New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-24

! cation NcStcrudN VI 'i'
| Library lies. i'm sense, quite apart ii"ni
the point that it formally markeu tue
addition of a vast building to the city
possessions. 1t is TO be found III 'lie
rounding ont of curious cycle OF ne
velonment curious because so long re-
torded This Is the wealthicst city in
! tie Western Hemisphere, ana Ill II are
focussed the intellectual interests OF
continent: vet until to-day those inter
est> have not been served as those oil
great people are served. say. in London
Paris or Berlin. II might not unfairly
b. said that hitherto we have had n"
public library at all. though we nave
had. pre-eminently. the makings OF one
W.. have had the books hut we have
lacked the means of making them the
readily accessible tools Of those who
labor in the world Of thought. And the
odd thing is that only brute circum-
stance has delayed our achievement Of
one of the everyday instruments of
civilization.
The resources embraced within the
Astor. Lenox and Tilden foundations
have for years been deprived of their
full value through nothing more nor less
than the want of four walls and roof
of the right dimensionS-and there has
been something peculiarly eXasperating
about the conditions financial and
other. which have compelled the build
ing operations at Fifth avenue and 42d
IL x.r1t- no
tie city great collections OF books have
been littingly housed. The Historical
Society and the Hispanic Society have
, for some time had beautiful and con-
lNenient homes. The student of law or of
/ medicine has had no difficulty in getting
a. the literature of his subject under
/ the auspices of institutions dedicated To
I its advancement The artist has for
years been able 10 consult his authorities
! i'm the library at the Metropolitan Mu-
scum. and the architect has been equally
well provided for in the Avery library
at Columbia University But while the
special student Of these and other sub
tpct> has been thus made free of precious
! facilities. he has found the famous old
enox and Astor buildings about equal
| " useful and vexatious. Who that has
had some particular line Of research to
follow up has not been tried 10 his very
soul by the necessity of trotting from
one of these great repositories Ia the
other. and by the physical conditions
characterizing both Not all the cour-
| tesy and hclpfulnesS in the world, Of
| feled by well trained officials. could
have quite made up for the absence Of
/ that perfect ease I'm study which is now
assured through concentration. mecnani-
cal cOntrivance. amplitude Of space and
| fitness of light. The opening of the
new huiding means 10 those who use
the Public Library something Of what
/ is meant ny the calling Of order ont Of
chaos.
! In the minds eye we seem 10 observe
myriad Of readers Strengthening their
shoulders. heaving a tremendous sigh Of
relief. and facing difficult tasks with
lhrightening eyes and renewed energy.
Recently. and indeed. for several years.
much has been said i'm the public press
about the scientific thoOughneSs with
which this building has been put to-
gcther. with q view 10 something Ike
perfection in the storing of millions Of
volumes and the detachment. from the
mass. Of given book. AZ not much
more than Il moments notice. II Is
hardly necessary for us 20 rehearSe the
thrice familiar tale Of the ingenuity
with which numbers Of purely utili-
tartan problems have here been solved.
Rather do we prefer 10 reflect upon what
cal only he described rs the broad.
spiritual function Of the Public Library.
I. exists iol the diffusion Of sweetness
ana light, TO use Matthew Arnold'S well
remembered phrase-fOr the diSsemina
| ton Of the best that has been thought
and said in the world. and It can now
! fulfil its duty as never before. \ great
organism has come into its own at last.
n great engine in the stimulation of
thought has been raised to a higher
power. The bulk and cCstliness of the
structure may. in material fashion. fat
ter our civic pride The SpaciousneSs
and good illumination Of the main read
| ing room. the charm Of smaller chambers
SGT apart for this or tina special purpose,
the smooth effectiveness Of a hundred SER
viceable devices in the big fabric. may
nourish our belief i'm American inven-
tiyeneSS and skill Put all Of these
things are only the servants Of higher
! ideal The true and moving appeal Of
this event i'm our municipal annals is to
what is finest I'm American civilization.
We have builded well In that we have
dedicated temple to the things of the