The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 21, 1897, Page 25

A b X THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 1897. HE public libraries of San Fran- cisco are among the best equipped in the world and 1n the way of in structing, educating and amusing the vublic are accomplishing a work that in ?“ probability no other agency could. . There are scores of small libraries in San Francisco that have been established in ection with different organizations and sectet societies, but they are oniy ac- cessibie {0 the members of these associa- tions. But there are others to which any reputable person may attain access, freely or at a very slight cost. e San Francisco Free Publtc Library 1s probably the most popular institution of ibe kind in the Cily. All that one re- quires to become a member of it is the in- orsement of some citizen in good stand- g Itis absolutely free. It has an im- e stock of books, which is being con- stantly increased by the purchase of new publications. The reference-room con- nected with the library deserves special commendation, as it is thorouguly quipped and splendidly managed. lh\"u there are the library of the Me- clanics’ Institute on Post street and the Mercartile Library in Van Ness avenue, both of which are splendidly supplied with good books. There are 74,000 volumes upon the shelves of the library of the Me- chanics’ Institute, and as it is located in the heart of the business portion of the City, and is easy of access, it has a very large membership. The Mercantile Li- brary is of the same character as that of the Mechanics’ Institute. Upon its shelves are to be found the productions of he best‘al_l'.hors of this and other coun- ) es. Thé Theosophical Library and t o-’_ the Academy of Science are stitutigns such as their names indicate, d the works upon their shelves treat of ology and of science. The Y.-M. C. A library is a most pleaa- unt place for one who loves good books to visit. The works of all the standard su- thors are to be found tnere. In many aday’s travel one could mot find 3 -more interesting place than the Mariners’ library and reading-room on mento street at the junction with lors from American ships, mr Norway and Sweden, gland, Germany and Russia, from istralia and from China and Japan here and read story-books and ers. Nowhefre except in a sea- s librarycouid one find such an in- ting assemblage as this. he Sutro library, in the Montgomery , containing several thousand vol- es, will be opened to the public as soon as the books can be catalogued. These public libraries of the City are doing for those of larger growth what the pablic schools are doing for the children, etly and unostentatiously they are dis- ng an influence for good whose gentle effects are felt in many homes of the City.- Those who have charee of the principal ibraries of the City have written eoncern- ing these institutions for THE CALL. Their communications follow: San Francisco’s Free Public Library for the first time entering the brary frequently are heard to ex- irprise at the size of the. institn- tion and the extent to which 1t is used. Located as it is in the City Hall, its iden- lost in'a measure, and for those not tomed to patronize 1t there is no uous reminder of its existence, as would be were it boused in a build- ing of its own. It occupies the second and third floors of the easterly wing on the McAllister-street side of the Hall and is reaclied by an elevator ranning from ihe entrance at-the corner of the wing. The,_ library contains 85,000 volumes in its main collection and 7000 volumes in the tive branch libraries. Of the books in the main library about 9000 are classified as English prose fiction, while 4000 more e of a character appealing more to the nger readers and form the children’s The remainder of the collection, or five-sixths of the whole, is made up of representative works in all branches of literature, the arts and sciences. The col- lection is growing constantiy, several sand-volumes being added each year. The library is a municipal institution sup- ported by funds derived from taxation, and governed by a board of twelve trus- including the Mayor as a member ex officio. It is free to all regidents of the city. oyer12 years of age who comply with s regulations, and to non-resident tax- ers. The only formality required in order to become a member is the filing of an ap- plication, stating the name and address of the applicant, and indorsed by some re- sponsible party. There are at the present time 19,000 registered borrowers enjoying the privileges of the librazv. Over 30,000 volumes per month, or 1000 per day, are i¢sued for home use and over 20,000 vol- umes per month are issued for use in the rooms of the library. A 12-page bul- letin je issued monthly. for free distribu- tion containing lists of