.......I.......I...... 1'L4 IEO-.7 W4......1.7 Z........ l1 THE GIFT OF C. 2- l-v,ýT I I Im I'lITL[flif III Il lifflinflITHUTI-I Ifll full I tj I IllijurEj 19N 0 11 0.1 07 v 'W -- E4 ER/E 01 10Ci AT.10 4v~ -SR0 o10 77 4)4 T ~ ( Az 'Av f 0 000 2 6~7 /s 7W. "hIf Er I Ak PRIVATE LIBRARIES OF BANGOR Libraries are an index of a nation's, as well as an individual's wealth, taste and character. -Henry Stevens, G. M. B. (9< H H 0 Q H H z 0 Q Descriptive Sketches of Six Private Libraries of Bangor, Maine BY SAMUEL LANE BOARDMAN BANGOR: FllNTIEI) FOR TH ' E A T''()li 1900 Reprinted from the columns of The Bangor Daily Commercial, in an edition of Fifty Copies, for a few BookLovers, Friends and Libraries. This little volume, containing a bundle of sketches in line with the objects to which they are devoted (the diffusion of knowledge and the preservation of books) is dedicated to members of the Kennebec Historical Society, the Maine Press Association and the Maine Historical Society, by their fellow associate, The Author. CONTENTS. Introduction.............................Page 9 Col. Porter's Collection............... " 23 Mr. Parkhurst's Library............... " 39 Mr. Bliss' Collection of Websteriana...................................... " 57 The Talcott Collection of Early Printed Books........................ " 85 The Appleton Library............... " II Collection on Indianology of Rt. Rev. Fr. O'Brien.................. " 141 ILLUSTRATIONS. Frontespiece-The Talcott Library Room. Old Fort Pownal......................Page 25 Copy of old document............... " 32 Gen. Henry Knox..................... " 37 Fireplace in Mr. Parkhurst's Library Room............................ " 41 Copy of letter of Daniel Webster " 79 Copy of hand-made initial letter, 1482....................................... " 103 Printers' Mark, 1522................... " 105 Mark of Faust and Schoffer........ " io A corner in the Appleton library room..................................... " 113 Portrait of Chief Justice John Appleton................................ " 136 Portrait of Very Rev. M. C. O'Brien, V. G...................... " 143 Lord's Prayer in Abnaki Language " 159 INTRODUCTION. Ica dr...v INTRODUCTION. OLLECTIONS of books are among / the richest treasures of earth, for they are the -"..? record of all past /.. history of the - world. Were it not / that the libraries have been the repositories of these records, and from age to age have preserved what one generation has done for the good of a succeeding generation, man could not have achieved the great things which he has in the past, nor could art, science, history, biography, poetry and philosophy have enriched the world, as for ages they have been doing through the books which man has written and the libraries which he has gathered and preserved. Books only are the immortal things in this world; they only preserve the records of civilization. The libraries that men have collected and 12 PRIVATE LIBRARIES founded are the most noble monuments which one age can erect for the benefit of a coming age. There are many objects which men have in collecting books. Some men are students of a particular art or science, and must have the teachers which will instruct them in their own specialty. The best teachers are good books. The professional man must have his toolbooks as the artisan must have the implements and tools which he uses daily in his calling. There are men who set out to compass a particular subject, the career of some one of the world's great characters, a certain age or period of history, or some one of the many vast and intricate divisions of science. To do so needs first the gathering of all the literature upon that subject which can be obtained. For this purpose, books, maps, pamphlets, records, documents, manuscripts-whatsoever bears even remotely upon thesubject are first needed. Hence come the large special collections of books which have helped to make up, and now enrich the great libraries of the world. For all literature and science soon become history, and the libraries in a few OF BANGOR. ' 13 years are chiefly valuable because they are historic. The text books of electricity or theology become almost obso,lete in a short time, and they are put away on the shelves as a part of the history of the world, while the books which are vita] take their places. Even they hold them for but a day, when in turn they become historic and give way to the books of immediate and present value. Books are co~llected for use and service; they are collected because they are rare, or scarce, or old; because they were printed by a certain famous printer, or hound by a certain famous binder; because they are first editions; because they