THE TOLSTOY MEMORIAL EXHIBIT

HE modest exhibit, on the second floor of the Central Building, ar

TH

ranged to mark the centenary of Tolstoy's birth, which is being celebrated all over the civilized world, fills two show cases. One contains pictures and books relating to the first half of the master's long life, the other holds similar material illustrative of his latter years, the period with which the foreign public is perhaps more familiar.

The contents of the first show case are centered around a fine, large reproduction of Ivan Kramskoy's well-known portrait (the original is in the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow), showing Tolstoy in the full vigor of manhood. Besides several early likenesses, the items that are shown here include: Tolstoy's first printed work, "The History of My Childhood," as it originally appeared in 1852 in the great Petersburg monthly, Sovremennik (The Contemporary); a quaint caricature in which the chief contributors to that publication appear in a row, Tolstoy bringing up the rear; "The Cossacks," New York: Scribner, 1878-the first translation of a work by Tolstoy to appear under an American imprint; the first instalment of "War and Peace," here entitled "The Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Five," in the Moscow review, Russki Vestnik (The Russian Messenger) for 1865; a facsimile reproduction of the first two galleys of the story, "Sebastopol in August, 1855," which appeared in the Sovremennik in 1856, and was the first of Tolstoy's famous tales about the Crimean War. The corrections on these proof sheets are by the author, by his friend, Turgenev, and by Chernyshevski, one of the editors of the review. This reproduction appeared in one of the Yearbooks of the Tolstoy Museum of Leningrad.

The central item in the other show case is a remarkable lithographed portrait of Tolstoy in his old age, by Henri Lefort. It brings out in striking fashion the blend of sensuality and spirituality which set apart this artist who was also a preacher, this aristocrat who extolled the peasant's way of life. Ranged around this portrait, there is a varied collection of pictorial and literary material. One finds here a translation of "Hadji-Murad" into Kirghiz and a Hebrew version of "The Kreutzer Sonata" under a Jerusalem imprint. There is a specimen of the cheap editions of Tolstoy's tales and tracts which were issued for the benefit of the masses, and there are several examples of uncensored editions of Tolstoy's writings which were printed abroad and smuggled into Russia. One such is the complete text of "Resurrection," issued in England. Most of Tolstoy's later work, beginning with his "Confession," was either completely prohibited at home or could appear there only in expurgated form, and was therefore issued from printingpresses at Geneva, Berlin, London. A leaf from Tolstoy's notebook with his drawings for the Primer for peasant children on which he labored so whole-heartedly indicates the scope of his activities, as does also the photograph of a pair of boots which he made for his son-in-law. Of special interest

is the first volume of the Soviet edition of Tolstoy's writings in fifteen volumes, which is being issued by the State Publishing Board in Moscow. Another noteworthy item is a copy of a Russian translation of Henry George's speeches and articles, presented by Tolstoy to the son of the reformer, and inscribed thus: "To Henry George Unior, Leo Tolstoy, 18 Juny, 1909." Tolstoy, as is well known, was an ardent advocate of the single tax.

The last two pieces in the collections are, appropriately enough, a facsimile of his last will and a photograph of his burial place. This is located at Yasnaya Polyana, in the woods on the edge of a ravine. Tolstoy's elder brother, Nicholas, had told him as a child that he had hidden in this spot a green stick on which was written the secret of "how to cause all men to be free from any misfortune, never to quarrel or be angry, and to be continually happy." A. Y.

ONE HUNDRED NOTABLE AMERICAN ENGRAVERS

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in

HIS exhibition, on view last season in the Print Gallery, Room 321 of the Library, is to be seen again in the same room during November, 1928, to March, 1929. To those who saw the exhibition when it was first installed, the reason for this repetition. -encore, we may call itmay be fairly obvious. Aiming to illustrate the development of engraving in the United States from the beginning to 1850, the exhibition reflects changing ability and taste, in a selected lot of prints. It is a rich and varied display, in which the subject interest is naturally strong, but which also traces clearly the progressive efforts to furnish pictorial information in those camera-less days. That inevitably brought improvement in the technique of the art. One may here trace that progress, from the beginnings, sometimes crude and helpless, through the mastery of craftsmanship attained by Durand and others, to the widely organized production in bank note engraving.

An "Annotated List" of the prints shown, published in the Library's Bulletin for March, 1928, and also issued separately, helps to throw light on the activities of the various engravers. In fact, occasionally the cataloguer has had the satisfaction of unearthing stray facts which had escaped the authorities on American prints, a matter which looms rather larger in the mind of the discoverer, perhaps, than elsewhere, but which takes its place in the documentation of the subject.

But apart from such specialized consideration, the exhibition has its main claim to attention in the sheer human interest, both in the topics illustrated in the prints, and in the record of achievement by the engravers. In the case of the early engravers we witness their struggles at a time when the finer graces of life had to edge their way in slowly in the pioneer stage of this country's existence.