the current acces- ions.and other information of interest to se public. In addition to the general delivery room there is-a reference room containing 5000 volumes and affording special facilities for study and research, a periodical and reading room and a children’s department containing selected books suitable for children’s reading. In the basement, on the Park-avenue side, is the newspaper room;, where the current local and State papers are kept on file. To accommodate resiaents in districts remote from the City Hall a system -of branch libraries is maintained. There are five of these, so distributed 2s to bring the library within the reach of the largest possible number of ‘people. Daily communication is maintained be- tween the branches and the main library, so that borrowers residing in the vicinity oi a branch can send through it to the maid library for books and return them in the same way. Bach branch is equipped with a small but carefully se- lected collection of popular books, some good reference works and a number of yeriodicals, Thus, in addition to serving as distributing stations for the main librery, they are in themselvesable to pro- vide for the ordinary wants of mauy read- ers. The by-laws of the library provide that “the trustees shall have a seal, the device being: A central figure representing a sy bpok, with rays of light diverging there- srom.” The function of the library is construed to be the provision of healthful recreative reading and the dissemination of light. G. T. CLARK. Library of the Hechanics’ Instilute ‘When the Mechanics’ Institute was or- | ganized, December 11, 1854, its avowed object was “the advancement, protection and improvement of the mechanic arts and sciences,”’ and the object, broadened to include the ‘‘establishment of a library of circuldtion and reference, a reading- room, the formation of classes and delivery of lectures,” has been steadfastly main- tained through all the vicissitudes that ; have beset its path. It is not impossible that, without the | strong library interest to bind its members together, the association might have met the fate of the hundreds of “mechanics’ institutes” organized throughout the United States about this time, and which bava for the most part failed utterly, or become a mere name. This institution fortunately had men of persistent deter- mination—men who gathered strength from adversity, who with splendid courage kept to their purposs through all discour- agement, and nurtured the infant associa- tion, born in the excitement and unrest of those troublous timeés, until it has reached man’s stature and can stand alone. The library that in 1855 contained four volumes—presented by 8. C.-Buekbee— has, in 1897, 74,000 volumes. Surely these men have builded well. The institute has been a factor in the prosperity of the City from the first. Its annual exhibitions industries of the City and State. Its evening classes were the forerunner of the polytechnic school. | It has from the first been independent and unaided, except in_one instance—the bequest from James Lick of $10,000 for mechanical and scientific books. many plans for the future that will re- quire the same devotion and energy to zccomplish that has been shown in the past. The library was organized and is continued on the broacest lines that a lib- eral policy can devise. There are no bars and locks between the books and reader; absolute freedom of access to all books is the rule and has becn from the start. It is the members’ library and belongs to the many, not the few. Every encour- agement is offered to members to surgest books for purchase and otherwise takea personal interest in its affairs. As we labor under the disadvantage of having no complete catalogue tie arrangement of the books on the shelves must necessarily be systematic and consistent. The fiction, poetry, drama, essays and letters are arranged alphabetically under each class; history and travel, by country; biography, alphabetically by subject, and science and the arts by a close classificavion of their general branches, The shelves are labeled distinctly, and as the reader may go directly to the books the need of & cata- | Jogue is lessened in some degree. We | bave numerous catalogues of other libra- ries, trade catalogues and bibliographies welcome to use freely. In this era of the printing-press there are books in embarrassing profusion to choose from. The seleciion of bocks that shali be useful as well as entertaining, always keeping the special needs and ob- jeots of the institute in view, is the diffi- cult problem that faces the books commit- | tee constantly. The progress of knowl- | edge in many departments is so rapid that books are antiquated in a few years, and it requires little less than inspiration | to determine which of to-day’s books in science