Philadelphia Record, Feb 24, 1880. William H. Dorsey Scrapbook Collection, 247.37.
What We Read
A peep into the eighty-one libraries of Philadelphia.
The books most sought after—novels forming eighty per cent of the whole demand.
Inquiry among the various miscellaneous libraries in the city discloses the fact
that about 80 per cent of those who patronize them are readers of novels and story books.
In explanation, however, of this large showing of what might be erroneously construed
into a growing taste for light literature, the interesting fact is submitted that science,
history and matters intended to agitate reforms, which in former years were made the
subjects of special books, are now worked up into plots of the modern novels, and which,
during the past fifteen or twenty years, have thus become of a decided didactic nature,
intended to instruct as well as to interest and amuse the reader.
Prominent among the publications of this character may be mentioned Jules
Verne’s works, Mrs. Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” “Ginx’s Baby” and some of Charles
Dickens’ novels. Sometimes, however, a popular lecturer will create a sudden demand
for some historical of biographical work by making it the subject of his discourse; thus,
when Dr. Lord, in his recent lecture in this city, picked out the flaws of Froude’s
biography of Julius Caesar, the demand upon the library for that particular book almost
amounted to a rage, Rev. Joseph Cook, in the same manner, incited a general perusal of
Tyndall’s and Huxley’s treatises on Science; while Bob Ingersoll gave Darwin’s works a
sudden impetus by his frequent reference to them in his lectures.
Among the present popular novels are the “Memoirs of Madame de Remusat,”
translated by Mrs. Castel Hoey; “Under the Tricolor,” by Mrs. Hooper; “Moths,” by
Ouida; “In the Shillingscourt,” translated by Mrs. Wister; “His Majesty Myself;” “A
Fool’s Errand;” “An Earnest Trifler,” and “Carried by the Storm,” by Mrs. Agnes
Fleming. The works of such authors as Wilkie Collins, Dickens, Thackeray, Fennimore
Cooper, Hawthorne and Scott’s “Waverly Novels,” continue the standard selections of
the average reader, and are always in demand. As a matter of interest, it may be
mentioned that, according to the library statistics, the collection of the eastern
Penitentiary, consisting of over 9,000 volumes, enjoys the largest average circulation the
city, the changes of books being comparatively five times greater in that than in any other
library.
Among the elegant and costly private libraries in the city is that of Mr. George W.
Childs, consisting of a remarkable collection of 5,000 volumes of leading standard works
upon nearly every subject. The chairs, tables and cases of the library are all finished with
carved ebony inlaid with gold, and the books are exquisitely bound. The collection also
embraces many rare original manuscripts of celebrated authors. The library of the late A.J.
Fish, M.D., the decon of the venerable Shakespeare Society of Philadelphia, is another
noteworthy collection, consisting principally of numerous editions of Shakespeare and
many classical works. Fairman Rogers, Esq., possesses a collection of dictionaries,
encyclopedias and books relating to art, engineering and equestrianism unrivaled in this
country. In his library may also be seen the famous calculating machine invented by
George Grant, of Cambridge, Mass., which attracted so much notice in this country and
in Europe about 15 years ago. Another remarkable library is that of Samuel R. Phillips,
Esq., one branch of which being made up exclusively of works upon the late rebellion,
published on both sides then and since the war. There are over 12,000 books and
pamphlets treating this subject in this library, and constituting it the most complete
collection in this respect in this country. The Shakespearian library of Horace Howard
Furnace, Esq., has frequently been made the subject of newspaper comment, and is
recognized as the most thoroughly Shakespearian in the world. It contains fifty-nine
editions of the work in the English and ten editions in other languages. The ceiling of the
room is frescoed with Shakespearian arms, and among the curiosities is the skull which
was used in the Walnut Street Theatre for many years, and bears the names Keane,
Macready, Kemble, Booth, Forrest, Cushman, Davenport, Murdoch, and Brooks, all of
whom held it as the representative of the Jester’s skull, and the famous buckskin
gauntlets, known as Shakespeare’s gloves, richly embroidered with gold thread, and
which are the best authenticated and most valuable relics of Shakespeare in existence.
It may not be generally known that Philadelphia is at once the birthplace of
circulating libraries and can lay claim to the honor of having the largest number of
circulating library books and book readers in the Union—disputing this palm even with
Boston, the so-called “Athens of America,” and which is generally regarded as the hub of
culture.
The organization of the first library in this country dates back as far as 1695, and
is known as the Christ Church Theological Library of Philadelphia, now containing about
five thousand volumes, chiefly comprising books of reference upon religious matters, and
not intended for circulation. The idea of collecting a miscellaneous variety of reading
matter, to which others should have access, fist occurred to Benjamin Franklin in the year
1730, and in this city he induced several others to club together with him in renting a
room and contributing such books as they had and buying new ones for the use of the
members, and which constituted the germ that a year afterward blossomed into the
organization of the Library Company of Philadelphia, on Fifth and Library streets, which
is the oldest and with its branches, now ranks second among the mammoth circulating
libraries in the land, their order being as follows: The Public Library of Boston, 301,063
volumes; the Philadelphia, founded by Franklin, 169,380 volumes; the Mercantile, of
New York, 160,613 volumes; the Astor, of the same place, 152,446 volumes, and the
Mercantile of this city with its 136,765 volumes.
There are 81 libraries in this city, exclusive of about 25 connected with various
reformatory and charitable institutions. Of these 81, 31 contain miscellaneous collections
of books, including historical, biographical, and scientific works, as well as poetry and
fiction; 23 academic libraries; 7 solely devoted to scientific publications, 7 theological
and missionary libraries; 6 made up completely of medical books; 5 of a purely historical
nature, and 2 law libraries. Prominent among these are the Mercantile Library; the
Apprentices’ Library, 25,000 volumes; the Anthenaeum, of Philadelphia, 23,000 volumes;
the Southwark Library, 15,329 volumes; the Library of the University of Pennsylvania,
49,833 volumes; the American Philosophical Society, 33,896 volumes; Brotherhood
Library, containing books of a religious nature, 36,230 volumes; the library of the
College of Physicians, 19,318 volumes; the Franklin Institute and the Wagner Free
Institute, both devoted to books treating of scientific matters and containing respectively
16,320 and 15,108 volumes; the Academy of Natural Sciences, 30,000 volumes; the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 18,123 volumes; the library of the United States Mint,
with its 1,300 volumes; the library of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 13,108 volumes, and
that of the Eastern Penitentiary , 9,373 volumes.
With the exception of the libraries of charitable and reformatory institutions, there
is but one free library in this city—the Apprentices’ Library, which merely requires that
the applicant for the use of its books shall be not over 21 years of age, and be able to
show an excellent character. After being once admitted the members may continue in the
enjoyment of the privilege of taking and reading its books as long as they live. All other
libraries in this city require either the payment of an annual subscription or the ownership
of a share of the association.