TTTE OMAHA SUNDAY 1JKK: MAY 21, 1911.
n
LARGEST LIBRARY IN WORLD
Great Structure in New York to Be
Dedicated on Wednesday.
THREE FTODS ABE CONSOLIDATED
laatltatloa Opens with Three and
ITalf Mllllna Kadowmeal aad Three
II a ad red Serea t r-Taree. Thna
aad Volamea.
NEW YORK, May .-The New York
Public library, the largest, the most costly
and one of the most beautiful buildings
, designed for It speclflo uses In the world,
will be dedicated to the Instruction and
the convenience of the public on Wednes
day of this week by President Taft, Gov
ernor I)ix, Mayor Gaynor and a distin
guished representation of the culture of
the entire nation. It holds shelf room for
3,600.000 volumes; it has floor spaoe of
375,000 feet, as against S26.O0O feet In the
Congressional library at Washington, and
it has cost for erection merely more than
110,000,000, a figure which, when all details
have been attended to, may rise to $12,
000,000. The land oi which It stands, front
ing two blocks on Fifth avenue, between
Fortieth and Forty-second street, was
last valued at $20,000,000.
Three foundations, originating In private
beneficence, merge In the present publlo
foundation the Astor library, Incorporated
In 1M!; the Lenox library. Incorporated In
1870, and the Tllden trust. Incorporated In
1887. The city, empowered by special act
of the legislature, gave the lund and de
frayed the cost of erection. Carrere and
Hastings were the architects. John Car
lere, one of the moving spirits In the
American renaissance of the present gen
eration, was run down by a taxlcab and
died before" he could see his greatest work
established as a part of the life of the
community.
Ait the time of consolidation, the Astor
library owned Its site and building and
had an endowment of $941,000, with an an
nual Income of $47,000 and 287,000 volumes;
the Lenox library owned Its alte and
buildings and had an endowment of fiiOG.OOO,
an Income of $."0,000 and 86,000 volumes, and
the Tllden truBt owned 20,000 volumes and
had an endowment of $2,000,000. The New
York Public library,,' therefore, opens with
a total endowment of $3,446,600 and 373,000
books on the shelves. Within the next
twenty-five years ten times as many are
expected 3.700,000. The catalogue room now
has 3,000,000 cards- and can rise to 10,000,000
without feeling cramped.
Low Lays Cornerstone.
Nine years ago next November the cor
nerstone .was laid by Mayor Beth Low.
Since then criticism has been abundant,
not always well Informed and often con
flicting. In great measure the public has
been hampered in any true appreciation
of the building as a whole by the frag
mentary' and ragged state of Its ap
proaches. Said John W. Alexander, the
painter: "The public library reminds me
of a beautiful woman who hasn't kept her
finger nails clean." All that has now been
done away with. The approaches have
been cleared and the building stands free
to the public gaze ' as the architects
planned.
Not the least interesting about it is the
land on which It stands. At the opening
of the revolution the site was part of the
spacious country place of Bobei-t Murray,
a Quaker merchant of the .busy city that
then lay three miles south of him. At
that" time the town had only reaohed as
far north as Fulton street. As it grew,
the adjacent countryside took hla name
and became Murray Hill, long a select
residential district, stUl the home of J.
Plerpont Morgan, but now invaded by the
advancing forces of business.
Jn 1820 the city contained 123,708 Inhabi
tants and about 20.000 houses. There was
no strictly residential quarter, but the
most promising development enfolded the
field which has since become Washington
Square, at the foot of Fifth avenue. But
there was a drawback, Before the rich
merchanta could be expected to build about
the square, It was necessary to find a
new potter's field, for the friendless dead
were then buried in the acres about to
become a pleasure ground for the living.
Accordingly the city bought the land now
-bounded to north and south by Fortieth
and Forty-second streets and to east and
west by Fifth and Sixth avenues, for $8,449,
and made a potter's field of It. That was
In 1823 and the same land was last valued
at $20,000,000.