contain some quaint typographic error; because they are in limited editions or tall copies-there is no accounting for the particular hobby or taste of the collector. Finally books are collected to be read and studied; they are gathered together in the libraries to aid in the conservation and diffusion of human knowledge; they are prized because they teach men wisdom. Men love them above gold, and part with them last of all earthly possessions. William Roscoe, who was born in 17-53, was one 14 PRIVATE LIBRARIES of the great students and book-collectors of England. He formed a valuable library and art collection, was a somewhat celebrated author, and honorably distinguished for his labors in the cause of philanthrophy, and the encouragement of younger literary aspirants. But later in life he embarked his fortune in a banking firm which failed, lost it all, and was obliged to dispose of his library by auction. That event occasioned his writing one of the most charming, and yet one of the saddest sonnets which the language contains: TO MY BOOKS ON PARTING WITH THEM As one who, destined from his friends to part, Regrets his loss, yet hopes again erewhile, To share their converse and enjoy their smile, And tempers as he may affliction's dartThus, loved associates! chiefs of elder Art! Teachers of wisdom! who could once beguile My tedious hours, and lighten every toil, I now resign you; nor with fainting heart; For pass a few short years, or days, or hours, And happier seasons may their dawn unfold, And all your sacred fellowship restore; When, freed from earth, unlimited its powers, Mind shall with mind direct communion hold, And kindred spirits meet to part no more. OF BANGOR. 15 It is evidence of the nobility of his character and a praiseworthy act on the part of his many friends that on the dispersal of Mr. Roscoe's library, the volumes most useful to him, were secured by these friends and placed in the Liverpool Athenaeum where they still remain; while the sum of ~2,500 was invested for his benefit. Most of the great public libraries of the world owe their origin to the zea'l a;nd enthusiasm displayed bt some private collector, great scholar or book lover who gathered them, and by whom they were given, or from whom or whose heirs they were purchased for the beginnings of some of the greatest libraries of ancient as well as modern times. Sir Thomas Bodley gathered the noble library which now bears his name, and the University of Oxford still offers public thanks for Bodley's generosity upon his calendar day, though he was born so early as 1544. Antonio Magliabecchi eollected one of the great libraries of Italy, and at his death in 1714, he gave his entire collection of 30,000 volumes to the city of Florence upon conucion that the books should be always free to the public. The library 16 PRIVATE LIBRARIES which bears his name, now embraces more than ten times the number of books it did when Magliabecchi gave it to the city, although the entire collection is dedicated to its most learned and eccentric founder. Beside these sores of other instances might be gleaned from literary history of collectors whose books have Paid the foundation of great libraries. Even if it were not so, the collecting of books, even for private use and enjoyment, is one of the most praiseworthy pursuits or recreations, and can only be commended in thestrongestterms. Men of wealth have given princely sums for the erection of library buildings and the founding of great collections of books-but it is the taste, zeal, learning and culture of the plodding book-lover or collector, which has enriched these great libraries more than all the money that has been spent upon them by men not acquainted with books. In a recent letter to Bernard Quaritch, the learned London publisher, the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone said: "A book collector ought, as I conceive, to possess the following six qualifications: Appetite, leisure, wealth, knowledge, discrimination and perseverance." OF BANGOR. 