Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-07-12

spend several hours in the
great Public Library, which since
its completion several months age
has been the pride of the city. In
Guiding its several branches, this in
stitution is the second largest of its
kind in the world, being surpassed
only by the Bibliotheque Nationale
in Paris. The library is located in
Bryant Park facing Fifth Avenue
between Fortieth and Forty-second
streets.
Magnificent Building.
In marked contrast with the gray
and brown skyscrapers down in the
financial district is this long, broad
and comparatively low building Of
white marble up on Fifth Avenue.
So beautiful are its lines, Renais
sance being the style of architec-
ture, and so striking the general eff
feet of its exterior that very absent
minded indeed must be the pedes-
trian who passes without taking al
least a hurried glance at this marble
structure, which is so colossal in its
proportions and so thoroughly and
richly finished in all of its details
that $l2, 100000 were expended and
ten wears consumed in its construc-
ton.
Library for the People.
In consolidating the Astor Libra.
ry, the Lenox Library and the Til.
den Trust in 1895, it was the pur-
pose of the trustees to establish an
institution which would be patron,
lied by the middle and uneducated
classes, as well as by scholars and
those who use libraries for research.
That this has been accomplished, in
part at least, is indicated by the
large daily attendance upon the Ii.
brary. A record of all who enter
the building from nine in the morn.
ling till 10 in the eveningis rigidly
kept. The maximum attendance
Ihas been 90, 900 persons in one day
land the number has never fallen
Hover than 5000 in a day. Oh
course, a large portion of these are
visitors who merely go to see in
stead of to read or make research.
System and Order Prevail.
Notwithstanding the fact that
teeming hundreds and thousands
cross its threshold daily, many al
most aimlessly strolling up and
down its marble corridors and peer
ing through every department, yet
there is no noise, congestion Oh
confusion in the building. The
placards posted at intervals, re-
questing silence here and forbid
ding entrance there, are scarcely
needed, as the very atmosphere OF
the place is such as to command
and inspire proper decorum and an
observance of order on the part
of visitors. Readers who sit in the
spacious reading rooms absorbed in
the book that is being read or in
the heap of massive reference books
ordered for making research are
never disturbed by the passerby.
Immense Proportions.
As one passes through the build.
ing, which seems to be sufficiently
large to accommodate the accumu
lation of books for the next thou.
sand years, he is almost lost in the
maze of stairs and endless marble
halls that lead from room to room.
department to department.
Some idea of the immensity OF
the library proper can be gained
from the fact that at present the
building contains 63 miles of steel
shelves which will be increased
from time to time as the necessity
arises, and there are at present
more than l,25o,O0O books in the
library. Compare or contrast in
mind the few dozen or few hundred
books in your home with these al
most inconceivable figures, then al
least faint idea of the immensityot
the New York Public Library can
be gained. AS compared with these
millions of volumes, the writers
few books are but a grain of sane
upon the seashore, and our few fee
of shelves are but hairbreadth al
compared with the SO miles.
Especially Inviting to Foreigners.
Carrying out the original purpose
of providinga library for the use O
the masses, making it easy especial
ly for foreigners to avail themselves
of its benefits, the trustees in laying
their plans provided separate sec
ton or room for the books and lit
erature of each of the leading ma
tionalities. Not stopping at thi
thoughtful consideration of for
eigners, the management has plac
ed a lady in charge of each section
who can speak the language of he
people. For example, the Hebrew
literature or room is in charge o
an intelligent young Hebrew; tn
Italian room is presided over by al
intelligent woman of that nationali