In 1837 it was decided to make the field a
reservoir for the newly planned Croton
system, not only because the ground wa
high, but because it was then far out In
the country, where "the air was salubrious"
and there was "little chance of the water
becoming contaminated." Tha site now
rest at the busiest corner in the city and
Is already beginning to be counted down
town, but the reservoir stood. long an
anarchronlsm, until it was torn down to
make way for the new library.
Dimensions Are Imposing;.
The dlminslons of the building are Impos
ing In themselves, but much aa has been
written about it there is alnguarly little
authoritative critical comment on Its
architectural merits or defects. In ex
terior dignity, general opinion holds it nobly
adequate. For Interior spaciousness and
unity, it Is felt, perhaps, to fall below the
iBoston Publlo library as a pure monument
f beauty, but to exceed any other building
of its nature in the world for combined
(beauty aad utility. In general the style Is
blend of tha Italian and French Renais
sance, and Oustave Kobbe has charaoUr
txed thai blend aa "thoroughly harmonised
and mad congruous, not merely con
glomerate. Tha result." he says, "i artis
tic and dignified.
1 The exterior is exclusively of white mar
ble. Very little of anything else haa been
used Inside or out, although oolored mar
bles, both native and foreign, soft lime
atone and woodwork have been freely em
ployed as decorative accessories. The
library stands 390 feet Jong on Fifth ave
nue and 270 feet deep. (Including the two
Interior court yards, carved out of the main
block for light and air. it covers a super
ficial area of 115.000 square feet and haa a
floor space of J7S.0OO square feet). It took
800.000 tons of white Vermont marble to build
It not counting 160.000 cubio feet rejected be
cause of flaws. All the marble was ex
posed to the elements for a year or more
to teat Its qualities of endurance. When
the builder took the contract he bought the
quarry outright, roofed It over and worked
It night and day, summer and winter.
The main entrance opens from Fifth ave
nue upon the rotunda, a room which,
though Impressive In Its purity of outline
and dlgnlflsd simplicity, disappoints some
crltlce aa lacking In spaciousness for the
Introductory to a structure of such hugs
proportions." The architects " on the con
trary, felt the room adequate In Itself and
everywhere bore In mind the needs of a
living organism. They kept the hallway
and corridors severe and simple. They laid
the floors In marble and tiling to with
stand the tread of generations. They
decorated the ceilings richly, but they
made no contracts for mural paintings, a
conspicuous contrsst frwrn he example of
the Boston and the congressional libraries.
In this instance u was felt wiser to leave
blank panels which may be filled es'th.
artistio consciousness of the city, the com
memorative needs of the day and the
private munificence of the hour may sug
gest. As a mechanism, ss a , masterpiece of
convenience, the library Is believed to be
without equal In the world. It has facili
ties both ordinary and extraordinary
never before attempted. There Is a read
ing room for the blind. There Is a charm
ing little room for children, with diminu
tive chairs and low tables, quite in the I
manner of a nursery, over which a moth
erly superintendent will have charge. )
There are eight private rooms for the use i
of scholars. It waa remembered for In-1
stance, thst Rear Admiral Mahan wrote ;
his monumental works on the Influence of :
sea power almost entirely in the public !
rooms of the Astor library.
Lara-eat RendlnsT Room In World.
But the crowning glory of the edifice
Is the great reading room, the Isrgent In
the world, on the top floor at the rear,
surmounting the stack room. It runs 295
feet In length, seventy-seven feet In width
and stands fifty feet high, with ceilings
painted to simulate the cloud-drifted sky.
Bisecting It Is a double, rood screen, eighty
four feet wide and divided Into arches;
the purpose of which Is to serve the deliv
ery staff, to each member of which one of
the arches Is apportioned. Oustave Kebbe
has described this screen in part as fol
lows: v
"Elegant In proportion, simple and dla.nl- '
fled In design, with beautiful carved Cor- ;
inthlan columns and gracefully arched i
doors. It carries the beholder back to the :
old Kngllsh abbeys. The material Is quar- !
tered American oak." Woodwork plnys a j
conspicuous part In the color scheme of j
the whole building. It blends with the !
marbles and the mosaics and reflects the '
tone of the gorgeous ceilings. Nearly 1
half a million square feet of Circassian
walnut. French walnut and Indiana oak
have been used, but the proportion of na
tive to foreign wood Is as five to one.
