Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1931, Page 80

EB THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. €, JANUARY 18 1981, BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. OMETIMES people become very im- patient when matters in which they are interested do not shape them- selves as rapidly as they would like them to. The old saying that the world was not made in a minute from a geo- logical viewpolnt is not disputable, and _the Good Book places six days as the time in which the earth was completed. So that if things do not come our way with the speed of a falling meteorite we must bide our time and wait— especially when there is nothing we can do to remedy the situation. When the writer the other day looked up toward the top of the Public Library Building and read the words “Science, Poetry, History” and then went inside to see that most pro- ficient and accommodating woman, Miss Patten, the curator of the Washingtcn section, the thought came to him of the many years the people of the District of Columbia had to wait before they finally convinced Congress that the city nceded and was entitled to a public library, where Washingtonians, old and young, could be accommodated with reading matter free of cost. Washington from the founding of the city has been a cultivated and literary center, b_ut not always by any means has the opportunity been general for the obtaining of such infor- mation as is to be found in a well stocked library. The well-to-do, or rich, provided them- selves with their own private library, and they freely exchanged books among themselves, but the middle and poor classes of residents, who eould not afford the price of a book or a mem- bership fee in one of the few early circulating libraries—and really the ones who needed good books most—simply had to take whatever came to hand and be thankful for it at that. The need for free library facilities ‘was realized here at a very early date, when an effort, in a way, was made to give this service to the publie, but the conditions for many years were such that its use was confined to such residents as might well have done without the service afforded, and the people who needed a . free library—or those who could not afford to pay the tariff, so to speak—were entirely neglected. As an example, the Washington Library, the first library established here after the Capital site had been selected, was a subscription affair, as we find by a notice to the subscribers in the Washington Gazette of January 18, 1797, in which the subscribers were informed that their last year's subscriptions were then due. TWO classes of people, it seems, were espe- cially helpful to the Republic in its early days; namely, the printers and the surveyors; and in the forming of this library Nicholas King, the District survesor at that time, was the moving factor. This pioneer in library work was” born in England and came to this country in 1796, and must have immediately attached himself to the surveying department of the city, for his record tells us that he took office September 24, 1796, and resigned September 12, 1797, manifestly for the purpose of be- coming librarian of the new library company, with which we find his name associated and of which he was probably the founder. Nicholas King, the son of Robert King, was one of the Ilatter's three childern of whom we have a record, the two others be- ing Robert King, jr., and Jane, a daughter, who married John Lenthall, selected by Latrobe in the construction ef the Capitol as clerk of the works or superintendent, and who was killed when a brick vault in the Supreme Court room fell in on September 19, 1808. A daughter of Mrs. Lenthall, Elizabeth Jane, married William J. Stone. The son, Robert King, jr., was in the District surveying depart- ment from August 21, 1800, to August 13, 1801, and when the office of surveyor of the city was created by law Nicholas King, the librarian, was the first to be appointed to that office, serving from June 1, 1803, to May, 1812. He was succeeded by his brother Robert, jr., who held the office from May 21, 1813, to March 14, 1815. Robert King, sr., after his work here had ended returned to England, where he died. However, two of the children, Nicholas King and Jane King, who, as stated, married John Lenthall, remained in Washington and were of s foremost citizens. Jane Lenthall upon the death of her husband in 1808 was left a widow with three children— John, who became a constructor in the United Btates Navy; Mary King, unmarried, and Elizabeth Jane, who married William James Btone, who was born in London, England, but who came to this country in childhood and became an ‘engraver of distinction. THE writer has but a slight, though a fond, ! recollection of the Stone family because of their early ownership-of the Stone property which once included the site of the Central High School and the area of Columbia Heights, which in its undeveloped state he remembers well. Particularly so that part of the estate which was heavily wooded and which bordered Florida avenue between the Garfield Hospital property and Fourteenth street, for here in his childhood days he gathered hickory nuts and persimmons—when the caretaker was not in sight. Many will recall the old Stone mansion which until recent years stood at the northeast corner of Clifton and Thirteenth streets. William J. Btone bought this property from the Holmeads ot an early date