NEWS OF THE MONTH

GIFTS

DURING

URING the month of September, 1928, there were received as gifts 4,553 volumes, 7,589 pamphlets, 42 maps, and I print. Among the many interesting items were the following:

From The Liederkranz Club came a collection of German and English books and pamphlets, including 28 volumes of the "Universal Classics Library," bound volumes of "Kunst für Alle," history, poetry, fiction, etc., in all, 195 volumes, and 19 pamphlets.

From "A. A.," Los Angeles, came a copy (No. 293 of 500 printed by the H. S. Crocker Co., Inc., from plans by John Henry Nash, and signed by the author) of "An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy, being an Interpretation of the Secret Teachings concealed within the Rituals, Allegories and Mysteries of all Ages," by Manly P. Hall, with illustrations in color by J. Augustus Knapp, San Francisco, 1928.

Mr. F. E. Dixon, of Philadelphia, gave a copy of "The Collection of Heraldic Stained Glass at Ronaele Manor, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, the Residence of Mr. & Mrs. Fitz Eugene Dixon, described by F. Sydney Eden," printed by the Arden Press, London, 1927. From Dr. Frank H. Vizetelly came a copy of "The Story of Picture Printing in England during the Nineteenth Century, or Forty Years of Wood and Stone," by C. T. Courtney Lewis, London (n. d.).

Privately printed works were received, as follows: From Mrs. Edwin Le Roy Bowen, a copy (one of 100 printed) of "An Historical and Genealogical Chart of Robert Brooke of England... compiled in England from various original authentic sources by Ellen Culver Bowen ...," 1927. From Mrs. Warren R. Gilman, a copy (one of 200 printed) of "Records & Addresses in Memory of Simeon E. Baldwin 1840-1927," New Haven, 1928. From Dr. George C. Keidel, Washington, D. C., a copy of his work, "The Earliest German Newspapers of Baltimore, An Essay...," Washington, 1927. From Mr. G. W. Wheeler, Bodleian Library, Oxford, England, a copy (No. 76 of 100 printed, in Treyford type, by the University Press) of "The Earliest Catalogues of the Bodleian Library, described by G. W. Wheeler," Oxford, 1928, and a copy (one of 100 copies printed of "Letters of Sir Thomas Bodley to the University of Oxford 1598-1611, edited by G. W. Wheeler, M. A.," Oxford, 1927. From the Rt. Hon. Lord Woolavington, Lavington Park, Petworth, Sussex, England, a copy of his work, "Sporting Pictures at Lavington Park," 1927.

From authors came copies of their works, as follows: Miss Eleanor Dorff Abbott, Frederick, Maryland, an autographed copy of "A Sketch of Barbara Frietchie, Whittier's Heroine..." [c. 1928]. Mr. S. Bogaisky, Sea

Gate, Coney Island, "Orach Yisroel" [c. 1928]. Robert Collier, Inc., “The Secret of the Ages," in seven volumes [c. 1926], and "The Life Magnet," in seven volumes [c. 1928], both by Robert Collier; also a copy of "Acres of Diamonds," by Russell H. Conwell [c. 1915]. Mr. John Y. Detwiler, New Smyrna, Florida, the New Smyrna News, August 31, 1928, containing an article entitled: "Trip to Spain to Obtain the Mendoza Diary.” Mr. George Simpson Eddy, a copy of "Account Books kept by Benjamin Franklin, Ledger 1728-1739; Journal 1730-1737; Notes by George Simpson Eddy," New York, 1928. Sr. Genaro Estrada, Mexico, D. F., a copy (No. 110 of 500 printed) of "Crucero Poemas," Mexico, 1928. Mr. Carlos W. Goltz, Sioux City, Iowa, "Incidents in the Life of Mary Todd Lincoln, containing an unpublished Letter," Sioux City, 1928. Mr. Lloyd R. Manning, "Church Latin; An Aid to the Appreciation of Our Lady's Office..." New York, 1928. Mr. Michael J. O'Brien, "In Old New York; The Irish Dead in Trinity and St. Paul's Churchyards," New York, 1928. Mr. P. Puchkoff, "My Impressions of Palestine," New York, 1928. Prof. Theodore Surányi-Unger, Miskolc, Hungary, "Le Rôle de la Méthode Statistique dans l'Économie Politique," Budapest, 1928; "Object und Grundbegriffe der theoretischen Nationalökonomie" (n. d.); and other works. Mr. D. J. Oparin, Moscow, USSR, "The Method of Schematic Deviations applied to the Investigation into the Cotton Market Dynamics," Moscow, 1927 (10 copies); and an autographed copy of "Konyunktura i Rinki," Moscow, 1928. Dr. Robert R. Rusk, Glasgow, Scotland, an autographed copy of "The Training of Teachers in Scotland; An Historical Review," Edinburgh, 1928. Mr. John E. Teeple, "Maya Inscriptions VI; The Lunar Calendar and its Relations to Maya History" (reprinted July - September, 1928). Mr. Addison James Throop, East St. Louis, Illinois, "Mound Builders of Illinois, descriptive of certain mounds and village sites in the American Bottoms and along the Kaskaskia and Illinois Rivers," East St. Louis, 1928.