17 He then says that of these he has only had two, the first and the last, and these are not the most important. But as Mr. Gladstone confesses in this same letter to have in his time been a purchaser of books to the extent of about 35,000 volumes, it must be confessed that he has had an appetite for books and must have been persevering in the collection of them. For after all, the best libraries are not those which have been suddenly formed or purchased. It is true libraries may be so created, but they cannot prove so satisfactory as the library that is built up by degrees and is the growth and steady increase of years. "A little library, growing larger every year," said Henry Ward Beecher, "is an honorable part of a man's history." Mr. Gladstone says a book collector ought to possess wealth-and it is certainly to be desired, but how many are the good, the respectable, even the large libraries that have been gradually created by men of small means, but who had, also, the appetite, the knowledge and the perseverance. There are, of course, libraries and libraries. Professional men will have 18 PRIVATE LIBRARIES libraries in their own lines, and the physician, lawyer, clergyman or specialist who depends upon the foundation books of his profession and the yearly accumulations which represent the advancemnent of thought and development of such profession, in connection with the lessons of actual practice therein, will be that man, who will soonest reach the high places in his profession. But such libraries are outside those of the real book-lover or collector, and for them while one can only have commendation or approval, they do not come within the range of our present study. We cannot regard it as egotistical that collectors like to show their possessions. It may be true that occasionally some may prefer to enjoy their libraries themselves and dislike to let the public know of the extfent or rarity of their collections; but we believe it is a more general characteristic of those who love books, whether as books or as literature, that they like to share them to a certain degree with those of kindred tastes. Moreover, it is a measure of kindness on their part to let the' public know what they possess in the way of rare, out-of-the-way or standard books. Sometimes it is a real OF BANGOR. 19 service to literature that they tell what editions of a celebrated work, what copy of an early Bible, what folio from an old press they have. or how complete their collection is upon a single line of study. We have known men to make long journeys to visit a celebrated library or to examine an excessively rare book. It is easy to see, therefore, what a real service to learning it is to let the depositories of rare books be known. Men have studs of thoroughbred race horses, kennels of high blooded dogs, beautiful houses, treasures of art, elegant yachtsand they like to let the public know it. Why not then, when they possess rich libraries of rare books which are the treasuries of real wisdom, and which preserve the records of literature and the progress of "the art preservative of all arts" throughout the ages? Nowhere in Maine are there many very famous libraries, which take rank anywhere near the great libraries of the wealthy collectors in the large cities of the country. Some years since the library of Mr. Henry B. Humphrey, of Thomaston was one of the largest in the state. The late J. B. Stearns, of Camden, had a library of some 10,000 volumes 20 PRIVATE LIBRARIES in his beautiful residence of "Norombega." The late John E. DeWitt, of Portland, was one of the famous book collectors of Maine, and left a celebrated library, while, Gen. John Marshall Brown of that city, now has one of the best and largest libraries in the state. The historical library of John G. Elder, of Lewiston, is known to students as one of the richest private collections in Maine, especially in books relating to Maine and New England local history. Mr. Henry F. Blanchard, of Augusta, has a collection. rich in early printed books, specimens from the presses of the old typographers, rare editions of the Bible, and books relating to the history and art of printing. And there are doubtless in every city and considerable town in Maine many gentlemen who are genuine book lovers, possessing at least "appetite" and "perseverance," who have formed collections, which are their joy and pride, and are at the same time worthy of being described for the pleasure of other collectors. The private libraries of some of the great scholars and book collectors of the country have formed the subject of many bo~oks and of numerous magazine arti OF BANGOR. 21 cles. In 1855, the late Luther Farnham, of Boston, in a little pamphlet entitled, "A Glance at Private Libraries," was the first to write of the private libraries of our great scholars and collectors in and around Boston. Later Gen. Horatio Rogers, in a handsome volume described the private libraries of Providence-a city of many noble collections, the John Carter Brown library being the most famous private collection in America. Dr. Wynne wrote a work on the Private Libraries of New York, several years ago, while more recently the exquisitely printed book of Henri Pene du Bois, "Four Private Libraries of New York," and the magnificent volume describing the equally magnificent library of Mr. Robert M. Hoe, shows what beautiful typography and