The care spent upon this detail work was I
one of the causes that contributed to the;
length of time It. took the library to rise.
"A century hence,' said John Cnrrere, "the
classic perfection attained by the artisans
who executed this carving, then softened
by the prime of time, will have rendered
this work an antique that will be much ap
preciated. How could such a result have
been hastily attained? Time is Indeed
precious, but it Is economically expended
when the result Is so satisfactory."
The books themselves, the treasure
ground on which the rest of the library
is built, are housed In a stack room di
rectly beneath the main reading room,
comprised of seven stories, each seven
feet high. They have an Impressive mon
otony of perspective, regular, severe and
almost surgically asceptlc. The frame
work is latticed steel and the shelves of
bronze. No reader, however privileged.
will be allowed Inside. Ills call slip will
come down to the attendants through one
of many pneumatic tubes, and elevators
will carry the book he wishes back to him.
There are sixty-three miles of shelves in
the stack room alone and twenty-seven
miles more in other room devoted to spe
cial departments, making t ninety miles of
shell room in all. I
Unlike so many modern buildings the
New York public library Is built as the
ancients built, for eternity. The vault o.f
the rotunda Is a true vault, not a veneer
hung from supports above. The walls are
solid masonry. The roof Is masonry, tiling
and metal. Steel has only been used where
the ancients would have used wood. The
millions that went Into It will endure, and
as the library Is enriched from year to
year by gift and legacy U will grow in
beauty and usefulness. . .
THE FOURTH WEEK OF HY BIG
SALE BEGII1S TOMORROW
In every hv this Mile lit.s been a success. It has pleaied and sat
isfied thousands: of patrons. Sevetnl rush shipment hae this week
ben forwarded to me from the eastern manufacturing Jewelers and
silversmiths who authorized nie to conduct It. (
SPECIAL OFFERS FOR NEXT WEEK
s
,Note the following list of high grade artlrJe and the prices. Take
advantage of them now. I may be Instructed to stop this stile St any
time.
BUY WEDDING AND GRADUATION GIFTS WTA AT
JUST HALF PRICE
Don't let this opportunity slip by. Come in tomorrow and make
i your selections from these new shipments and at thene greatly re
duced prices.
M
-Good Advice.
, "Umantour advises the Mexican rebels
to lay down their arms."
I "Before they take hla advice t should
like to give them a bit." ' -"And
what would you advise?"
"I'd advise them, as soon as they had
laid down their arms,, to take to their
legs." Judge. '
"' DnII Preacher Responsible.
WifeJohn, dear, your trousers badly
need pressing. They look as of you'd been
Bleeping In them.
Hubby I have. These are the ones I
wore to church. Boston Transcript
Straw Hats
4 Cleaned &
I Blocked Too
i
are
announce-
And we dead and block felt
hate also, but "straws'
timely, hence this
ment
Now then, !f you want a pro
fessional cleaning and block
ing of atraw hate, let US know;
IXJN'T give a hat to some
street fakir to be cleaned;
IXIN'T buy a 6c packet of.
powder and expect to do a hat
ter's Job YOUKSELF.
You wouldn't feel right if
you ruined some swell Panama,
would you? We do high class
cleaning nt 75c up. Better tell
us all about your hat over tha
phone; then we will give our
prices and our statements
about WHAT can be done with
It
We pay express one way on
Incoming shipments of $3.00 or
over. Phonos Tyler. 1300 or
Auto A-2225.
Kl i .1 kl L ti I
DIAMONDS.
Graduation time Is ' near. Our
beautiful line of diamond Jew
elry i.H must ' appropriate for
gifts. Misses' Vt-carat diamond
In 14k Tiffany mount- C71 7S
ing; special sale price
Dlumoml and Pearl
Brooch
values
Sunburst
Brooch, $25 to $30 f J C j-
; sale price
WATCHES.
