Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-07-03

library. but originally sucn restrictions
were imposed to make its use al
most inaccessible. In the first place,
it was announced that the library
would be open Except Saturday and
Sunday of each week, except Christ
mas day and one week after, except
the week after Easter Sunday and the
week after Whitsuntide, and except
Good Friday, and all days which now
shall hereafter be specially ap-
pointed for Thanksgivings or feasts
by public authority.
If a prospective student were able
to master the mathematics of these re-
strictions, he then presented himself
at the porter's lodge. where he was
obliged to give his name, condition and
address, to be entered in the register.
This accomplished, the volume was
laid before the librarian to decide
whether the person applying was
entitled to admission. If the question
were settled in the affirmative, on a
second visit the applicant might re
ceive his ticket. Having secured the
precious card, he would then present
himself for admission, but, as there
was a restriction that not more than
ten persons should be admitted for
each hour the museum was open, it
was still problematicaI whether he
would be successful If so fortunate
as to be member of one of these
groups Oh ten he was JnGn escorted
around the library by guide, with
limit placed upon the time, and with
every element created to destroy the
pleasure of literary communion with
the volumes.
Later, important additions to the
Cottonian, Harleian, and Sloane col
lectiOnS include the Royal library of
1000 volumes, which was eventually
turned over to the British museum by
George II; the Thomson collection of
kings Pamphlets the da Costa col
lection of Hebrew books and manu-
scripts; the Birch collection of biog-
raphy David Garrick's library of Eng
biography and manuscripts; the
Cracherode collections of books and
prints.
Some Great Acquisitions.
ALI these collections were acquired
previous to the year 1907 with no ex-
pense whatever to the government, but
at this time a grant of approximately
f5, 900 was made for the purchase of
the Lansdowne manuscripts In 1913
another $4,000 was appropriated for
the Hargrave Legal library, and, in
1921, some E13,50O was granted to
secure the classical library of DR..
| Charles Burney. Two years later the
splendid Royal library acquired by
| George III became part of the British
museum. This necessitated larger
| quarters, and was the beginning of the
| reconstructed museum. George Hrs
library contained no less than $4,000
volumes. George w tried to dispose
/ of the coIlection to the emperor OF
! Russia to enrich his own private cot
| fers, but this plan was frustrated, and
! the volumes were saved to the British
! nation
Francis Egerton was later bene
! factor of the Museum library. He be
queathed to 1t the famous Egertor
manuscripts, together with f12. ZOO. the
interest on which to be devoted to in
creasing the collection and maintain
ing custodian Three years later, In
1882. the autograph collection of the
museum was enriched by the acquisi
ton of the Arundel manuscripts; and
in 1S47. the Rt-A Hon. Thomas Gren
vile presented to the museum his mag
. nificent library, which is still preserved
as a unit under the donors name
No library is geographically stu
ated more favorably to be available {,
the world than the British museum 1
famous American collector some year
ago bequeathed to it an extraordinar.
collection he himself had made, whicl
it seemed from patriotic motive
should have been turned over to som
American institution After havin
worked in the British museum, how
ever, and after seeing the cosmopoli
tan nature of those who visit and max
use of its treasures, one is forced t
admit that this collection will accom-
| plish its highest good by being wher
it is rather than consigned to the ge<
. / graphical limitation of any one OF TIA
!; | American libraries In this case th
, | American donor considered his loyalt
. to letters beyond the demand OF an
/ nationality.