THE WORLD'S GREATEST LIBRARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 7

THE WORLD'S GREATEST LIBRARY.

(By William Sidkhotiiam.)

It has been said that the Seven, Wonders of the World are the Pyramids of Egypt, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the tomb of Mansolus, .the Templo of Diana at Ephesus, the Colossus of Rhodes, the statue of Zens by Phidias, and the Pharos of Alexandria. This dictum at the time it was made was. undoubtedly true; but during the last hundred and fifty years, 011 the spot formerly occupied by the famous Montague House in Bloomsbury, London, there have gradually been gathered together antiquarian, literary, and scientific collections which, although tlicy do not possess the massive grandeur of the Pyramids or the exquisite beauty of design shown in some of the triumphs of past ages, are still as .wonderful as any of these, illustrating, as they do, the history o£ the world from its very infancy. The building which contains these collections is the British Museum, and it is somewhat remarkable that a structure erected to accommodate collections allowing the gradual growth of civilisation should stand on the grounds where in 1780 were encamped the troops which were to quell the Gordon riots, one of the centres of which was 111 Bloomsbury.

In this great building can bo seen sculptures , illustrating the history of Egypt from the time of tho early Pharaohs—4ooo 11.a—an immense number of household articles, jewellery, vases, tablets of the. dead, tools, etc., typifying the oppression of the Children of Israt'l under Rameses 11, right through tho captivity, together with the coffins of ancient priestesses, with inscriptions of prayers to the protecting gods, and the embalmed remains of the leading members of tho numerous dynasties. Here, too, can bo seen antiquities of Babylonia,' Assyria, and ancient Greece and Rome recovered from the tombs, many of them in a most extraordinary state of preservation despite the fact that- they carry us hack to the lijric of Abraham; and, last, but liob least, there are 50,000 volumes of manuscripts, including Latin and Greek papyri, found in the tombs of the ancient kings, containing tho handwriting and seals of thousands of years; while close by the report- of the latest speech delivered by oiiCi of our leading statesmen may l>c read!

On tbo death of Sir' Hans Sloanc, tlio great physician and scientist, it was found that by his will his executors were empowered to offer lo Parliament his iine library and the whole of his vast collection of antiquities and works of art- for £20,000—£30,000 Itss Own it had cost him. The offer was accepted, and an act. was passed in 1753 for "tins purchase of the museum or collection of Sir Hans Sloaiitr, Bart., and of Ilia Karleian collection oi manuscripts, and procuring one general repository for the better reception and inoro convenient use oi the. Baid collection and of the Oottonian Ijibrary and ;idditions thereto." The money was raised by means of a public lottery, the amount iwing £300.000, This sum aiyo included th<t cost of -\lontaguo Houso. There were 100,000 tickets issued of £3 each. It was hoped that the funds thus obtained would be .sufficient not- only to inoet the cost or extensions and repairs, jbut also to provide for tins salaries of the officials. The collections, however, grew with such marvellous rapidity that- eventually additional land had to he obtained close to the Museum at a, cost oi £200,000, and ;t separate museum for the uatuul history

collection had to bo erected at South Kensington. When George IV gave what is known, as —The King's Library— to the nation—a. library which cost £130,000, ajul which contains some of tho greatest rarities in literature—it was decided to alter the wliolo character of the building. A separate library was erected to. accommodate the 63,000 volumes given by his Majesty, and in 1849 it was found necessary to erect the present magnificent reading room. This reading room contains 1,250,000 cubic feet' of space, and .at, the time it was erected tho surrounding libraries had an additional 750,000 cubic feet. Tho building is constructed mainly of iron, with brick arches between the main ribs. The library, which now contains between tla'ce million and four million volumes, is without exception tho largest, in the world, the only ono which approaches it in size being tho Bibliothequo Rationale, Paris; and it is interesting to note that for the accommodation of this immense number of books upwards of 43 miles of shelves are required! sor beauty of design, elegance of construction, and symmetry of form, there is no building in London which will bear comparison with the reading room at the British Museum. In the centre is a platform, slightly raised, occupicd by tho superintendent and bis assistants. 'Bound this platform, a few feet apart, aro two rows of desks arranged in tho form of a circle. The desks—tho outer ono has a circumference of nearly 2Doft—are filled with large catalogues, and radiating from the desks like the spokes of a great wheel are tho long tables provided for tho readers. By an ingenious method the tables are divided in the centj'o by a sort of partition which prevents students from being disturbed by the readers on the other side. On the top of tho partition a number of electric incandescent lamps are fixed at intervals, and just underneath these aro shelves and bookrests which, when not in use, fit- flush with fho partition. Each scat along the tables lws a letter and number, and the reader (who is provided -with pen, ink, blotting-paper, and a clwir), on filling up the form when making application for a book, notifies tho place whero lio is silting, and the book is in duo course brought to him by an attendant. The whole of the wall space right round the room to tho bottom of the dome is filled with —The Lore of Many Centuries.— Within tho reach of tho readers on the ground floor there aro 20,000 works of reference, classified in their various subjects, and in regard to these no application to the superintendent is necessary; while in the two galleries above there are 50,000 additional volumes. The dome has a singularly dignified appearance. At the bottom there is a massivo cornice, anil the inner surface of the dome is divided into two compartments, and these again arc subdivided by beautiful ornamental panels, Tho Tight is admitted through large windows, which rise perpendicularly from the cornice, and by this arrangement ample opportunity is afforded, owing t-o the curvature of the dome, for a magnificent scheme of decoration. The interior of the reading room is ono of the sights of London. Here forgather great historians, prominent- politicians, and savants—men whose works have obtained a world-wide popularity. Among the "readers" in the past have been Guizot, Thiers, Louis Isapo'.eon, Louis-Philippe, Cavour, Garibaldi, Maca-nlay, Blackstone, Dr Johnson, the fawicr of Disraeli, David Hume, the poet Gray, Carlylc, Thackeray, Dickens, Lytton, Huxley; and, coming to later times, Gladstone, Lecky Gardiner, Wolselcy, Goschen, Dilkc, Morley, Lubbock (now Lord Avcbury), and a host of others. From mid-day up to about 5 p.m., which is the busiest time of tho day, the room is generally well filled ; and as' there is accommodation for upwards of four hundred and fifty persons, the scene is a very animated one. So many applications aro mado for book during the afternoon that boys aro specially "told off" to bring tho volumes on barrows, which in .appearance resemble those used by porters for luggage at railway stations.

