INTHItHSTKI) VISITORS AT TI1H JOHN T HI HI All BRANCH OP OMAHA Pl'BMO UBHARV
Edgar Branch of
Omalia Public Library
Thu experiences of Kgglestou's Hooslcr
schoolmaster uru recalled by the trials of
t ho library assistants who have been pio
neering at thu John T. lCdgur branch of
tho public library.
So far none of thu youngsters has tried
to smoke out thu attendants by stulllng hay
Into thu chimney, but nearly every other
subterfuge has been lesorted to without
suceess. Miss Ilertha A. Hauiuer has held
thu fort. After two months' of missionary
work she has succeeded in engrafting
library manners upon some very unwilling
subjects.
Most of the patrons of the new Vinton
street station are children and many of
them are very mild-mannered children. Hut
there are others who are not mild-mannered.
Street car sheds and ball park seats
had sheltered a gang of young Americans
who held regular meetings in thu approved
Huckleberry Finn style.
Wind and weather were defied by these
apostles of Hutfalo Hill and Jessu James.
When u line, light room, abounding In
books and papers and provided with com
fortable chairs was opened to this crowd
of cave-dwillers they had to show their
appreciation by upsetting tables and chairs
and letting out shrieks which annoyed the
spick and span children who were studying
thu Iliad and reading St. Nicholas.
Thu refining liillueucu of the beautiful
pictures of Crcclan temples which niUrn
tho walls of Omaha schools had not pene
trated the skin of the young barbarians.
Tho peaceful oyes of the Madonna of the
chair had not cnlmed the restless spirit
of boyhood. A meeting place whuro watch
ful parents and chilling teachers were not
f resent was too much for unbridled youth.
OlieiiiiiK ol' tin- liilirnry.
On January 10 tho doors of tho branch
library were thrown open to the public.
The crowd was c(iial to that which gathers
about theater doors at T o'clock In tho
hope of getting a front seat In the gallery.
For several days all was peaceful. Then
the James gang got acclimated and troublo
began.
Dangerous looking pins found tholr way
Into the seats of chairs. Self-propelling
paper wads cntne from tho dlroctlon of
serious faces that were burled In tho Cen
tury magazine or Hevlew of Hovluws. Rub
bers anil caps acquired the habit of flying
through the air. Pinches and cuffs gavu
way to a battle royal and Miss Uaumer
JOHN T. HIH5AR-FIRST CONTRIBUTOR
TO OMAHA PUBLIC UBRARY.
felt that It was time to call In somo help.
"Ten ninety," she requested, nfter giving
the telephone n flerco ring.
"Is this Chief Donahue?" sho asked.
"I want you to send an officer out to thu
branch library nt 1024 Vinton Just as soon
as you can."
Tho effect was electrical. In their haBte
to leave tho room pugilists failed to see
tables and chairs. Hooks, papers uud fur
nllnru wero In a hopeless mass. When tho
o Ulcer arrived he found Miss Uaumer
straightening up a room which looked us
though a herd of Texas cattlu had paid It
u visit.
Tho Bcheiuo worked too well. For days
thu library was deserted. Hoys peeked Into
thu windows and madu remarks about "Ily
bobs." Miss Uaumer had lost her cllcnta
and saw that sho must maku an elturt to
Inveigle them into tho reading room. Thu
hujs were chary, lllue coats und brusi but
tons were supposed to bo hidden away in
thu book stneks und the principals in thu
athletic contests didn't propose to gel
within reuch of u "copper."
One by ouo thu participants in thu mill
ventured Into thu library. Thu Illustrated
papers weru too great a temptation. At
llrst thu youngsters kept one eye on Miss
Uaumer all the time uud held themselves
in readiness to make a "get-away" In casu
tho wurst happened. When thu patrolman
on that beat stopped In front of thu li
brary station thu culprits showed u streak
of yellow and slipped noiselessly out thu
back dour. Hut they have now lived down
tholr fear.
It has not been necessary to turn in an
other hurry call. All the lions havu re
turned to the fold and they an' the lambs
sit peacefully together and feast on the
mild food tho library supplies to Its
patrons. Nick Carter Is being replaced
by O. A. Ilcnty. Pockets are not bulging
with penny dreadfuls as they wero two
mcnths ngo and (ieneral Custer and other
heroes threaten to dethrone Cherokee Hill
and Old Sleuth.
Tli.uiiUfil lvltli l.lltli- l-'o Km.
