Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1931, Page 81

The Mount Pleasant Library, a modern branch of the Public Library, Sixteenth and Lamont streets northwest. circulating library were Davis & Force. Peter Force, the second member of the firm, who came her: as a journeyman printer and worked himself up to be mayor of the city, is well known in American library history, particularly for his valuable collection of books and news- papers, which was bought by the Government in 1886 for $100,000 and added to the Library of Congress. The Davis & Force library was the Union Circulating Library of Georgetown, which be- longed to Joseph Mulligan, and was sold to the Washington firm in 1819, and in 1825 again sold to the Washington Library Co. There were many small circulating libraries and so-called free libraries formed in the early days of Washington, only to die after a brief existence. With many of those who engaged in this enterprise it seemed largely a question of making money, and when the discovered his illusion he forthwith sold out and engaged in some other enterprise. ONE of the earliest private libraries in the city, and which today forms a considerable part of the Library of Congress, is the Smith- sonian Institution Library, which in 1867 con- sisted of some 50,000 works, “constituting.” so it was said at the time the transfer was made, “probably the most perfect scientific library in the world.” At this time, also, and for many years, it was open to the public daily (Sunday excepted) from 10 am. to 4 p.m. The Smithsonian fire of January, 1865, was a serious loss to a part of its library; the library removed from Beaufort, S. C., by the Army, and also that of Bishop Johns from the Fairfax Theological Seminary, given in charge to the institution by the Secretary of War for safe keeping, being at the time in an upper room of the south tower, and totally destroyed. The Library of Congress has not fared so well, either, so far as its loss by fire is concerned, for in 1814, when the Capitol was burned by the British, it lost 3,000 volumes. The Jefferson Library of 7,000 volumes, “which more than replaced this loss, cost the Government, howe ever, $23,950. In the subsequent fire of De- cember 24, 1851, the library lost 35,000 of the 55,000 volumes on hand at the time. The Young Men's Christian Association was formed here in 1852, and it was not long after- ward before a library for its members was started. In 1885 it had 1,300 volumes, while the Odd Fellows at the same date bad 5,000, J. S. Tomlinson being its president ex-officio; Joseph Burroughs, secretary, and the bosrd of directors including besides those named W. S. Tappan, T. W. Fowler, jr, and C. B. Crandall. . Bt was open every night except Saturday. Other libraries in the city not included among the older ones were Soldiers’ and Freedmen's Library, Carroll Institute Library, Peabody of Georgetown and perhaps many others that the writer cannot at present recall. Tax last effort to establish a city circulating library, sustained by private subscription, was made in 1895, when Gen. A. W. Greely and other prominent citizens started the Washington City Free Library, the incorporators being A. W. Greely, A. B. Hagner, Gardiner G. Hubbard, Joseph K. McCammon, Francis Colton, Robert Craig, William A. De Caindry, Helen L. McL. Kimball, 8. W. Woodward, A. M. Lothrop, Josephine A. Clark, Rufus H. Thayer, C. Hart Merriam, Robert Reyburn, M. D.; Oliver L. FPassig and E. Francis Riggs. This library had its real beginning on Jan- uary 6, 1896, and The Star of that date has the following reference to its opening: “The most recent evidence of the prevalence of the public library idea in this city is the opening today to the public of a free library containing 3,000 volumes by the recently in- corporated free library association (The Wash- ington City Free Library). The library is located in the McLean Building, corner of Vermont avenue and H street northwest. It is the expressed belief of the subscribers to the library, especially of those who are also mem- bers of the Board of Trade, that the opening of this library will help rather than retard the Board of Trade movement for the establish- ment of a municipally sustained library, which is generally conceded to be the goal of public library aspirations. It has been intimated that this library will merge with the public library when the latter shall have been established by congressional legislation.” THE real movement toward the tax-sustained Public Library of today had its beginning with the local press and the Board of Trade through its Committee on Public Library even " prior to 1894, as evidenced by their report of March 27 of that year. This report consists of 10 printed pages and is too long to repeat here, Bbut it goes very carefully into the needs of the Ppeople and strong advocates a free public library. The report was signed by Theodore W. Noyes, as ¢chairman, and James T. Du Bois, Danfel Mur- Wy e ot Ing