New-York tribune., 1919-06-14

nor are IrOtZky'S two latest books.
| Of two American books on Bolshevism
which appeared almost simultaneously
| Spargo's "Bolshevism" is there, but
John Reeds "Ten Days That Shook the
World" is not. In view Of the rlively
interest that RACES around this question
the reason that there had not been
sufficient demand for Reeds book
seemed a little insufficient even to
the library official, so he added the
comment that since we were at war
with Russia, Reeds partisanship might
justifiably bar the book on the grounds
that it is seditious. Nevertheless, "Six
Red Months in Russia" by Louise
Bryant, wife of John Reed, is on the
shelves Of eighteen branches, and as
her bias is as definite as Reeds the ex-
planation seemed somewhat illogical.
Barbusse's "Under Fire" is circulated,
but Latzko's "Men in War;" another
book Of war realism, is not.
In general literature the Puritans
are not without their triumphs. Two
significant American novels that have
exceeded the safe and conventional
fields Of American fiction are con-
spicuously absent-Dreiser's ''The
Genius" and David Graham Phillips's
"The Fall and Rise Of Susan Lenox."
Arnold BENEFITS "The Pretty Lady"
Is not circulated, though it's admission
OF a courtesan into the theme is not
without precedent in library fiction
The daring young English moderns are
handled in a gingerly fashion. The
more circumspect of Moore's books
(to be exact, "The Untitled Field"
Esther Waters" Evelyn Inness,"
"Celibates," "Ave" and "vale") are ad-
mitted, but "Confessions of Young
Man" and Memoirs of My Dead Life"
are not. D. H. Lawrence is given no
room, nor is James Joyce. The much
discussed "Sanine" of Artzibasheff is
absent, though it is apparent from
the index that the main body of Rus
sian fiction, from Turgenieff to Gorky,
has already achieved respectability.
But of Anatole Frances superb "Pen-
guin Island" there is not single copy
in circulation.
The Brooklyn Public Library ap-
parently takes the morals of the COM
munity good deal more to heart than
does the New York Public Library,
from which it is a separate and dis
II.
large number of catalogue cards are
marked with stars. This means that
they may be had only on special re
quest and on good and sufficient proof
furnished that they are intended for
the reading of a responsible adult
These books are not put on the open
shelves, where they may spread their
nets before the feet of the unwary.
However praiseworthy this caution
may be, it seems little excessive when
it is observed what number of these
are books to which the average person
is driven to read only by the admo-
milton that no well-read person is igno-
rant of them. Smollett, Sterne, the Res
toration dramatists, Guy Maupassant,
Flaubert, Tolstoy and a good many
other "standard" authors make up the
amazing list. With what cheerfulness
the youth of Brooklyn must return to
Robert w. Chambers, on whom there
is no ban, when they find that, all
schoolroom advice to the contrary, they
are not only exempt but forbidden to
read the classics.
A middle-aged lady asked for one of
these books recently in a Brooklyn
branch library. She was looked at sus
piciously and told that she could come
and read the book at the library under
the supervision Of the librarian. She
demurred at this and insisted on her
right to take the book home. After
struggle the librarian gave it up. 1t was
"Tess of the D'Urbervilles" Hardy's
GUIDE the Obscure" is another book
whose reading is fraught with obsta-
cles in Brooklyn.
The librarian in flourishng city
within an hours journey from New
York is a person of great liberalty
and common sense, but he has not
been able to break down the tradition
that certain books may not be circu-
lated. Among these, of course, are "Gil
Bias" the "Decameron" of Boccaccio,
and several other famous examples
of impropriety, but "Gulliver's
Travels" (complete), "The Ara
bian Nights" Pamela" by Richardson;
Fontaine's Fables, "Bohemians of the
Latin Quarter" by Murger, and several
other books as famous are also with
held.
Censorship is a just and necessary
part of circulating librarys job, but
librarians scruples can often make
it ridiculous.