During February ICC adults visited the
John T. Kdgor bp nch. No attempt was
madu to count the children. From the
time school Is dismissed in tho afternoon
until 0 o'clock in thu evening thu library
Is thronged with little folks. Tho average
number of books Issued dally was ninety
eight. Five hundred volumes wero sent
to tho station when It was llrst opened.
This number was found to bo entirely In
adequate and 1,000 additional books have
been borrowed from the main library sine
that time.
In two months cards were Issued to 1!G$
persons who had not previously been
patrons of the public library This show
ing Is particularly good when It Is taken
Into consideration that the public library
has stations In several of the school build
lugs In tho south pnrt of the city. These
stations will be closed during the summer
and the new branch will alTord library
facilities to persons who have hitherto
been unable to secure books when tho
schools are closed.
Sunday Is the day when the branch Is
them very willing subjei Is Tlx re was
hoiiu Jockeying for positions near the
camera and a few' mills developed on ac
count of the desire of certain boys to stand
between Hie lens and fellow readers.
A troop of bright eyed youngsters shouted
u lusty goodby as the artist started for
tho car A derby hat was too great a
temptation for Johnny Deadshot lie let
f!'' vffl JHfe fill JP& tMk fliM
DRAWING HOOKS.
HHIOHT-EYED I'ATIIONS OF TUB HHANCII MHUAHV.
visited by adults. No books nro Issued
on Sunday, but the reading room Is kept
open. Thirteen monthly publications,
twelve weeklies und four dally papers
are to bo found on thu reading tables.
Children are requested to allow adults to
have the use of these on Sunday and quiet
reigns supremo in tho branch on tho day
of rest.
In naming the new branch after thu lalo
John T. Fdgar tho library board honored
thu man who donated the llrst books which
were placed In an Omaha public library.
Ho served for many years as a director
of Iho public library before It was sup
ported by tho city anil did much to per
petuatu an Institution which threatened
to bo short lived.
Mr. Fdgar was n hardware merchant In
Omaha for many years. During President
Arthur's administration ho was appointed
to thu United States consulship at Hclrut,
Syria. Ho died while filling this olllco
nnd his remains were interred at Hclrut.
Ihh Milliliter Im In Chnrur.
At present tho John T. F.dgur branch
1b open from 3 In tho nfternoon until !
In tho evening. Miss Uaumer Is In charge
of thu work nnd Is assisted by Miss Jetsle
Walker. Any book which Is in thu main
library may bo drawn through this branch.
Tho patronngo of tho new station Is far
better than had been anticipated and It
Is probable that similar branches will ho
established In other parts of the city.
A brighter, happier lot than tho little
folks who are found dally In thu Vinton
street branch cannot bu Imagined. They
have the merit of being natural Instead
of tiptoeing through tho rending room ns
though there weru death In tho family, they
walk. Occasionally they talk louder than
n stage whisper.
When Tho Boo artist went to tho branch
to photograph tho little folks ho found
a snowball drive and sent the photo
grapher's hat Into the gutter.
"That's a nice way lo treat a fellow that
gives you a square deal," a red-faced boy
shouted as he lauded an uppercul on
Johnuy'ii Jaw. He was Joined In tho ehas
tlHcmciil by Iho whole crowd and tho boy
with the loose arm was soon scurrying east
oil Vlnlon street to escape a fusillade of
snowballs.
Diamonds
Detroit Journal: Onco upon u time the
averi'ge girl fell In love with diamonds.
Il-diold, It was an abiding love.
And It eamo to pass that a small people,
who ate with their knives and went to bed
without undressing, had diamond Holds In
tliclr midst.
Now hereupon a great people becntni
illleil clear up to thu neck with high resolve
and uiiselllHh purpose, and went uftei tin
small people.
"Ah, me!" sighed thu average girl, and
wept for the small people, and madu up
nightgowns for their wounded, and was
otherwise active In their behalf.
No Hasy Job
Indianapolis Sun: " 'Sense me, boss," said
lloxey III, us ho stopped Mr. Smlthers, "I
want tur ask you a question, If I was to
offer you f0 bucks a day to do de work I'm
doln' now would you take de Job?"
"What aro you doing now?"
"Sleopln' In box cars at night an' nuiHey.n
aroun' In de cold hlttin' women for hand
outs In de daytime. Would yer take du Jon
at r.O cases?"
"No, Indeed! Why do you ask?"
"Oh, somo cheap plug hack dora Jlst asked
mo w'y I don't work."