and the arts will be available for to-morrow’s use. In the lighter litera- ture the task is easier, for it is realized that, however much we may wish that the general reader craved more solid mental food, he cannot be direcied beyond a certain lim This fact is recognized and the policy of selection is very liberal. The most re- sponsibility is feli in the selection of books for the young. What children read and how much they read are matters of the utmost importance.. The library has books for children in history, travel, biog- raphy, science and literature, as well as fiction, written in the most entertaining manner and well illustrated. But children need some guiaance in selection to form a of special fopics, whict the members are GEor g GE.T. CLARK UBRARMN FRgELE,BUBBL‘C Ll JELLISON i habit of good reading and wise restraint to prevent over-reading. Here comes the duty of the parent and teacher. They should realize that the cuiture of tnese minds are worth infinite care and patience, for upon them depends the future of the race. Those who have the direction of youth need the information and inspira- tion from the many carefully prepared maauals on reading for the young—books written by earnest men and women who bave made the education of children a life study. In short the library of to-day is a school broad enough to include the beginner in knowledge and the hoary sage. A. M. JELLISON. Fistory of the Hercantite Library The handful of earnest young men who held a meeting in this City in December, | 1852, for the purpose of organizing a library | assocuation, * uilded better than they knew.”” Their labors, fruitful at the out- set, have resulted in the checkered career of many years—now successful, now hall- hearted—of the Mercantile Library Asso- cigtion, now in its spacions building at, tlie corner of Van Ness and Golden Gate RARY \MARINER — o AN, ME&fisfiTruTa bave done much to foster and develop the | avenues in tne very heart of the City. Inits early years the library was the meeting-ground of citizens with reading | tasies, and so on through the vicissitudes It has | St | City. of its forty years’ life the people of San Francisco have regarded this library with an affection which perhaps is not be- stowed on any similar 1nstitution in the Many of its patrons of thirty or more years ago have been constantly on the members’ roil to this date. The collection of a thousand volumes at the start has grown to that of nearly 80,000, as recorded in the last annual re- port. While the signification of the name “Mercantile’” has sometimes bcen mis- interpreted it should be understood that any person of good character is eligible for membership. In conducting the library through all these years it hss always been the pur- . pose of those in charge to maintain a col- lection of books which would pe credita- ble to the institution. True enough, the ephemeral mnovel has of necessily been shelved almost daily; but books of ster- ling value for permanent reading or re! ence have always had preference. With How thankfiil am I that the white snows And curtain its couch when ii sinks to _In mountain and plain and in forest and In the bright silve That after their journey through lightni] In the far-distant stars that watch over ii HENRY F EATON, Have quenched the fierce fires and passtons of youth; That now all alone and in reace I can rest, - And communion can hold with the spirit of truth, As scen in all forms and as heard in all sounds; In the dewdrop, that sleeps on the breast of the rose; In the clouds that eccradle the day at its birth, treams that glide down to the deep, Their. waters for aye in its bosom may sleep; In the blue arching sky that bends o'er the earth; In the bright beaming orb that enclothes it in light— its magnificent collection of fine art works and galleries of illustrations reproducing 1n black and colors the masterpieces of the old painters; ils thousands of bound volumes of the best, periodical literature of the worla—invaluable for reference; its excellent collection of old dramas, rare books of archwology, travel and histor; all these and more give the Mercantile Library of to-day a placa in the front rank, without a rival on this coasu. To the casual reader, who may not be a member of the association, this may seem like ex- aggeration. Those who know the facts will raise no question. The large. sunny, main room of the library, with its numerous cozy alcoves and comfortable laaies' reading parlor, has not its ‘equai, we are told, for light ana cheer even in the elegant new build- ing of the Boston Public Library. All these features, it would seem, are conducive to a more than usual elevation of the tastes of those frequenting such a nall dedicated to literature, science and art. San Fianciscans, however, are not unlike the restof the world in reading