VOL. 22. MARCH, 1897. No. 3 this was what ought to have been done long ago. Several libraries have already fallen into line in following Mr. Hill's example, and while for the moment the result may be to advertise "the new journalism" — although no advertising can be so luridly pervasive as its ownthe rebuke will doubtless have its effect. This movement is new evidence of the vital and far-reaching relations of the modern library spirit with modern life. THE general appropriation bill approved | Public Library took the step of excluding the Feb. 19 makes provision in detail for the Li- two most notorious journals of this class from brary of Congress and creates a specific divi-its reading-room, and suddenly it occurred to sion to be known as the Copyright Department. a number of librarians and library boards that This subdivision of the work of the Library of Congress is in every respect desirable and should give opportunity for the effective reorganization of the copyright bureau. It is to be hoped that it will be practicable for the library authorities to consider plans by which the copyright office, without increase of its expenses, and indeed with some possibility of increased income, should be of auxiliary benefit to the libraries of the country. The copyright fees are 50 cents for entry and an additional 50 cents for a certificate of entry, and it is usual to enclose the full dollar instead of the halfdollar for the sake of getting such record. Why might not this record be printed in proper bibliographical shape on a standard card and be delivered in this shape to the copyright owner, while serving the additional purpose of a card catalog for the Library of Congress and permitting the sale of duplicates to the libraries throughout the country? Such a plan would not cover the full field of the printed catalog card now managed by the Publishing Section of the A. L. A., because it would not include imported books, but in other respects the field would be much widened and there would be many advantages in the plan. THE removal from the shelves of the Allegheny Carnegie Library of a considerable number of works of second-rate fiction has awak ened the usual amount of press comment and criticism. Mr. Stevenson, however, is well able to hold his own against his critics, and his reasons, which are printed elsewhere, are interesting and suggestive. In the Allegheny "Index expurgatorius" there are, nevertheless, some names to which even librarians may be tempted to offer an exception—notably E. P. Roe and "Marion Harland." It may be questioned if either of these writers ever produced anything that can be called literature, nor are their works of interest to persons of intellectual perception; but they are not hurtful - indeed their aggressive morality is one of their most WHILE librarians have been doing their disagreeable characteristics. Both also occupy "level best" to stem the flood of the reading of a warm corner in the hearts of a multitude of fiction, particularly of the yellow-covered varie-readers, who have found in them a commonty, and lead readers of trash into really helpful place and harmless contentment, while among use of reading-time, their newspaper readingrooms, by grace of "the new journalism," have been opposing, and more than counteracting, all their missionary efforts. This literature has taken in New York the curious local name of "yellow kid" literature, because an extraordinary caricature of a vulgar small boy dressed in "yaller" has been the rival hero of the two New York dailies which indulge most in "flash" sensationalism. It is gratifying that the expression of the better public opinion regarding this class of journals has been voiced by the library profession. The Newark Free the writers whose works remain unbanned are a number whose influence must be conceded to be more directly towards sensationalism and false perspective. Indeed, in glancing over the fiction supplement of the Allegheny library, the question arises whether the old-fashioned trashy novel, with its sentimentality, didacticism, and high-flown language, is a sharmful in its influence as the latter-day school of “slum stories" and "keynote" fiction. There is no question of the literary skill and excellence of construction of many of these later books, and they may not be hurtful to the well-balanced and mature mind; but for the average youth or young girl it seems fair to say that the tritest platitudes of "poor old Roe," to quote Miss Garland's witty defence, or the most tearful sentimentalities of Mrs. Holmes, are preferable to the imbruted vulgarity of "Maggie, a girl of the streets," the perverted hysteria of "A superfluous woman," or the morbid unpleasantness of "Celibates." ALMOST from the beginning of the A. L. A. in 1876 librarians have wished some better guide to the selection of fiction than the average book review. The plan for the establishment of such a guide devised by the Massachusetts Library Club, under which a committee of the club read the principal novels of the year and published a monthly "List of select fiction," has met with general approval from those who have made use of it. This would seem to show that such a list can be prepared with reasonable promptness, and that the decision of the selecting committee will be generally accepted. It is thought that the list can be ultimately made self-supporting through subscriptions, but for the present the work is beyond the unaided resources of the Massachusetts Library Club. Various methods of continuation have been suggested with which readers of the JOURNAL are familiar. The club, after a careful survey of the situation, has decided that the work of preparation had best be kept in its own hands. A widely separated corps of readers would lead to unavoidable delays and would make impossible one of the most useful features of the work, namely, the monthly meeting of readers when the books are informally discussed, thus maintaining a general interest that is impossible in solitary work and enabling the committee to keep to a more uniform standard. The club now asks for subscriptions from other associations, and its appeal is given elsewhere. Doubtless the sum necessary $150 to $200- could be secured from a few individuals, but it is thought preferable that a work of general usefulness should have a more general support, while the fact that an association contributes to the work is an advertisement of that work to all its members. It is to be hoped that