elegant binding can do to preserve the glories of the grand libraries of the richest collectors in America. It has appeared to the writer that a series of sketches on the private libraries of Bangor would possess interest to book lovers and collectors. Bangor possesses many rich private collections, some of which abound in literary treasures, rare books and manuscripts. The 22 PRIVATE LIBRARIES owners of these collections have generously placed their libraries willingly at the inspection of the writer, and in succeeding chapters we shall endeavor to give descriptive sketches of such collections, which it is hoped may possess interest for students and book collectors. COL. PORTER'S LIBRARY. Ik-i FORT POWNAL, Guarding the Entrance to PENOBSCOT RIVER. From an old print in the Collection of Col. J. W. Porter. COLLECTION OF COL. J. W. PORTER ON GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY. MONG the special lines of historic study which have (., invited many enAl v thusiastic investi2: 4,/ \ gators during the past twenty or L _. thirty years, may be mentioned genealogy a n d family history, and in connection with these the local history of our towns, municipalities and counties. These branches form a most important part of general history, and, with the biographies of celebrated characters, are so interwoven with them that they cannot be separated therefrom without great loss. Hence history in general, the local history of towns, the lives of distin 26 PRIVATE LIBRARIES guished individuals and the records of families are so intimately connected that the study of one leads to and assists the other. To be a skilled genealogist the student must love the rather uninviting details of names, facts and dates, he must learn to treasure every item of information, to despise not even the smallest or most insignificant event or fact, because all will some day be wanted in the work of the general historian or more finished biographer. The literature of American genealogy is of comparatively recent date. One of the very earliest is Farmer's "Register of the First Settlers of New England" issued in 1829. The late Mr. Daniel S. Durrie of Madison, Wisconsin, published his "Bibliographia Genealogica Americana," in 1860; Mr. William H. Whitmore's "The American Genealogist" was issued in 1863, while that monumental work of the late James Savage, "Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England" bears the date of 1860-62. Few or no American genealogies or separate family histories bear an earlier date than 1847, while most of the books on these subjects now found in the great libraries of the country OF BANGOR. 2 27 are not dated earlier than the sixties. During the past thirty years there have been diligent workers in this field in nearly all the states, and many eminent names are found in the list although the chances for fame are far less brilliant in this line of authorship than in almost any other. Among the very few names in New England who have devoted time, talent and money to the quiet and generally somewhat uneventful studies of genealogy and local history, that of Col. Joseph W. Porter stands in the front rank. Being an "Old Colony" man Col. Porter was formerly a frequent visitor to towns in that part off Massachusetts. In 1876 he visited Mr. William Lathamn, the celebrated historian and antiquary of Bridgewater. Mr. Latham received him in his library, a large room the, four sides of wh~ich were filled with books from floor to ceilingr. In. the course of their first conversation, while Mr. Latham was examining, a barrel of rare old letters, documenits and records which made a large heap upon the centre of the floor, Col. Porter was suddenly struck with the desire to know something of his ancestors. He did not at that date even 28 PRIVATE LIBRARIES know who his great-grandfather was. Expressing the wish to Mr. Latham that rare old scholar and'plodding investigator said, "It is a good time to begin." Looking at the vast library and thinking of what had been, done Col. Porter thought there was nothing more to do in that line. But the inspiration he had received spurred him to begin. He at once commenced his studies in New England local history and genealogy and they have been continued to the present day with but slight intermission. The valuable contributions made by Col. Porter to the literature of New England family and local history show how painstaking and industrious he has been, and they could not be taken out of the ranks of this literature without serious and almost irreparable loss. In carrying on these investigations Col. Porter first gave attention to his own ancestry. He studied, and corresponded; traveled extensively for the purpose of examining and copying records of towns and inscriptions upon the tomb stones, employed to-wn clerks and others to copy records, made collections of documents, deeds, letters, autographs, books and pamphlets to aid his investigations, and OF BANGOR. 