ray, John G. Ames, Frederick B. McGuire, George E. Emmons and Simon Wolf. Indeed, a brief and clear outline of the his- tory of this library is contained in the opening statement to the first annual report, submitted in 1898, which says: “The idea of a tax-sustained public library of the modern type for Wash- ington, a supplement of the public schools for the benefit of 45,000 school children, a people's free university, open at night for the local workingmen, was first suggested and discussed in the local newspaper press, and in 1894 was taken up and strongly advocated by the Board of Trade. The Commissioners, the school trustees, the workingmen’'s organizations and various citizens’ associations co-operated to promote the public library movement, and 97 R e e the evenings is worthy of the strongest and most enthusiastic labors in its behalf. It will doubtless receive the hearty support of all friends of the Capital and its people, who ap- preciate that a city of "a quarter million of inhabitants contains men to be considered, and not merely buildings, trees, statues and monu- ments.” T takes a lot of convincing arguments, some= times, to satisfy Congress of the needs of the District of Columbia, and so it was with the question of a public library, and, indeed, more than one pilgrimage was made by the Board of Trade and its friends to the District committees before the public library bill was finally passed. One of these meetings was reported in The Star of June 6, 1894, which says: “The House Committee on the District of Columbia this morning gave a hearing to the Committee on Public Library of the Board of Trade on the bill to establish a public library in this city. Mr. Theodore W. Noyes, chairman of the Board of Trade Committee, addressed the House Committee. He briefily explained the bill, the provisions of which have been here- tofore published in The Star, and outlined the necessity for a public library in Washington. “He showed that of the 52 semi-public libraries in Washington, containing over a million volumes, not one was a free circulating library, with reading room open at night for the benefit of the public. As far as these books are concerned the people of the city are in the position of the mythical Tantalus, starving and famishing with an abundance of food and water just out of reach. * * * “Up to June 30, 1893, the Government had donated eighty million acres of land to the States for public schools, a million and a half acres for State universities and nearly ten mil- lion acres for agricultural colleges. Part of Washington City Free Library, northwest corner of Vermont avenue and H street northwest, from 1896 to 1898. finally by act of Congress approved June 3, 1896, the library was established on the basis Looking over the files of The Star for items bearing on the public library question, the writer came across an editorial in the paper of January 3, 1891, that shows the press was alert to the question quite a while before the goal sought was realized. This editorial reads: “A correspondent, whose esimmunication fs printed in another column, suggests that space be provided in the new Post Office Building for a Washington public library. The idea is a good one. It is discreditable that this need has not long ago been supplied. If suitable and convenient quarters are furnished, such as those suggested by this correspondent, the books can readily be obtained. “The departmental libraries at the Capital contain nearly 300,000 volumes, accessible only to a few employes of the Government. The vast wealth of reading matter in the Congres- sional Library is practically out of the reach of the workingmen owing to the hours of opening and closing and the conditions placed upon the enjoyment of its privileges. Viewing the ocean of books spread tantalizingly before him, the workingman, thirsty for the knowledge which comes from reading, might well exclaim with the ancient mariner: * ‘Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drmk_' . - . “There have been several local movements toward securing such a library. In 1887 the labor organizations of the city gave some at- tention to the matter and a number of citizens agreed to subscribe amounts for the purpose aggregating some $7,000. A library having a local character installed in the new Post Office Building would certainly grow rapidly through private donations of books and money, and when it had demonstrated its usefulness and that it was appreciated by the public some one of Washington's wealthy men might be moved by local pride or other good motive to endow it and give it a name. * * * “The project of a public and departmental circulating library and reading room open in »18¢ .8: s tional purposes aggregating millions of dollars, mostly derived from sales of public land. Not a foot of land had been thus donated to the District. Leaving the public school land grants out of account entirely, if the Government found it wise to donate large sums of money and millions