In order to obtain a- book the reader Las to fill up a form giving the name of-the author and title of the'work, the pressmark (indicating. the locality where the volume is to be found), ajid the date <W place of publication. These particulars are obtained from tho huge catalogues, and the reader is responsible for 'all the books that he borrows so long as the form he has filled lip and handed in to the attendants remains uncancelled. There is no limit as to the number of books a, reader may borrow; but in order to facilitate the work it is usual to fill up a fresh form for every volume lie wishes to obtain. Special rooms are set apart for those wishing to sea rare books or priceless manuscripts. By the courtesy of Mr G. K> Fortescue, who is the head of the important department of printed books, I was recently granted tho privilege of inspecting the aeries of —Galleries Behind the Reading Room, — wliero the major portion of the vast.collection is kept. And what a perfect maze it is! The reading room, as before stated, is in tho centre of a large quadrangle, and in tho four corners of the parallelogram unoccupied by the circle of the room a. remarkable and ingenious series of galleries is built, affording accommodation for millions of books. To avoid risk of fire, these galleries have skylights, no artificial illumination being allowed. They re&mblo huge cages, for the floors arc of open iron-work, which admit the light through tho several stories. The only drawback to this arrangement—a drawback which cannot bo avoided— is that during the fogs which are so prevalent in London during the winter months no books from these galleries can be obtained. Despite tho extensive accommodation which was provided, owing to the Copyright Act —under which a copy of every" book ami paper published in the United Kingdom has to be sent to tho British Museum— t'lio number of volumes increased to such gigantic proportions that a special contrivance had to be resorted to in older to provide room for them. This takes the form of sliding presses, consisting of a framework fitted with shelves open back and front so as to receive volumes on each side. These shelves aro suspended on girders, and, running smoothly on wheels, can bo easily moved backwards and forwards. They supplement the 1 sta-ndard presses, and by this means the books in many places are six deep! All these presses are made of iron plates, the shelves being covered with leather.

_ Many of tho choicest, hooks which the library 'contains wero bequeathed to the nation by private donors; others have from time to timo been purchased .by llio trustees out of the grants made annually to the British Museum by Parliament. It is impossible to form an accurate estimate :ts to the value of some of the choicest books, for many in tho library are the only known copies; but several have previously been sold at prices approaching £5,000 each. Probably ' —Tho Gem of the Collectionis the Mazarin Bible, which was printed in Latin at Menu about tho year 1465. This is the earliest complete printed book known. Tho Dictefl or (Sayings of tho Philosophers, which were translated from the French by Anthony Wyderville, Earl Kivers, and printed by William Carton at Westminster in 1477, is tho first volume known with certainty to have been printed in England. Other specimens of the earliest productions of the printing press in Luglaiid include "The Game and Playo of tho Cliesse," "Tho Book of Tales of Canntyrburye," and the English version of 'Asops Fables." Among the numerous old copies of the Scriptures and l religious works are Martin Luther's translation of tho Bible, and llvles Coverdale's Bible, (luted 1530; the New .Testament which belonged to Anne Boleyn ; "The Assertion of tho .Seven Sacraments," tho book which procured for Henry VIII. from Pope Leo X'. the title of "Defender of tjie Faith," ever since borne by the British sovereigns; the "Lives of the Archbishops of Canterbury," which was presented to Queen Llizabeth by its author, Archbishop Parker; the "Codex Alexandrinus," an ancient Greek copy of the Scriptures supposed to have-Jjecn exacted byy Thecla,