2 29 began the study of genealogy and local history upon correct nnd systematic lines. This study resulted in the publication in 1878 of the Porter Genealogy, one of the model family histories of New England, a volume of 352 pages, in which Col. Porter traces his ancestry from Richard Porter, who settled in Weymouth, Mass., so early as 1635. In his prefnce he says: "Richard Porter was my ancestor, and a few years since although not especially fitted for such work by education or occupation, I began a genealogy of his descendants. It has been a work demanding patience and persistence but it has been a pleasure. I give in this book the result, not that it is perf ect or complete, but it is what I have." Duringr the twenty years that have followed the publication of that volume Col. Porter has been a diligent and almost continuous worker in the fields of local history and genealogy. Naturafl"y these studies have been confined to that part of Massachusetts so rich in early history, Plymouth and Norfolk counties, or what is known as the "south shore," and since his residence in Maine from 1862, to this state, more especially to the history of the towns and families in the eastern counties. What has been accom-. 30 PRIVATE LIBRARIES plished is largely shown by the fact that nine pages in Mr. Williamson's Bibliography of Maine" are devoted to Col. Porter's published writings, embracing 192 titles. And when it is remembered that nothing is included in this bibliography which has been published since 1890, while the vast amount of valuable matter which Col. Porter has contributed to the newspaper and periodical press, of which the important "Wayfarer" articles in The Bangor Commercial for the past few years, relating to the history of Maine towns and families, are an illustration, finds no place at all in that work. some fair idea of the bulk of Col. Porter's contribution to Maine history and genealogy may be obtained. Surely it was well that he received the inspiration which he did from the old historian of Bridgewater, and took his advice to "begin then"-for much of what he has rescued from the "tooth of Time" has in consequence been placed in a safe form for the use of the future historian, while the paths of research, over which he must go, have been made much the easier for the work of these twenty years. The important work of Col. Porter has been recognized by students of genealogical OF BANGOR. 31 research the country over; there is hardly a day that he does not receive or answer some knotty question, in the solving of which he is an expert-for he has the names and dates of Maine anTd Old Colony history and families at his tongue's end-while they have won for him membership in the Maine historical, New England historic-genealogical, Maine genealogical and other societies of a like nature. But one of the most important of Col. Porter's works is the set of the "Bangor Historical Magazine" in nine volumes from 1885 to 1895. The volumes of this work embrace an average of 250 pages each, and extend to a total of 2250 pages of the most valuable historical and biographical matter relating to eastern Maine, together with many portraits, and all carefully indexed. It is believed that no other historical work in New England was ever undertaken and carried on for so many years, the editing and entire cost of publication being the work of one person. For this task so well done Ool. Porter deserves the gratitude of all historical students throughout New England. Very naturally there has been built 32 PRIVATE LIBRARIES up by Col. Porter while engaged in these studies a large and _exceedingly valuable private library of works in this fascinating and delightful *specialty. Few have been gathered for any other reason than that they aided his work; and not only have books been collected in large -numbers, but Col. Porter's library is rich in old records, deeds, letters, documents, autographs, pamphlets and maps. During his investigation into Old Colony history Col. Porter found that the records of the town of Weymouth were missing prior to 1752, although the town clerk assured him that there were no records earlier than that date. But Coll. Porter knew better. He found and restored to the town the first volume of the records of the town, that had been lost, which began at 1626, thus restoring the records of the town for 126 years. These records from 1726 to 1873 Col. Porter has in MS., together with the records of old Braintree, M-ass., including the town and church records and all the gravestone inscriptions down to 1750. This volume has been often loaned to historical students and societies for consultation, several times, for many e- rI CERTIFICATE OF PUBLISHMENT. From MS. of Jeremiah Colburn, first settler and first clerk of Cobentown, now Orono, Me., 1774, in collection of Col. J. W. Porter. OF BANGOR. 