The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-06-07


Literature: France. Emancipation; and Amer
lea, Science.
In the crown OF the great lantern OF the
dome is painted The Human Understanding.
an allegorica figure OF woman floating
among the clouds and attended by two chill
dren genii.
The artistic mural decoration OF the interior
is upon a magnificent scale and the paintings
in each of the many pavilions, corridors and
galleries are so numerous that no attempt
can be made in this article TO give a descrip-
ton of them Every artistic design has pur-
pose and meaning in every stroke OF the art
lists brush, in every curve and line wrought
by the sculptor's chisel The completed build
ing stands today as the highest expression OF
American art the greatest monument yet
erected to American genius.
The eight acres OF floor space contained in
the building are utilized as follows On the
ground floor are the copyright office, reading
room for the blind, superintendent's and dis
bursting Office, bookbinding department, print
ing department music rooms, mail room.
lockers, etc The first floor contains the main
reading room, the librarians room, periodical
reading room, senator's reading room, repre-
sentatives' reading room, map and chart
rooms, administration rooms. The second floor
is taken up with the galleries, pavions and
rooms filled with exhibits Of rare engravngs,
manuscripts, pTlnlS, rare DOOhb, HIsl eulIOhs,
portraits OF the presidents and other celebrat-
ed personages. The attic floor contains
kitchen and restaurant. rooms for print re
pairs, manuscript repairs, photography docu-
ments and copyright storage.
In 1914 the library, consisting Of about 5000
volumes, was burned by the British troops.
Congress made a fresh start by purchasing
the Thomas Jefferson library Of about 1000
volumes, which grew until in 1851 II had about
$4,000 volumes Another fire then destroyed
all but 20 900 OF these. The country had grown
so much In wealth by this time however, that
this was but temporary check. and the libra.
~ quarters I'm the Capitol were promptly re-
s.ored and many Of the books which had been
destroyed were replaced In 1867 the Peter
Force collection OF Americana, consisting OF
about 90 600 articles, was purchased for SllO,-
600, and the acquisition in the same year Of
the library OF the Smithsonian institution. con
sisting OF 10000 volumes, brought the total
up 20 over 100000 volumes The copyright
law Of ls46 required the deposit OF one copy
OF each book copyrighted in the library, and
an act was passed in 1870 which placed the
registration OF copyrights under the care Of
the Librarian OF congress. and required the de
post OF two copies Of each book or article
copyrighted, thus assuring the acquisition OF
books published In the United States
The rapid progress Of tie library dates from
1864. when DR. A. r. spoford was appointed
librarian His ureless en+rgy and unhagging
zeal increased tAe acquisitions until In 1897.
the date OF his retirement. IL had grown 20
more than 100000 books and pamphlets. and
the necessity for more spacious quarters bad
been realized Tor some years. In 1856 the con
scfuction Of a new building was authorized
aru' eleven years later this was completed at
cost % s6.347, Dee on a site bought Tor $685.
600 This 10 the present home Of the third
largest library In the world That the cost Of