Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-26
CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY
6&6UlET SUNDAY

A sUNRHra ftNneon'ss visit 70 the
"a Cong>est6nal LbrarW offers one of
the suresa nsoofk feep e3rly winter is
upon US and thy TYP Capital city has
taken its annual place as a prominent
educational cantsrs During the late spring
and summer tie feadms.<he newspaper
and periodical rooms are practically de-
serted, but when the autumnal tints
paint in glowing colors the surrounding
landscape. the library becomes popular
mecca. especially for the stranger and
the student in our midst. So large are
the crowds that frequently the matter Of
maintaining ones seat becomese,a. prob
lem. And so great is the demand. for
certain books that one becomes accus-
toned to having many of his cards re-
turned with the notation mot on the
shelf stamped across the face.
But in spite of the crowd within the
sacred precincts of the main reading
room. the law of silence Is observed so
more than the subdued murmurings OF
some visitor engaged in whispered con-
versation with an obliging clerk behind
the desk. Occasionally. from the balcony
above comes the sound of an inadvertent
laugh or cough. but it is quickly
learning The ranks of the students
with deep and weighty reference books
all around and note books and pencils
close at hand are increased by others VINO
are students only in the school of ex-
perience, but who come to the peaceful
chamber for rest and quiet and chance
to peruse their favorite authors, undts-
turbed by outside elements.
Young and old-representatives OF every
race and color side by side-bend over
If present.
and here it seems that all class d1stinc-
tons are eliminated, provided one con-
forms to the one requirement.. orderliness
Sometimes one catches glimpses Of the
instance, the Impotence of some woman
who becomes unnecessarily irr1tated be-
cause 1t may take a little more time than
she had expected to locate her particular
book. But she soon finds out that pat
ting her foot nervously on the floor and
factory results. Or. perchance, she does
not happen to agree with the point of
view of the author she is reading.
At the same table with the writer sat q
of possession. her husband. The little
woman was deep in the pages of thick
book that bore the title Famous Wom-
en-" The man was glancing through some
humorous selections. Suddenly the little
woman shut her book in disgust and
reached for her fur and purse. Come on
home, Billy" she said-then with an in
describable shrug toward the closed vol
ume, why is 1t that the Famous Wom-
en- are always the Infamous ones?" But
the husband. whose tastes were for HUI
morous sketches rather than stories
about Nine. du Pompadours and Lady
Hamiltons, could not answer her.
In the newspaper and periodical division
many an interesting little byplay is en-
acted. The close observer will appreciate
ho 70 of <hn< th@~@ % 1> tn
defnable difference in the class of visitors
who wander into this room and those who
frequent the more stately, dignifed read
ing room.
It might also be called the retreat
of the homeless, and judging from the
eager way in which so many rush in
and go direct to the rack in which is
filed their home newspaper, 1t would
seem to indicate that there are many
who are glad to have Uncle Sam fur
nish them with news without cost or
trouble to themselves. Probably in no
other city of the United States would
this particular branch of a library be
used SO freely. If appearances are any
social dereIicts in the little army that
muses. through the papers and maya
zines. Unshaven, anxious-eyed men
and shabbily dressed women rub
tune seems to have smiled more
kindly. Sometimes. some detected
looking individual will go out more de-
jected looking than ever, as though the
news sought and found had only brought
additional disappointment Again. a
suppressed chuckle or q smiling coun-
tenance will prove that the readers
hopes have been realized. 1t is ever
characteristic Of the men that when
they have finished with a paper they
take pains to put it back into the rack
in which 1T belongs. but, say some Of
the attendants. nine out Of every ten
women will leave 1T carelessly on the
table, or else put it into the wrong
rack