33 of the old records and inscriptions have been defaced by time. In the subject of local or town histories of Maine and the south shore of Massachusetts, the counties of Norfolk and Plymouth, Col. Porter's collection is very rich. He has almost everything that has been published relating to Maine, beginning with the earlier state and local histories and coming down to the present time. These include Sullivan's history of Maine, 1795; Greenleaf's sketches, 1821; Folsom's Saco and Biddeford, 1830; Moses Greenleaf's works on Maine with all the rare maps and plates, 1816; Perley's Debates, 1820; Williamson's Maine, 1832; the collections of the Maine historical society and nearly all the town histories, many of the earlier ones of which are now exceedingly rare. Of the rarer books relating to Massachusetts are: Whitney's history of Quincy, 1827; the history of Bridgewater by Nahum Mitchell, 1840; Epitaphs of Old Bridgewater by Williams Latham, with extra plates and views; the rare volume on the 200th anniversary of the settlement of Bridgewater in 1856, with a portrait of the historian, 34 PRIVATE LIBRARIES Mitchell; Morton's New England Memorial, the fifth edition, edited by John Adams, 1826, in the original boards and uncut condition, and a large volume made up of historical pamphlets on Wrentham, including the rare century sermon preached by Rev. Joseph Bean in 1773. In the line of family history the foundation of his library rests upon Savage's Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, in four volumes; then comes the long row of volumes of the New England HistoricGenealogical Register, followed by separate volumes of genealogies and family histories by the score. To enumerate them. would be to name all the more important volumes of genealogies that have been published during the last twenty years. Among other very scarce volumes we name a few: "Familiar Letters on Public Characters and Public Events, from the Peace of 1783 to the Peace of 1812,"' Boston, 1834. This work is by William Sullivan, who was a nephew of Gov. Sullivan. The Life of Benjamin Franklin, written by himself. A rare little book of 1-97 pages, printed at Philadelphia in 1794. "Herman Boerhave's, Ma OF BANGOR. 35 teria Medica." London: 1741. This volume belonged to W. Crawford, who was the surgeon and chaplain at Fort Pownal when it was built under Col. Thomas Goldthwait, and contains his own autograph and the autograph of his son, Josiah Crawford, 1796. "Jodoci Lommii Burani De Curandius Febribus Continnis Liber." Rotterdami, Mdccxx. This rare old book with its rubricated title and fine typography, has the autograph of Jabez Porter, 1762, a graduate of Harvard in 1743, who kept school in Quincy and fitted John Adams for Harvard college. Col. Porter has the old singing books formerly belonging to both his grandfathers-"The Psalms of David," printed at Worcester by Isaiah Thomas in 1786, belonging to Amos Stetson who was born in 1777 and died in 1859; and "Christian Psalmody," which belonged to Lebbius Porter, who was born in 1771, and died in 1815. These possess a rare family interest, and interest in the first is made greater because Col. Porter has not only the book out of which Mr. Stetson, his maternal grandfather sang, but the spectacles through which he saw the hymns. Another rare collec 36 PRIVATE LIBRARIES tion, and one which it would be hard to duplicate, is a set of the registers of the civil government of Maine from 1820 to 1892, beautifully bound. In a collection of rare old pamphlets is one, the title of which is given in full because of its undoubted scarcity and value: A Seasonable Plea for The Liberty of Conscience and the Right of private Judgment in Matters of Religion, without any controul from human Authority. Being a letter from a gentleman in the Mass.-Bay to his Friend in Connecticut, Wherein Some Thoughts on the Origin, End and Extent of the Civil Power, with brief Considerations on several late laws in Conn't are humbly offered. By a Lover of Truth and Liberty. Boston: Printed & sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green, in Queenstreet, 1744. A look through this somewhat remarkable wcrk shows that the writer used the most outspoken language in behalf of liberty of thought and expression, especially in matters of religion and politics, and were he living now he would be a most vigorous champion of civil and religious freedom. Who was the author of this remarkable pamphlet? Have any of the scholars at the great libraries ever seen it? We cannot go through in detail, as * -V ki^TO GEN. HENRY KNOX. Copy of an old print in the collection of Col. J. W. Porter. OF BANGOR. 