The following gifts of music were received: From Mr. Claud L. Chilton (2nd), Mount Vernon, N. Y., a copy of "The Chilton Music for Standard Hymns," New York, 1923. Mr. J. Francis Driscoll, Brookline, Mass., a collection of World War Songs (25 pieces of sheet music). Mr. Charles E. Ives, two copies each of compositions by Mr. Ives ("Pot Pourri” from Scherzo, "Ist Pianoforte Sonate" [n. d.] and "1st Sonata for Piano and Violin." Rev. Samuel Weisser, two copies each of two of his compositions. ("Recitativen für Kantor," 1. Teil Sabbath" [c. 1927]; and "SynagogenGesänge für Kantor und gemischten Chor, Erster Teil" [n. d.].

From the British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping, Glasgow, Scotland, came a copy of the "Rules for the Construction and Classification of Steel Ships," Glasgow, 1928. From the Crime Club, Inc., Garden City, N. Y., a copy of "Dramatic Crimes of 1927; A Study in Mystery and Detection," by Milton Mackaye, Garden City, 1928. From the Iowa Historical Society, Iowa City, Iowa, a copy of "Economic History of the Production of Beef Cattle in Iowa," by John A. Hopkins, Jr., Iowa

of a

City, 1928. From MacManus Incorporated, Detroit, a copy (No. 53 limited edition) of "The Fisher Building, Grand Boulevard at Second, Detroit, Mich." ("Published by Fisher & Company and illustrating American architectural progress as embodied in the new Fisher Building"), c. 1928. The Saint Louis Architectural Club, St. Louis, Missouri, a copy of "Missouri's Contribution to American Architecture... compiled and edited by John Albury Bryan . . . " St. Louis, 1928.

Collections of material were received from the following: Amtorg Trading Corporation (59 volumes, 63 pamphlets, and 94 periodicals, in Russian and English); Mr. C. H. Bachen (60 volumes in French, English, and German); Mrs. Herman B. Baruch (84 volumes and 6 pamphlets); Mr. Jack N. Casavis (1 volume and 4 pamphlets); Mr. Eugene F. Connolly (60 volumes and 5 pamphlets); Mr. B. Curtis (63 volumes, 8 pamphlets, and 63 periodicals); Mr. Carlo de Fornaro (14 volumes and 16 pamphlets); Mrs. O. F. Douglas (61 volumes, 47 pamphlets, 225 periodicals, 40 engravings, 8 photographs); Mrs. A. Fately (89 volumes and 1 pamphlet); Mr. Benjamin F. Feiner (130 volumes, including "The Foundation Library for Young People," vol. 1-11, New York, 1911; "Universal Anthology, edited by Richard Garnett...," New York, 1899; Sloane's Life of Napoleon Bonaparte," vol. 1-4; and others); Mrs. R. A. Friend (45 volumes); Mr. Marius Hansome (31 volumes, 215 pamphlets, 115 periodicals, 13 boxes of clippings, 110 newspapers, chiefly material relating to labor problems); Ben Miller, Inc. (578 volumes, chiefly law books and government documents); Mr. H. Rabbin (107 volumes, 43 pamphlets); Miss Katharine P. Riley (1 volume, 20 pamphlets, I bookplate, 2 maps, and 10 engravings, mainly a collection of old tracts published by the American Sunday-school Union, Philadelphia, and the American Tract Society, Boston); Mr. H. Robin (102 volumes, and 10 pamphlets); Miss J. F. Sherman, Morristown, N. J. (18 volumes, including "Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New York," nine volumes; seven volumes of "The Knickerbocker," 1844-47; "Connecticut Historical Collections...," by John Warney Barber, New York, 1836); Miss Elizabeth Zachary (284 pamphlets, 35 periodicals, 70 post-cards, chiefly newspapers and clippings relating to the World War, art catalogues, etc.).

ADDITIONS AND USE OF THE LIBRARY DURING SEPTEMBER, 1928

URING the month of September, 1928, there were received at the

Library 22,513 volumes and 9,272 pamphlets. (These include the additions to both Reference and Circulation Departments.) The number of volumes issued for home use, by the Circulation Department, was 759,474. The total number of recorded readers in the Reference Department, Central Building, was 125,932, no record being kept of the use of books on open. reference shelves. Readers and visitors at the Central Building numbered about 255,000.