matters. Here, as in most libraries, fic- tion is the goddess whose-favors are most liberally sought. The novel of the day, “Something New,” is called for most fre- quently. While on the other hand thought- s READING HR RooM ful and painstaking students, searche: after truths, are daily visitors who accom- plish_much with less ado and to whom the librarians delight in extendinga belp- ing hand. Inquiries for books which in one chapter settle the perplexing ques- tion. “Is the majority always in the right?” or in another chapter will demon- strate to & certainty that “‘Whatever is was,”” are daily received and invariably | disposed of satisfactorily. | That in its career of forty years and | more the Mercantile Library has always had the friendship of the reading com- munity goes without saying. Yet has it bhad in the past, and has it to-day, the support it deserves? More than once it has had a narrow escape from death at the bands of those Wwho have not always wished it well. Tc-day the association is handicapped, but its future is not consid- ered barren of promise. Surely the priae manifested in Jocal institutions by our citizens of means would be well directed if exterded to this library. Let me vigoro urge the friends of UBRAR G SOLEMAN 1 & N, MEEICBARAW. the “‘old Mercantile” to see to it that it fulfills the career of usefulness which iack of age In the ¢ repose; . In the zephyr that sings the evening to res! In the voice of the bird that is calling its mate: In the mother song crooned to the babe on her breast; In the wild shout of joy; in the deep sigh of grief; ek of the maiden, all fresh in its bloom; In the brow of old gge, that is furrowed by time; In the pale form of love, lowly 1aid in the tomb. of means has latterly prevented its ac- complishing. H. R. CoLEMAN. In the Wlariners’ Free Reading-Roam The Mariners’ Free Reading-room and Library, situated in the Mariners’ Cnurch at the northeast corner of Drumm and Sacramento streets, was the first iree read- ing-room opened in San Francisco. It nad its beginning in April, 1876, in & room on the ground floor of the church, and was then under the auspices of the Mariners’ Free Keading-room Associa- tion.. This association was formed of a few business men who saw the need of such a reading-room on thg water front, and to establish and maintain it gave liberally of their own means and collected from friends donations of moaey, farniture and reading matter, 80 that a cozy, pieasant roum was soon drawing in the steps not only of the ‘‘toilers of -the deep,”” but others. The prelude to the old *‘Ruies and Reg- ulations” reads as follows: “This room is intended for a quiet and pleasant resort for such . well-bshaved people, male or female, seamen or lands- men, as desire to spend leisure time in 7 ) //’ 2L useful reading or letter-writing.” The reading-room was from the first supported by voluntary contributions and cared for by the Mariners’ Church. In 1881, for financial reasons, the reading- room was removed to the upper floor of the church, where it has remained until the present time. It is a sunny, pleasant ro6m with a southern exposure. ‘It hasa library of about 1000 miscellaneous works and is well supplied with secular and re- ligious weekly newspapers from all paris of the couniry, in various ianguages, all donated. The City dailies are represented. The Bulletin, Journal of Commerce and Commercial Newsaredonated. Exchanges from the coast towns, also from €bina, Japan and the colonies, are biought in weekly by a faithful friend of the work. Magazines and other reading matter for outward-bound ships are also donated, and furnish the reading tables before going on their journey around the world. The letter-box kept for the convenience of geamen is an important part of the reading-room. Here letters, newspapers and parcels from all parts of the globe meet and are heid until called for. Let- In all I behold the serene smile of hope, field— And hear ‘When the ng and storm, ts sleep, And bespangle with gems the dark ralment of night; ’ sweet voice that is whispering “res rm-clouds of earth have all flitted And the “*clods of the valley” And thus from the teachings of. nature I learn To heed not the iils which of earth-life are born, But to wait, through the gloom and the darkness of night, For tae soul-cheering light of the soon-comirg morn. 8y, e faid on my breast. Rurus C. HOPKINS, ters are kept for twelve months and then returned to foreizn aidresses, if given, otherwise to the dead letter office at Wash- | ington. * - Blanks for money orders are keptand money sent for seamen whose work pre- vents them from attending to these mat- ters in bpsiness hours. _ Free stationery is supplied to seamen, for the room has come to be chiefly a re- sort for seamen and tho-e wnese employ- ment on the docks gives them