37 would be most interesting to do, this large mass of manuscripts, letters, documents and autographs-nearly all of which bear upon important matters of local history. There are documents signed by Henry Knox, James Bowdoin, Fisher Ames, Peleg Sprague, J. Q. Adams and John G. Palfrey, one bearing the seal of the "Ten Proprietors" of the Muscongus Lands which was used on their deeds for a period of more than 200 years, and one by the founder of the city of Marietta and the state of Ohio, Rufus Putnam, which is of great interest and which Col. Porter is soon to publish in connection with other relative matter. Nor can we go through the box after box of pamphlets and documents filed and indexed; or the long ranges of state documents, registers, directories, and other historical material which fill the many shelves. Col. Porter has two "dens"-one of which is in the rear part of the house, large and comfortable, for the storing of books not much used and for the receiving or shipping of parcels; another in the most attractive part of the front of the house, near to the other rooms where are generous book-cases and inviting corner shelves filled with the choice books in 38 PRIVATE LIBRARIES the best literature-the novels, poets essayists and historians, which every lover of books always wants near at hand for the evening lamp or rainy day fireside. MR. PARKHURST'S LIBRARY. INTHE LIBRARY R O F M WVEJST BROAD)WAY IUT LIBRARY OF MR. FRED H. PARKHURST. HE sketch which accompanies this S chapter gives a "" 4 glimpse of one cor-1' ner of the library -,".: room of Mr. Fred H. Parkhurst, in.- I his handsome resiYi" dence,Drift Lodge, "!,- West Broadway. The room is 19 by 30 feet, eleven feet and six inches from floor to ceiling. When this view was taken the camera rested upon the main writing table in Mr. Parkhurst's favorite nook at the south east corner of the room, and the view is across the room toward the fire place, while beyond is a range of book-shelves and still beyond that the door leading to the front hall. This point of view completely shuts out the long ranges of book shelves on the 42 PRIVATE LIBRARIES other sides of the rooms, but was chlos,-en because of its view of the open fire place, that most cheerful and attractive feature of any room, more especially of any library room, which in this instance has been treated with a chaste and not overburdened artistic effect. Had the view been taken from a point at the extreme rangre, as shown in thi-s sketch, near the entrance from the hall, it would have shown a long range of shelves on the east side of the room, and brought into view the five large windows at the south, looking down West Broadway and out upon Hammond street, by means of which the room is lighted at least in the day time, several electric lights giving it a brilliant setting off at evening. The entire south end of the room is a large bow or half circle, in which the windows are set. Aside from the wealth of books which line the walls this room is attractive and artistic in its appointments. Indeed it comes little short of being the ideal library of the book-loving student. Here are wide writing tables, chairs and couches inviting to repose, vases, bronzes, artistic screens to close up corners, rugs, a large globe, paintings and pictures up OF BANGOR. 43 on the walls, among them several old family portraits in oil by famous artists. A noticeable ornament is a bronze figure, half life size, "The Bone Player," by F. Borbedienie, a French artist of which there is a plaster copy in the Cochrane art gallery, Washington. Among the prized ornaments of this room are a set of water bottles and glasses, a chair, and an ink well of bronze and cut glass, purchased at the auction sale of the personal effects of the late Hon. George Bancroft, in Washington by Mr. Parkhurst. At this sale there was a spirited bidding over the possession of this ink well of the celebrated historian, between Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge and Mr. Parkhurst, and it has always been a source of satisfaction to the latter gentleman that lie was able to outbid Senator Lodge and bring away the prize-for prize it indeed is. The book cases are plain open Sshelves, made of common deal and placed against the wall in the least elaborate manner. As shown in the illustration, they reach to a height of but six shelves in a part of the room, it may