a; lady-o£ Alexandria, in-the fourth -or'fiftli contnry, and presented'by Cyril Lucar, the Patriarch of Constantinople, to Charles I. The last-named is ono of tho two most ancient copies of tho-'Scriptures in existence. —Tho Manuscripts—< in the British Museum form the finest, collection in the world.' Among tho most) interesting arc "tho Recognitions" of ■Clement of Kome in Syriac, dated about 411; tho English version of Wycliffe'a Bible, -written towards tho closo of tho fourteenth century; the orations of Hyperides, Homer, Aristotle, &c., and the "Bull of Popo Innocent 111., whereby he Teccives in fee tho Kingdom of England, given to the Roman Church by virtuo of a_ charter confirmed by fho Golden Seal of King John, and takes it into his Apostolic protection: Given at St Peter's, 11 Kalends of May a.d. 1214, and of tho Pontificate of Popo Innocent tho seveil-t-eentli year." It would bo impossible, owing to exigencies of space, to mention even a. small proportion of tho historical deeds which aro to bo seen ill the library; siiflico it to say that they include an ancient copy of tho famous 'Magna Ohaita —tho original copy is no- longer in existence—granted by Kins; John, ami the chartcr granted by William the Conqueror for tho foundation of Battle Abbey in Sussex after tho baltlo of Hastings in 1066.

Reference has already been made to tho Copywright Act of 1842, under which the Museum is entitled to a gratuitous copy of every printed book, newspaper, or document published in the United Kingdom; and it is this provision which has contributed largely to the tremendous growth of the library—a growth which lias for a considerable time occupied the serious attention of tho trustees, for it soon became apparent that- unless further accommodation could bo provided, especially for the newspapers, all the available space wouW bo filled. We have seen the ingenious method of hanging presses, by which a, vast collection of additional books can be stored ; and, as showing

—The Stupendous Growth— (lie number of volumes, it may ba pointed out that in 1753 tho library started with about 50,000 books: in iB2l the number liacl only reached 116,000; lin 1838 it was 235,000 ; 20 years later it had reached 550,000; wliilo in 1896 thero were 1,750,000 volnnes, not counting a single sheet or parts of works accumulating. Sinco then the growth has been much moro rapid, and it is estimated that there are now about 3,500,000 volumes in tha library. _ The work of arranging this collection is a stupendous undertaking; for each book lias to be classified, and the press-mark indicating its locality has to be on the back. According to tile latest parliamentary return tha total-' number of these press-marks during 1905 amounted to 74,875; in addition to which 37,404 press-marks havo been altered in consequence of chaaiges and re-arrangc-inents, nearly 31,000 labels have been fixed to books and volumes of newspapers, and 115,497 obliterated labels have been, removed. There is a corresponding amount of work to be done in cataloguing, A largo staff is engaged in tlio binding and repairing of tho books at tho Museum. The number of volumes and sets of pamphlets sent to be-bound in the course of last year was 11,985, including 3,328 volumes of newspapers; while over 25,000 books Jiave been repaired. ~ ~ Tho number of newspapers published.in the United Kingdom received under the provisions of tho Copyright Act dnring tho year was 3261, comprising 221,269 single numbers; in addition to which, largo numbers of colonial and '• foreign newspapers, together with broadsides, parliamentary papers, &c., have-either been- presented or purchased. With regard to the newspapers,, it was calculated in 1882 that tho at the Museum would be sufficient for 33 years; but since that time there has -60011 such, an enormous accumulation that tho authorities have tried: several means to copo with the pressure, Somo time ago additional storago room was provided'in the basement and the new buildings; but this has practically, been filled. The British newspapers in 1837 only occupied' about 40 presses, whereas now thero are two miles and a-quarter of presses; besides which accommodation lias bad to be provided for the colonial, American, and foreign newspapers. Some time ago land was obtained at Hendon, where for storage of newspapers and other printed matter is now in course of construction; and it is believed that the extra accommodation wliicli. will thus be provided will bo sufficient to meet the demands for a very considerable period l . —The Cost of tho Construction— of tho reading room and the surrounding galleries was £150,000; and the expenditure on purchases alone for the Museum up to 1875 was considerably over £1,000,000. Tho Government has been, very liberal in making large annual grants, sometimes amounting to upwards o£ £100,000, in order that the collections should be of the most representative character; and it was owing to the generosity of tho late Sir William Hareonrt, when Chancellor o! tho Exchequer in 1896, that the additional freehold landi on which 68 houses stood, was- secured at a. cost of £200,000 to meet tho growing needs of tho Museum. These houses arc gradually being demolished, and when the whole of them have disappeared the authorities will possess a souare plot of 13 acres completely isolated by tho surrounding roadways. It is considered that this land will be sufficient to moot the requirements of the trustees for another century, but no one can prophesy with accuracy as to the growth of tho Museum even in'the'immediate future. In the past all such predictions havo been completely falsified; but, in the words of Macaulay,. tho Museum will remain "the repository of such various and precious treasures of art, science, and learning as were scarce eve? assembled under a single roof."—Cham-! bers' Journal.