and erected the manor house in 1840, which was called Mount Pleasant after the name of the grant of which it was a part. Gen. John A. Logan purchased it about 1881. He changed its name to Calumet Place, by which it was known until removed to make way for an apartment house. Some time before the Civil War Mr. Stone, sr., built what later became 609 Fourteenth street northwest, and which he rented or leased to the Confederate chieftain, Jefferson @avis, while he was serving as Secretary of War in Efforts to Obtain Adequate Reading Facili- ties for National Capital Finally Were Successful, A fter Many Minor Develop- ments—Incidents Leading to Creation of Present Public Institution— Larly Subscription Library Equipment. First public library building, 1326 New York avenue northwest, 1898 to 1903. the cabinet of President Franklin Pierce. In 1859, after Davis had vacated it, the Stones took up their residence there as a town house, and when the war began in 1861 voluntarily turned their suburban estate Mount Pleasant over to the Government for the use of the Army, and which was used for hospital pur- poses from April, 1862, to July 1, 1865. William J. Stone died in 1865 and Mrs. Stone on August 3, 1892. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Stone were Robert King, who was the physician to President Lincoln and who had his office for many years at the northeast corner of F and Fourteenth streets northwest; William J., jr., prominent member of the Washington bar; Jane, who married Col. James W. Abert, U. S. A, and died in early womanhood, and George, who died in early manhood. The Lenthall home, occupied by John Len- thall when he was killed In 1808, and up into the eighties by John Lenthall, the son and naval constructor, and his maiden sister Mary, was numbered 1818 F street northwest, and stood for many years on the site now occupied by the Interior Department Building. THE writer is not sure just what became of the Washington Library of which Nicholas King was the librarian, but he rather believes it became the Alexandria Library Co., in ac- cordance with a charter granted by the Virginia Legislature January 17, 1798. Over in Georgetown an earlier start even than this was made to furnish the public with reading matter. This was about 1794, when Stephen B. Balch, of whom the writer wrote recently, and others, brought the Columbian Library into existence. Dr. Balch, as we might put it today, was strait-laced and set in his ways. He had no use for fiction, as we find from an account of one of the early meetings of the board of 12 trustees which relates the following interesting discussion: i “A dispute arose whether tales, romances and novels should be introduced. Some of the trustees thought them injurious by creating a morbid taste, while others contended their effect was to quicken the imagination. Dr. Balch was opposed to novels, and in his speech remarked: ‘You may do as you please, but mark my words the tale shelf will have all the custom.” It was decided, however, by a vote of nine to three that novels should be provided. “The preliminaries being settled, the works were purchased in Philadelphia, and in due season they arrived by vessel packed in boxes. The library contained 2,000 volumes, which was afterward increased to 3,500, and it was open every Wednesday afternoon from 2 until 5 o'clock, and twice a week. during the Winter months, books to be returned in 14 days under a penalty of 61, cents. Rev. David Wiley was ap- pointed librarian. same room with the globes and chemical ap- paratus used in the school. The books under the management of Rev. David Wiley soon became scattered. Not contented with being simply a teacher and librarian, he had a number of other irons simulianeously in the fire. He was the superintendent of a turnpike road and editor of an agricultural paper at the same time. He was also postmaster, merchant, miller and preacher. He was out on surveys repeatedly to the neglect of his school, which was finally dis- persed, and the library after a few years’ existence became a matter of the past.” The Rev. Mr. Wiley subsequently engaged in politics, went South and died in North Carolina. Tms side of Rock Creek an early circulating library was opened by Richard Dinmore'in 1801, the first door west of the President's Square, which would be between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets. This gentleman also opened a boarding school, and in 1801 and later tried his hand at newspaper publishing and editing and wrote a book of poems. He died in 1810. - Hugh Somerville in 1801 was also conducting a library in connection with his grocery and liquor store, bui possibly thinking that the reading matter might educate his customers not to drink his liquor, he transferred the library from his residence to the house of John D. Brashiers on the Avenue, somewhere between the White House and the market, the one we are now about to remove. In 1805 the Anacostia Library was started at the house of Gustavus Higdon, corner of Eighth and L streets southeast, but the library that came to stay the longest was the Washington Library, established in 1811 and chartered April 18, 1814. The books were kept in the Early Libraries and Some Old Buildings This library is worthy of special referenoce because it was' in existence at least for 58 years, when in 1869 it was moved into the new build- ing erected for the Young Men's Christian Association at the