all who are interested in the work will see that the state or local association of which they may be members gives its support to the project. Communications. THE QUESTion of indexes, THE Co-operation Committee of the A. L. A., has under consideration the possibility of securing the preparation of indexes to books which especially need good indexes, but have been published with a poor index or with none. I shall be glad to receive suggestions based on experience but not necessarily in the language immediately resulting from such experience as to books which most need this attention. WM. H. TILLINGHAST, Chairman. INFORMATION AS TO MUSIC LIBRARIES WANTED. I AM anxious to make a complete list of libraries containing music, either for reference or circulation. Librarians of all such libraries who have not recently received a letter of inquiry regarding their music department from the New York State Library, would confer a favor by writing to me. MARY S. Cutler. NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY, } March 5, 1897. REINCORPORATION OF THE A. L. A. FOR One, I am opposed to the proposition to make the A. L. A. over into a governmentsupported institution, and an attachment to the Smithsonian Institution, with its Proceedings issued from the Government Printing Office, like those of the American Historical Association. The latter association considers itself fortunate when its Proceedings appear from that cave of gloom two years after the annual meeting therein reported. The A. L. A. six and eight months for its Conference numis quite familiar with the experience of waiting ber of the LIBRARY JOURNAL-through no fault, of course, of your staff, and of course through no fault of the unsalaried and otherwise busy recorder; but I submit that to treble or quadruple that hiatus would be more than the most patient among us could bear. The saving of expense, in the publication of our Conference proceedings, would be a small matter; a far more acceptable reform would be the expenditure of enough additional money to engage a professional editor to rush the Conference number to press, and give the result to us not later than three weeks after the close of the post-conference tour. This is an entirely practicable reform, which should surely be adopted at the Philadelphia Conference this year. MACKINAC THE TRIALS OF THE LIBRARIAN.* BY CAROLINE H. GARLAND, Dover (N. H.) Public Library. WELL brought up people do not usually dis- | keener fairness of intention than a correct percuss family trials and grievances outside the ception of what actually constitutes a trial. immediate domestic circle. This privilege is There are some excellent persons who, by generally reserved for the sanctity of the home very reason of their excellence and because and for the helplessness of the ear that cannot of the intensity of their goodness and ardent get away. Barrie makes Barbara say to the aspirations, sigh because they have not more little minister, "It must be fine to be able to hands and feet to work with and that there speak for a whole hour to people who can are not more hours in a day; while others reneither answer back nor go away." But while gret that they are not in positions of wider sometimes persons who can neither answer range, forgetting that the extension of one's back nor go away are chosen as an audience horizon usually means simply the seeing of when one elects to pour out the woes that more, not different things, and that the country afflict him to-day, the worries that annoyed him beyond is often very like the country near. So yesterday, and the troubles he expects to have it is not limitations of that kind that have a to-morrow, more often it is, as to-day, persons place in any recital of woes, but rather those in whom one counts on a sympathetic ear- things which present themselves, often needwho are rasped by the same causes, who are lessly, to the experience of the well meaning balked in the same aims, who ache in the librarian, giving him annoyance, and demandsame place. ing a consideration which seems out of proportion to their magnitude. That there must be great good experienced in the consideration of afflictions is probable, since so many excellent people do it. Surely a practice so widely supported should not be neglected by persons desiring to experience all the good things of life. Yet for us the opportunity does not often present itself. In the sacred and dignified counsels of the A. L. A., where not only brethren but strangers meet, it would be rank heresy to introduce so strictly a personal subject. But here, among this gathering of more nearly related people, just as New Englanders, the family, so to speak, one may be allowed to admit, indeed even to assert, with boldness and hardihood, that the path of the librarian is not at all times bestrewn with roses, but that there are in it very distinct and tangible trials. One affliction of this kind-and one which we have probably all met with and suffered from is that whenever well-meaning friends wish to do the nice thing by their librarian they call him a walking encyclopædia. It is fortunate for whoever invented this phrase that his name is lost in obscurity. But oblivion is really much too kind a fate for him. Something in boiling oil would be more to his deserts. The phrase itself is an abomination to the ear and a terror to the imagination, but once applied, possesses a frightful tenacity of adhesiveness, which protests only serve to increase. The librarian may be by nature of light-hearted disposition, possibly with a tendency to joke. He loves his neighbor, and probably does the very things which draw this stigma upon him out of an abounding desire to do his whole duty by his fellow-man. But after the evil hour when some one in mistaken gratitude applies to him this monstrous appel There will be at the outset a difference of opinion as to the nature of trials. No two persons, however experienced in the detection of uncomfortable things, will exactly agree as to the reason of their discomfort. There is noth-lation, life is changed. Thereafter his neighing else which demands nicer judgment and *Paper read at joint meeting of Connecticut Library Association with New England Library Associations, Hartford, Ct., Feb. 3, 1897. bors set him on a different level from themselves. They regard any small error on his part with pained astonishment. They bring their visitors from out of town to see him, and they brag a little on him right before him. |