counsel with, the late Senator
Allison in important railroad litigation
many years ago. On his retirement he
lived with his son in New Jersey and
d vacancy was created that seemed al
most impossible to fill. The senators had
begun to regard Mr. Church as indiSpen-
sable If one was in the middle of a
debate and was asked a knOtty question
in legislative history the question was
almost invariably answered before the
of the fact that the senator was total v
when