northeast corner of Ninth and D streets, generally known as th: Lincoln Music Hall, and the probabilities are that i% was at that time merged with the Y. M. C. A. library, which was also housed in that building. ITS charter takes us back nearly 117 years, when Washington was indecd a ‘“city of magnificent distances,” a time evan preceding the burning of the Capitol by th» Bri.ish. The first clause of this interesting' docum:n’ 1:ads: “Be it enacted by the Sehate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That James Laurie, Joseph Stretech, William Parker, Jonathan S. Findley, George Way, Moses Young and Thomas H. Gillis, and their successors duly elected, or appointed in manner hereinafter directed, be, and they are hereby, made, declared. and con= stituted a corporation and body politic, in law and in fact, to have continuance forever, by the name, style, and title of ‘The Directors of the Washington Library Co.’ and by such corporate name, style, and title shall be here- after forever able and capable, in law and in equity, to sue and be sued, plead and be im- pleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in d@ny court, or courts, or other places, and before any judge or judges, justice or justices, or other persons whatisoever, within the District of Columbia, or elszwhere, in all and all manner of suits, actions, com= plaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands, of whatever kind or nature they may be, in as full and effectual 2 manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, may or can do.” It is signed by Langdon Cleves, who was at that time the Speaker df the House of Repre- sentatives, and by E. Gerry, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate, and was approved by President James Madi- son, on April 18, 1814. By 1835, the cost to those not shareholders in the library was: “Five dollars per year; “Three dollars for six months; “Two dollars for three months; “One dollar for one month: to be paid in advance, on a deposit being made with the Librarian of double the price affixed for the book, or set of books; subject, in all other respects, to the same regulations as share= holders; but such persons, if not residents of the City of Washington, shall deposit with the Libzarian double the value of the books taken out.” The officers of the library given for the year 1834 include: Directors—Samuel H. Smith, president; John Sessford, treasurer; Phineas Bradley, Peter Force, Charles McLean, C. Pale frey and Richard Bennett, and the librarian, S. W, Gray. THE first home of this library seems to have been “in the front room of the first floor of the house on Pennsylvania avenue occupied by Henry Whetcroft, notary public, and owned by Elias Travers.” This, we are told, was at the south side of the Avenue between Thirteenth and Thirteen-and-a-half streets, where it re= mained for three years. In 1817 Gideon Davis was appointed librarian, evidently succeeding Jonathan S. Findlay, and the library was removed to the former's booke store ‘“on Pennsylvania avenue near the theater.” From 1820 to 1827 it was kept in the upper story of the Post Office Building, on Seventh street, which was the Blodgett Hotel Building, purchased by the Government. While located in this building it was, during the year 1821, under the care of George Sweeny, the chief clerk of the City Post Office. The fol- lowing year John Alexander Adams, a clerk in the Post Office was in charge, and from 1823 to 1827, the date of its removal to the Union Lodge Building, it was under the direction of William P. Elliot, a draughtsman in the Post Office, and here it remained until 1869, when the books, papers and equipment were removed to Ninth and D streets northwest. The old Union Lodge Building, which stood midway of the block on the Eleventh street side of the square now occupied by the Post Office Department Building, was built in 1804 by Federal and Columbia Lodges of Masons, and was the first building erected by the Ma- sonic fraternity in the city, who used the second floor for their meeting place, while the first floor was rented to the city for a registrar's office, and here the City Council for a while also held its meetings. According to W. Dawson Johnston in his “Early History of the Washington Library Com- pany and Other Local Library Companies”: “The only circulating library besides the Wash- ington Library of which I have been able to obtain any notice was the circulating library of the Charitable Society of St. Patrick’s Church, a collection for which on the 17th of March, 1823, was announced in the National Intelligencer of March 15.” ITHOUT reflecting, we who are today living in a high-price period might not consider the charges made for the use of the library of a century ago as a matter of much consequence, but when we consider the purchasing power of the dollar now and a hundred years ago we can easily see that the poor people of that day were practically excluded from partaking of privileges afforded because of the unusually large fees charged. From the first, we find with the Washington Library that it cost $12 for a share, together with an annual assessment of $3. A few years later the shares had increased to $15, and soon afterward to $16, and then for some reason dropped down to $10, but at no time does it appear to have been in reach of the poor man for whom it was said to have been designed. In Washington two pioneers in organizing ®