of acres of ground for State uni- versities and colleges, it would also find it both wise and consistent to furnish the District with the few feet of public space necessary for what Carlyle calls the people’s university, the free public library. * * * “The request for the library is unanimous om the part of the citisens. The Board of Trade and the District Commissioners have indorsed it, the local workingmen’s organization has warmly commended it, and other organizations of citizens, including the East Washington Association and the Board of School Trustees, advocate it. Librarian Spofford of the Con- gressional Library in a letter to the Senats Committee and in interviews in the publie press has been one of its strongest supporters, Mr. Noyes urged the committee to take favore able action on the bill. TH!HUpmvidlulor‘hePubhcery'll finally passed, and approved on June 3, 1896, but no appropriation was provided unsil the act of June 30, 1898, was approved. In the meantime, however, the Commissioners, in pursuance of the law of June 3, 1896, appointed the following board of trustees: S. W. Wood- ward, B. H. Warner, A. R. Spofford, J. T. Du Bois, R. R. Perry, T. W. Noyes, C. J. Bell and R. H. Thayer, who upon being organized selected the following officers: President, Theodore W. Noyes; vice president, Brainard H. Warner; librarian, secretary and treasurer, Weston Flint; first assistant librarian, Miss Irene Gibson, and second assistant librarian, Miss Emily A. Spilman. The first location of the library was in rented quarters at 1326 New York avenue northwest, and the present magnificent structure, the beneficence of Andrew Carnegie, was opened to the public on January 7, 1903. Dr. George P, Bowerman is the librarian, treasurer and sec- retary of the board and shares in the success of the library and the wonderful progress it has made. || Its several branches throughout the city, with only an exception or two, are a distinct credit to the Capital. However, the city is growing fast, and so is the business of the library, and only recently temporary space was assigned in the old Metro- politan Church to relieve the congestion in the main building, and where sermons were for- merly preached, books for the education of the public will be bound, and other use made of the space allotted. Taking it all in all, the Public Library is & great institution and an everlasting credit to the wisdom of those who fought for years for a tax-sustained library to be paid from the general fund. FR!QUSNTLY the writer receives some very nice letters regarding his stories that ap- pear in these columns. He would like to use all, but sometimes he finds he cannot do so. However, here is one that he is going to pass along, since it is too good to keep: “December 28, 1930. “Dear Mr. Proctor: “I have just read your interesting article about the old Seaton Building, and it brought back very happy memories, for I attended school there through the fourth and seventh grades. Miss Sadie White and Miss E. Billings were my teachers, Miss Mary Rowe was prine cipal. It seems to me that N. P. Gage was music teacher at that time, but I may be mis- taken about that. There were no boys in the building at that time, but the boys used to come around and flirt with the girls, which was just too much for Miss Rowe, who was very strict, and she had an officer stationed outside to keep the boys away, but he happened to be very good looking, so did not stay long, for he said the girls flirted with him too much. A% the time I went to school there the Lansburghs lived just across the street in one of the big houses still standing, and well I remember how a man servant used to carry the little Lans- burgh girls across from their house to school om rainy days. “My name was Nellie Friebus, only daughter of Theodore and Florida Van Tyne PFriebus. I have been married 34 years to Paul Fout Grove; have one son, Paul Friebus Grove. “I am a native of Washington, D. C.,, and my mother was also born and raised here. You sald in your article how nice it would be to hear from some one who attended Old Seaton— therefore this letter. “Respectfully, “NELLIE FRIEBUS GROVR." Suspenders More Popular. gaudy arm band, once an important part of the wearing apparel of all well dressed men, seems to be on the way out, while the “galluses,” which were on the road to oblivion, are staging a great come-back. During 1929 the output of suspenders increased nearly 400,000 dozen, while arm bands fell off about 117,000 dozen. Less Embroidery Used, - TnyuroIIMwu-hlrlyhdouhrfi embroideries industry, for the outpus showed a decline of more than 20 per oent from 1927, while the number of workers was reduced by about 2,400 and 250 establishments went out of business. The total return for the year was set at $35,000,000. Union Lodge Building, west side of Eleventh street, betweenC and D, site of the Post Office Loyt st 3 DEUEES BEFE RN ONE 2D £ partment. Home of the Washington Library from 1827 to 1869, s » n o3 H