BOOK IV.

Chapter VIII.

by extracts from the account books of existing Libraries. It was shewn that here, as elsewhere, there is a Recapitulatory. broad demarcation between false economy and true. That to estimate "Dearness" and "Cheapness" solely by the amount of the bills, without regard to quality, efficiency and durability, is exceedingly foolish, although exceedingly common.

On the important questions of the terms of ACCESSIBILITY to Reading-Rooms, and the public Lending of Books, a broad foundation for just conclusions was laid by a careful summary of evidence recently gathered from almost every considerable Library in Europe. It then became obvious that whilst, in some instances, wide facilities had been occasionally abused, the main results of experience bore conclusive testimony to the wisdom and the value of liberal regulations and open doors. It was seen that although, on close scrutiny, the practice of Continental Libraries is sometimes found to be less liberal than it looks on the face of Official Reports, it still remains true that, in this field as in some other fields of inquiry, Britons may learn something from foreigners. That matters in which we have been, not untruly, held to be backward, should be zealously brought up to the level of the matters in which we have, not less justly, taken a reasonable pride, ought surely to be a national desire. And I hope we are on the right road to its realization, so far, at any rate, as respects the subject-matter of this book.

Here, for the present, at all events,—I close a task which has been the occasional employment and the

Concluding

Observations on Librarianship.

BOOK IV.

Chapter VIII.

of years

my

chief delight of some of the best life. The Recapitulatory difficulties under which it may, at times, have been pursued will form no excuse for the shortcomings of performance; nor indeed can they claim to have been other than the usual incidents of a protracted task. At some such times, I have ventured to indulge the hope that, whatever its defects, certain things in this book may, perhaps, he a source of help and encouragement to future Librarians, when the writer shall have passed away. And I would fain hope so still.

The calling, like other callings, has its special pleasures and also its special trials. A man, blessed with a taste for study, whose daily avocations send him into the throng of the busy world, may find in books an ever new field of relaxation, in which the turf is always springy, and the flowers continually fresh and brilliant. Jaded as be may be with the toils of business, he can there breathe a purer atmosphere; converse with loftier minds; look forward to higher than finite interests. But, to the Librarian, books become working tools and daily breadwinners. His relish for them may be keen. His veneration for the masterpieces earnest and discriminating. But, at times, daily and hourly familiarity will somewhat deaden his capacity for their enjoyment. Wearied with the title-page researches of the mere Cataloguer, the treasures within lose something of their charm. But his case is not peculiar. Nor are his compensations far to seek.

Something of this sort must occasionally be felt even by men who, not unworthily, wear the dignity and sustain the responsibility of the highest of all human call

BOOK IV.

Chapter VIII.

ings. He who ministers at the Christian altar, with the most devout sense of his duties, and the most ardent Recapitulatory. desire to discharge them with singleness of mind, must sometimes feel that the routine, even of that solemn service, has its depressing as well as its supporting influences. He cannot always rise to the level of his theme. He becomes cold and formal when he would fain be inspired. He has then to bear in mind that, besides the path of vigorous and high-strained exertion, there is a humbler path of duty, in which patient continuance has its special sanction and its assured reward. "They also serve, who only stand and wait."

In like manner, those who are attached to the lower but august Priesthood of Literature, however humble their grade in it, have many kinds of work, and many degrees of enjoyment allotted to them. Some of their duties may be discharged none the less earnestly because very unobtrusively. In that earnest performance the love of Literature will not wax cold, though it may run in quieter channels. They, too, in their sphere, are the appointed ministers of truths of undying worth and significance. A Library ought to be a perpetual monitor that to alternate eager toil,-whether it be to heap up money or but to gain bread,-with merely selfish indulgences, is no right plan of life; that to govern, means something higher than to watch Trade and punish Crime; that class-hatreds are bad materials for political wisdom; that popularity-hunting is a poor pursuit for an imperishable mind; that to foster no reverence for the generations which are gone, is a sure sign that men have nothing within, to win for them re

spectful memory, during the briefest span of the gene

rations to come.

From such a point of view as this, the humblest Librarian may glory somewhat in his calling, quite irrespectively of its present appreciation, or its visible "success." The lowliest Reading-Room may be made the sphere of some noble work. What may there be honestly and zealously done, with no flourish of trumpets or shoutings of applause, may hold its divinely appointed place in that mighty labour of Human Culture and Human Discipline which began at the outer gate of Eden, and will have no ending until Time shall be no

more.

THE END.

GENERAL INDEX.

ALCUIN'S Commemoration of Egbert's Li-
brary at York, i, 104.

Verses on the duties of the Monastic
Scribes, i, 327.

Aldine Classification, of 1549, ii, 759.
ALEMBERT'S Modification of Bacon's Classi-
fication, ii, 765.