frequent leisure hours which they are glad to oc- cupy in reading. The reading matter most in use is the magazines and news- papers, although standard works from the library are often calied for. Bhakespeare isa favorite with many a plainly dressed man and Milton and Young are read. Some of Emerson’s most profound books have been given to the hbrary alter being well Tead by the sailors who presented them, for there are botn reading and thinking men in our coast trade as well as in deep-water ships. Evening sees an influx of men from the foreigi ships in port reading or writing letters home, chatting quietly in groups, and often going back to their ships heavily laden with the package of reading that is to relieve dull hours at sea. 0dd characters sometimes drift into the == MO T, JOH::’SP?*?::AV ARIAN, 'mEOUBRARY quiet room—the flotsam and jetsam of the ebbing sea of life, Tue half-crazed beg- gar with long locks, who fancies himself a street preacher; the quiet man who writes diligently for hours, as though writing a book, but is really sribbling non- sense; the man who comes in aj pirently for a good nap, and whose snores are both loud and deep; the umbrella fiend, and last but not least, the book fiend, under whose coat the Century and_Harper's are spirited away. But these are the few. The many come in for quiet and rest and for the mental food supplied by the great press, whose messengers to-day are so abundant and 80 free that both rich and poor may enjoy a deily intellectual treat. HENRY K. EATON. Intelloctual Recreation of the Y. ). C. A. The Young Men’s Christian As<ociation library, or reading-room, as it more prop- erly and usually is called, has never been intended to serve asan archive of antiquity for information, research and investiga- tion, but is intended to furnish intellectual recreation, current news and entertain- ment for those whose privilege it is to use it. In many associations of smaller com- munities, the reading-room is utilized as a public rendezvous, there often being no other similar place available in the com- munity. In citieslike ours, it is intended as a distinct membership privilege, with an especially granted privilege to strangers where application is made. This special department of association work is used by about 200 members and their friends on an average per day for the year. An abundance of current newspapers and magazines are kept constantly on file, The hooks in the library are of the pop- ular sort, having been donated to it in small lots from time to time, until there has accumalated about 4000 volumes. H. J. McCovy. Where Theosophical Literature Js Found The theosophical Lbrary in the Acad- emy of Sciences building is the property of the Pacific Coast Theogophical Commit- tee, an incorporated body, of which Dr. J. A. Anderson of th:s City is the president. The books contained in this library comprise the oxtensive literature of the Theosophical Society. The main object of this society is to establish a nucleus of a Un:versal Brotherhood of Humanity; and, as an aid to this object, it encourazes the study of comparative religion. Spe- cial attention Is paid to the ancient Aryan 25 A59'/19 Literary Oastes of San Francisco’s fyriads and other Eastern religions, philosophies and sciences, the society believing that in this way people may recognize for them- selves that all religions rest on a common busis ana must have sprung originally from one source. To this end the society has founded this library. Its pooks contain various trans- lations from Sanskrit, and numbers of works by different authors explaining the philosophy and ethics brought forward by the founder of the society, the late Mme. H, P. Blavatsky. ‘‘Isis Unveiled” and “The Secret Doctrine,” ber two most celebrated works, may be consulted here, It is the only complete theosophical library in the City. There are various magazines, the publications of the many branches of the society throughout the world, to be found on the tables in this room. The library is open daily except on Sun- days, from 10 o’clock in the morning until 5 in the afiernoon, and visitors are cor- dially welcome. The books may be read in the rooms, which are also the head- quarters of the committee, or they may be borrowed and taken home. There is no charge for this, since the society desires that all shall have the opportunity of be- coming acquainted with this literature, which 1s worthy of study as presenting solutions of nearly all the problems of life, and offering for consideration what we regard as the “missing links’’ in ortho- dox beliefs. There is also in connection with the reading-room & complete line of theo-J sophical books for sale, as many desire to own these books ‘instead of borrowing them. Amos J. JoHNSON. Prioncer Jubilee. Utak Soon to Celebrate Feor Semi-Ceontonnial. The 