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provision is one called for only by our excess of
wealth； it can hardly be contemplated without
a shudder at a process so repulsive applied
to the best beloved among inanimate objects。
It may be thought that the gloomy
perspective I am now opening exists for great
public libraries alone。 But public libraries
are multiplying fast； and private libraries are
aspiring to the public dimensions。 It may be
hoped that for a long time to come no grave
difficulties will arise in regard to private
libraries； meant for the ordinary use of that
great majority of readers who read only for
recreation or for general improvement。 But
when study； research； authorship； come into
view； when the history of thought and of
inquiry in each of its branches； or in any
considerable number of them； has to be presented；
the necessities of the case are terribly
widened。 Chess is a specialty and a narrow one。
But I recollect a statement in the Quarterly
Review； years back； that there might be
formed a library of twelve hundred volumes
upon chess。 I think my deceased friend； Mr。
Alfred Denison； collected between two and
three thousand upon angling。 Of living
Englishmen perhaps Lord Acton is the most
effective and retentive reader； and for his
own purposes he has gathered a library of
not less； I believe； than 100；000 volumes。
Undoubtedly the idea of book…cemeteries
such as I have supposed is very formidable。
It should be kept within the limits of the dire
necessity which has evoked it from the
underworld into the haunts of living men。 But it
will have to be faced； and faced perhaps
oftener than might be supposed。 And the
artist needed for the constructions it requires
will not be so much a librarian as a
warehouseman。
But if we are to have cemeteries； they
ought to receive as many bodies as possible。
The condemned will live ordinarily in pitch
darkness； yet so that when wanted； they may
be called into the light。 Asking myself how
this can most effectively be done； I have
arrived at the conclusion that nearly two…thirds；
or say three…fifths； of the whole cubic
contents of a properly constructed apartment＇12＇
may be made a nearly solid mass of books：
a vast economy which； so far as it is applied；
would probably quadruple or quintuple the
efficiency of our repositories as to contents；
and prevent the population of Great Britain
from being extruded some centuries hence
into the surrounding waters by the exorbitant
dimensions of their own libraries。
… The End …
FOOTNOTES：
1… In Der alte und der neue Glaube
2… xxi； 25。
3… First of all it seems to have referred to the red
capital letters placed at the head of chapters or other
divisions of works。
4… Cic。 Pro Archia poeta； vii。
5… Essays Critical and Historical； ii。 228。
6… The Prayer Book recently issued by Mr。 Frowde at
the Clarendon Press weighs； bound in morocco； less
than an once and a quarter。 I see it stated that unbound
it weighs three…quarters of an ounce。 Pickering's
Cattullus； Tibullus； and Propertius in leather binding；
weighs an ounce and a quarter。 His Dante weighs less
than a number of the Times。
7… See Libraries and the Founders of Libraries； by
B。 Edwards； 1864； p。 5。 Hallam； Lit。 Europe。
8… Hor。 Ep。 II。 i。 270； Persius； i。 48； Martial； iv。 lxxxvii。 8。
9… Edwards。
10… Rouard； Notice sur la Bibliotheque d'Aix； p。 40。
Quoted in Edwards； p。 34。
11… The Director of the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris；
which I suppose still to be the first library in the
world； in doing for me most graciously the honors of
that noble establishment； informed me that they full…bound
annually a few scores of volumes； while they
half…bound about twelve hundred。 For all the rest
they had to be contented with a lower provision。 And
France raises the largest revenue in the world。
12… Note in illustration。 Let us suppose a room 28 feet
by 10； and a little over 9 feet high。 Divide this
longitudinally for a passage 4 feet wide。 Let the passage
project 12 to 18 inches at each end beyond the line of
the wall。 Let the passage ends be entirely given to
either window or glass door。 Twenty…four pairs of
trams run across the room。 On them are placed 56
bookcases； divided by the passage； reaching to the
ceiling； each 3 feet broad； 12 inches deep； and separated
from its neighbors by an interval of 2 inches；
and set on small wheels； pulleys； or rollers； to work
along the trams。 Strong handles on the inner side of
each bookcase to draw it out into the passage。 Each
of these bookcases would hold 500 octavos； and a room
of 28 feet by 10 would receive 25；000 volumes。 A room
of 40 feet by 20 （no great size） would receive 60；000；
It would； of course； be not properly a room； but a
warehouse。
End