Watches are ideal graduation
gifts for boys and girls. Here are
two of our leaders:
Misses' o size watch, Elgin or
Waltham movement, In solid
gold filled 20 yarplu.ln or hand
engraved case; special 1f nft
sale price 1U.U V
Boys' 16-slze watch, Elgin. Wal
tham or Rockford 15-jewel; pat
ent regulator movement, fitted
In solid gold filled 20-year plain
or hand engraved case; 11 ?C
aale price
LOCKETS;
A large variety of tickets In all
late designs. Ask to see our new
Sea Oreen finish lockets. Plain
and fancy stone set lockets. $2.60
.al,e1prLaeU?r:....$1.25tO $5
FIlTDAjrTS, X.AVAXMEBES.
Something new In this line of
neckwear, In both solid gold and
gold filled. Regular price $4.50
sale4lpr?ca .$2.50 t) $22.50
CUT QLA8S.
No wedding gift Is more appre
ciated than a fine hit of cut
glass. 8-ln. Kerrv Bowls, $fi.R0
VHiiies; special aale C7
price, v
Creamers
and Sugnrs, $5.00 to
$9,1.0 values; 7 Sft tft Si 75
sale price. ... -
All other articles In our entire
line at Just half price.
evrr irwxs.
Exceptional bargains this week In
heavy set of solid gold plain
Roman cuff buttons and Bcarf
pin to match; easily worth 12.
This week, with
engraving
KOOERS BIOS. 1847 SIZ.TEB
WAJLE If you need table silverware,
you'll not again equal these prices.
f doz. Tea-spoons, regular 1 (h
price J.2.00, sale price ...'
H doz. Dessert spoons, reg-CI 7C
ular price $3.50, sale price1
do. Tablespoons, regu- fla
lar price $4, sale price ..'"V
MONDAY STEBLINO MX.YEB
k SOUVENIR SPOONS.
Any Sterling Silver Spoon in the
store, values up to $.00, 7Q
your choice Monday '
THE PINXET RINO PAS IS
HERE.
Different from anything else you
ever saw. Plnkey Rings for the
little finger to be worn one or
each.. $1.00
Set of three,
for
Come in and eee them.
52,75
"At the Sign of the Crown"
116 South Sixteenth Street
OPPOSITE BRAHDBIS BTOBES.
I sHlji 'il'i ilstnsntl iSTlM llWhtj
Office Furniture and
Fixtures for Sale
Roll-top and Flat-top Desks, Office Tables, Typewriters
Filing Cases, Addressograph, Cabinets, etc., will 'be pold '
cheap for "cash.- Inquire at C. B. Havens & Co.,' 1805 Farnam
street. " '
h' 1 II L mii 1 ! U 1 1
Mr-
Is I
111
Why Do They
Make It So Good?
THE BEER YOU LIKE I
y
Consumers' Distributer
JOHN NITTLEK,
M4 South Seta St.
Ieag. 1889, Bed S93fl
lad. r-1377.
i m a imi; 1 1 isrwiewM
HOES
SCHOOLS.
...ATTEND THE...
BellGvue College
Summer Session
JUNE 5-JULY 28
A State Accredited Institution.
Courses for Teachers fulfilling
Etate Requirement for Certificates.
High School and College
Courses in Languages, Mathema
tics, Science, History, English, etc.
Send for circular of information.
S. W. STOOKEY, President
WHLms
Br i - -nmv
Rockford GoIIggg
(U44M1) Per DVemea aetaJsrCul.
'r wenn In tha Miaaia a u ki..
baa ba era4 Ik, n ni -
rMUnkl, jr k ibiImUiih t
It'll. B. Ct'lltVfl. rfc. S. tlT B VTrtJn!
nto
White shoes will be more popular
this season than ever before. For
the Thin Summer Gown and for out-
Ring wear a woman win want White
Shoes.
How neat and tidy they always
look!
- Oxfords, Ties and Pumps of White
Buck or Canvas.
Covered heels with plain or tipped
toes.
$J 60. $3.00 to $3.60.
White footwear never looked aa
handsome aa it does this season In
the new models. '
FryShoeSo.
THE SHOERS
16th and Douglas Street.
gr H i..u ,i ''iNiiiiyaiiwww,
- ---i--n rrtm mi-- iiiaWif -
Sinar! Style
oe for
Men
Young
Young men who like swell
shoes can find here the season's
best.