24th day of July, 1897, will be the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneer pand in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and will witness the close of a five days’ celebration which will prob- ably equal in magnitude and splendor any other celebrailon ever given west of the Mississippi. On this occasion it is pro- posed by the people of Utah to do honor to the hanaful of Anglo-Saxons who half a century ago broke the first trail from the Missouri River and wresting the wilder- ness from desolation laid the foundation for the present greatness of the mighty area between that river and the Pacific Coast. i Before the journey was undertaken all that was known of the western portion of the United States could bave been in- seribed upon the ivory tablet ot a modern society beile. Vague rumors placed in circulation by Coronado, Father Escalante and La Hontowo! wild humpbacked oxen and great interior seas were extant; but the mighty mountains and the buried wealth within them, the broad plains of fertile soil, and the great timbered areas which have since producea vast weaith, were then whotly unkncwn. After the journey—after the trail was broken—came the emigrant trains and the pony 'express, and the stage coach, and the railrogd, and with them gradually rising higher and higher roiled the wave of ‘humanity-which has peopled the West- ern empire and drawn through it the lines of m dozen br more populous and pro- duct ve States. In the celebration of all this the people of Uiah will cohcentrate their energies and:expend - their moneys in July next, and such a celebration as it will bel It will cost §100,000. - The pony express will be re-established znd messages again be sent overland in the old way. The stage coaches-will be dragged from their biding- ‘places and pass ence more over ‘‘the Ben Holladay trail.”” Those who are living of the original pioneers will be presentand balf a century atter the day of the close of their memorable pilgrimage they will again enter the Salt Lake Valley by the old road in the old wsay. In factitisin- tended to reproduce true to life every step taken by civilization in this region since the settlement in 1847. All of the strength and vigor and enterprise of the people of Utah will bé enlisted in this celebration, for the intention is to make it an event which will attract National attention. At thistime it 1s impessible to more than outline the most important features of the occasion. The work of preparation is in the hands of a commission created by the laws of the State, and no effort will be spared to make the affair omeof great magnificence. The people of the United Statesare in- vited to participale in the celebration. It will occur when Utah’s scenicand climatic splendors are at their best—when the many colored garments of harvest are on her fertile valleys and when bathing in her “inland salt sea’’ is most perfect. Tt Winds Jisels. The latest novelty in the line of time- keepers wiil appeal-to lazy people. It consists of a watch that does not require any winding. All that is necessary for its owner to do in order to have tha time with him always is to walk hall a mile a day. The watch.does the rest. These novel watches are got out in several varieties of cases, some of them extremely ornamental, but the kind most commonly. seen in Chicago is made with & plain black case and an open face, Thne winding mecbanism consists of an in- genious contrivance by which a small weight is raised and lowered from the jar of walking. - Tue motion of the weight works a small ratchet arrangement which winds the spring to its full teasion and then is automatically held until more winding 18 needed. A course of shaking up and down for a few minutes will. answer the same purpose as a stroll afoot, while all the jolts and jars of ordinary existence are likewise made useful as a m ans of winding. The possibilities which thisnew wateh opens up for forgetful and lazy pe -ple are enormous, The man who comes home late at night by an irregular course of pro- gression down the street, witl no longar need to have his wife wind his.watch in order to keep it going, and the more tem- pestuous and full of ups and downs his evening has been the better the watch will be wouna. The student, college pro- fessor and young woman in love will all be blessed with a perfect-running time- piece, no matter how often they forget to wind it before going to bed at night. Above all, society will he delivered from the necessity of hearing the remarks of the fool mian who says he doesn’t carry a watch simply because he is too lazy to wind it.~Chicago Tribune. ' —————— The principal fortresses of Austria-Hun« gary are Cracow, Phzemysl, Karisburg, Arad, Temesvar, Koworn, Peterwardein, Budapest, Pola and Trieste, the last ti naval harbors as well. i ————