Evening star., 1935-11-10
About Well-KnOWn Folk
In Books, Art, Politics
"A. B. C. Banquet Celebrates Centenary OF
First Juvenile Library in United States.
Priceless Books at Congressional.
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.

BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.
AS a special compliment to the dis
tinguished authors and illustrators OF
books for children who attended the
banquet last night to celebrate the
centenary of the founding of the
first free library for children in the
United States. Mr.. Herbert Putnam,
librarian of Congress, and Mr.. V.
Valta Parma. curator of the Rare Book
Division. have arranged at the Con-
gresSional Library. in the beautiful
Georgian white reading room OF the
division. an exhibition of early Amer
lean children's books. There are books
dating from the fourteenth and fif-
teenth centuries, which were the
foundation or models for the stories
for children which have since become
household words and which children
of today are reading.
The dinner last night, which was
planned and arranged by the Library
Club of the Wilson Teachers College
of the District public schools, was the
first celebration of the kind. The
speakers table was simply an orgy of
brains in tail coats and evening
gowns. and it sparkled and scintillated
with wit and fun. Every talk made
thanks to the gods there were no set
epeecheS-was simply best-seller.
Every one was excited over the ad-
children, which is expected of the
presses early in December, to be ready
for the Christmas holidays. It's to
tell the youngsters all about the City
of Washington" and, so far as known,
It's the first time they have been hon.
ored by book all their own about the
Nations Capital. 1t is also the first
children's book written by the wife
of a President. and. too, while she
was in the White House.
The Lady of the Mansion has a
takin' way with youngsters. speaks
their language and has a keen appre-
citation of the problems and foibles of
young people. They have to work out
their own Salvation-counSel, but don't
nag. Owing to her interest in litera-
lOl N1L D. 1bOOoCNClG WILL
doubtless be among the first to en-
JOY the exhibition of books at the
Congressional.
In making his selection for the eX-
hibition. Mr.. Parma has chosen only
books printed prior to 1885, the date
of the founding of the first free Ii
brary for children in this country.
He says when he first began to plan
the exhibition and looked over the
collection in the Rare Book Division,
there was such an embarrassment of
riches from which to draw that he
became bewildered, as well as. fas-
cinated, and found himself lingering
over some little book-in size about
4x312 inches, and fairly chortling with
glee as he turned the pages and
wondered at the crude illustrations,
many of them as lugubrious and ter
rifying as Holbein'S Dance of
Death"
He also confessed to becoming very
sentimental as he pictured the little
girls and boys in their quaint dress,
who by oil-dip lights or tallow can
dies had cheerfully or tearfully read
those tiny books over $50 years ago.
The stories may not have adorned a
tale. but they certainly pointed a
moral which must have sent many a
H.tle one shivering to bed.
A talk of particular interest to
librarians present at the dinner last
night, was made by Mr.. Herman
H. B. Meyer, director of legislative
reference in the Library of Congress.
A friend and admirer for many years
of Miss Caroline Hewins, who was
long the librarian of the Public
Library Of Hartford, Conn, and whose
faith and belief in the necessity for
children's free libraries was the domi-
nant note in their almost universal
establishment in this country, was
very delightful.
Mr.. Meyer. whose Office in the Con-
gressional Library is in that elegant,
spacious, beautiful room known as the
Senators reading room-they Ger
tainly allow themselves the luxuries
of life-with windows overlooking the
Capitol Grounds and the great white
dome beyond. is an authority on
Shakespeare and the author of a
Brief Guide to the Literature of
Shakespeare" He is also a writer of
distinction on economic and social
questions as well as photographer
of note.
Last week was Tibbett week in
washington. with the famous and
popular opera star in the spotlight
everywhere he went and his golden
voice-apologies to the radio an
nouncer-ringing out at the premier
Friday night in his latest movie,
Metropolitan; last night at the din
fer he talked little about his in
terest in texts for childrens songs.
Awfully interesting he has some
children .. but here is one for him
that may interest him in genealogy,
when perhaps the name he has made
so distinguished throughout the world