Evening star., 1915-03-26
THE AMERICANS LIBRARY
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Over fifty thousand editions of books
were published in the United States last
year. About ten thousand were in two
or more volumes. The total number of
copies Appropriated the quarter Of bill
lion mark. as it considerably exceeded
200, ,O00, 900. The value Of these books.
excluding periodicals of all kinds, many
of which are subsequently bound into
books. amounts to nearly s75, 600. 600.
Each year this enormous output may be
expected to increase at least 20 per cent,
so that the demand for books is really
as staple as for daily bread
Contrary to popular belief, the largest
portion of these books ultimately find
their way into the hands of the private
buyer or book collector. The public IL
braries buy less than ten million annually
and about fifty million are used as text
books in the schools and colleges Of the
country. A large number are utilized for
business and advertising purposes and
probably two million are required for the
use Of various scientific and philanthropic
associations, but, after all other demands
are accounted for, it is still evident that
the increasing number of free libraries
does not seem to affect the desire Of the
American citizen to possess books Of his
own for he buys the greater part OF our
immense product of literature and near
literature.
a private library of even FIVE hundred
volumes was rather rarity generation
ago. Now it is
Library One Of taken for grant
Important Rooms. person who can
vrfy1 h,,Iy n
which ten years ago would have attract
ed attention are now commonplace. The
presence Of books in the average home
is so generally accepted that architects
include built-in bookshelves in even the
small house. In the large house the IL
brary is one of the most important rooms.
with many features especially planned
for the storage of books. and for conve-
nient access to them
The private book collector either be-
gins with buying books along some
particular line in which he is es-
pecially interested. or else plans to
have his collection embrace a full
range of general literature. Rich men
who began with general literature
renerally take up some hobby to per-
petuate in their book buying. A num-
Der of American millionaires are Sc
curing private collections Of AmeTi-
cana which will no doubt ultimately
enrich the public libraries Of posterity.
The librarv ownet now by Joseph
Letter, but collected chiefly by his
father and mother. Is said to include
the most complete collection of Con-
federate literature In existence. 1t has
also a number of other rare old books
and a well assorted collection or gem
eral literature. The library owned by
Jay Gould, which was recently cata-
Iogued under the direction OF his daugh-
ter. Mrs. Shepherd, includes a general
collection of Americana, while that of
the late Edward Crane or newark,
N r.. contains the most complete as
semblage of literature pertaining to
the early history Of that state now in
existence.
Thomas Boyd Thatcher. Pierpont
Morgan, Homer Z. Huntingdon, Harry
Wild ener
Millionaires Have and sew
Fancy for Antiquities. American
,,i,,;onaires had especial fancies for
incunabula and other literary antiqui-
ties George G. Thomas of Philadelphia
took special interest in Charles
n,cLens and had specimens of each of
the earlier editions. Mr.. Thomas was
,Iso interested in Cruikshanks, the IL
1ustrator and cartoonist cotemporary
with Dickens, and his collection of
works Is said to be the
finest in the world, exceeding several
English collections in variety and
value.
The largest private collection of
modern literature in the world is now
being assembled by James Carleton
Young of Minneapolis. He began to col |
lect It few years ago. He now. de-
turned him out of his home, as they
nra actically fill his Minneapolis house. |
: IL ha ond bjs family spepd their win