The new toes, slightly narrow
are the thing. We have them in
several styles. Some button, some
lace, some blucher cut. The leath
ers are patent colt, vicl kid, vel
our, gun metal, box calf and Rus
sia calf. The price
ALL SIZK8 and WIDTHS.
We ask young men to call for a
Look at the Swagger Styles.
DREXEL
SHOE COMPANY
. 1410 Farnam Street
Slothes Scoop of the Season
2,000 Splendid Hew Spring Suits
Secured from C. J. Simon Clotbiug Co. of Philadelphia
and the Proadway Special at a magnificent cash price reduc
tion. Offering Them fo the Consumer
Ptiii urn LtJtiC'iu
All excellent new spring styles, colorings and fab
rics, regular $13.50, $15.(10, $18.00, $'J0.0O, $L'5.00 and $27.50
values; divided into four great lots
LU fit
IX)T 1
$72
LOT 2
LOT 3
IOT 4
1 1 -75 1
1 BBSS , fJ U ti bzsjbbJ
Yesterday's selling'was the biggest our Clothing Depart
ment has ever known. The announcement of. this clothing
scoop brought the people and the quality of the offerings done
the rest.- Our selling capacity was taxed to its utmost and we
J expect even greater selling Monday.
You'll find in each lot pure worsteds, tweeds, Scotches,
cassiraeres, blue serges cut in conservative and college
models.
Get in on this sale and get in quick before the lines are picked over. Rale will con
tinue till every suit is sold but the earlier you buy the more complete assortments you'll
have to select from.
See them
Monday
Sure.
mm
A fit and
style for all.
a Come early.
Remember, our guarantee of satisfaction goes with these sale suits. We know the qual
ity of material and workmanship will deliver the greatest amount of satisfaction you ever
had out of a suit at any of these prices.
When You Move Phone Us
Tou'll then appreciate having experienced, careful movers hundlinit
your household Roods. Our prompt service big, clean vans and our will
ing employes will prove a revelation to you.
25 Years' Exparlence
has taught us that thoroughness and real service are two of the beat
assets a business can have. One trial will prove our service all we claim
for it. -
v CORDON .
Fireproof Warehouse & Van Co.
(IinESSHZTI DEIJTIBT CO.)
SIS SXmta 17th Street. Qround Floor Bee BUf, .. 17th Street Side.
Fnoaeai booflaa 394 1 Io4.' A.-1314.- ; ' r
A. BEE
WA.NT AO
win rant the vaosnt
thane vacant rooms, er
i mm short notion, a
te
vary
; ' : , 1 1
mmtmm im ki mi.wHfiHiMiiB i n n n.ii mi ni.il .mmi in mt .iinniiiiiiiiii iiim.im il.i i.ii iwi mi, mi h i, n i .wtiiiiijl SwiviMnnMm'niriMiimi i "iifiT" T rTTn iiw.i mi 111 f im i miiim iiU'i j
DIRECTOR j jH
Hall
Business
Day
ABOVE ALL IN QUALITY
For Home Consumers
-PHONE-
Doug. 119; lnd.A-2119
Urn, J. Ooekhoff
Retail Dealer.
Cilice, 803 So. 7th ft.
The Bee Prints the News
5 tDl3iwl'(tl ' ' ,n - trip to
CALIFORNIA
Boginning MONDAY, May 29th,
San Francisco Overland Limited
will make the run
Omaha to San Francisco in Only 55 Hours
' This vital time saving is possible because
of the magnificent roadbed of the
Qiioi-SoiflleFi PacISk
Standard Route of the West
Protected by Electric Bleck Signals
90-pound rteel rails, roadbed ballasted with Sherman gravel, fewest curves and lowest grade all
contribute to aupreme comfort at well aa speed. Up-to-date equipment excellent dining cars on
all trains.
For fares, reservations and all information call on or address
L. Deinsforff. C. P. (EL T. A., 1324 Farnam St., Omaha, Neb.
, Phone Doug. 1528; Ind.. A-3231
I
bLssmi