be, extending to seven, and requiring the aid of a low step-ladder to reach the topmost books. Another room upon the second 44 PRIVATE LIBRARIES floor of the same or even somewhat larger dimensions than this room we have been describing is now partially used as an overflow library and will in future be given up wholly to books. Although very attractive and inviting to quiet repose as every library room should he, of course the mo-st inviting feature of this room is the books themselves. And they look so hospitable in their free, open shelves, that they instinctively urge a welcome, seeming to say to the visitor, "Come and take us down, look us over, read from us, we are at your service." Let us accept their invitation and look along the burdened shelves, often two tiers of books thick, to find out what is distinctive in this home library of perhaps three or four thousand volumes. If one were to, describe Mr. Parkhurst's collection he would say it had distinct features in history and biography, next that it was miscellaneous and scientific, somewhat representative in the best general lite-ratu-re, and finally, especially strong, for a private collection, in constitutional and international law. The books in this last named division, with their evidences of wear and the leaves OF BANGOR. 45 of notes and references inserted, indicate that they are the favorite books of their owner and show how thoroughly they have been used. We will lift out a book here and there as we go along grouping our notes upon them somewhat in accordance with the above order. History and biography first-for when Mr. Parkhurst began to think of owning or building up a library to his taste, his first purchase was of those standard histories, Hume, Gibbon, Macauley, Guizot, Bancroft, and Prescott, the very corner foundations of any good collection. And here they are in the best tall editions. Gibbon's Rome is in the fine old 12 volume edition of T. Cadell, London, 1813, with portraits and maps, in soft calf. Prescott is in the 16 volume edition of the Lippincotts edited by John Fiske, beautifully bound in red morocco, with marbled edges. The Estes & Lauriat edition of Victory Duruy's history of Greece is in eight large quarto volumes aid contains 2,000 illustrations. The same authors "History of Rome and the Roman People," edited by Rev. J. P. Mahaffy, is in the beautiful Estes & Laurat limited edition, Mr. Parkhurst's copy being No. 39. This set is in 16 vol 46 PRIVATE LIBRARIES umes royal octavo, uncut, and abounds in plates and illustrations. The large paper editions of the same publishers' Guizot's France and Henri Martin's France, the former in six and the latter in three volumes, with the rich plates, are noticeable in this department. "The History of Ancient Greece," by John Gillies, in four volumes, London, 1804, is a prized set, although critics say Gillies' style is faulty and that his work is superseded by Grote and Duruy, and more especially by Curtius, the great German student of our time, whose magnificent library of historical literature is now a part of the Yale university collection. It is so necessary to have books that are the early stepping stones to perfection, even if they are faulty. Great libraries are built up in this way. The edition of Bancroft is the rare first Boston edition. "History of Charles XII, by M. De Voltaire, is in three volumes in full calf, finely made. Botta's American Revolution is the New Haven edition of 183-. The Letters of Junius is that of the edition of 1879, in two volumes, printed by George Bell, London, and bound in fine calf. Whiston's Josephus is the edition printed by OF BANGOR. 47 James Lackington, London, 1806, a fine copy with maps and plans, in four volumes and in rich old calf binding. Rawlinson's Ancient Egyptians is in seven volumes. "The Narrative and Critical History of America," edited by Justin Winsor. is in 16 volumes-a monumental work as all students know. These are just notes of the more conspicuous volumes here and there. Looking along through biography are some books that are common and somethat are not so common, at least in the particular edition noted. The life and writings of Thomas Jefferson, the former the best edition of that unsurpassed biography by Henry S. Randall, in three volumes, and the works of the government edition edited by Hugh A. Washington in nine volumes; the works of John Adams edited by Charles Francis Adams in ten volumes, the Little & Brown edition; "Life of Field Marshal, His Grace the Duke of Wellington," by H. W. Maxwell, three volumes, London, 1841,-elegant, tall volumes, in 8 vo., a beautiful copy throughout with sixteen steel engravings to each volume, fine binding; a set in eight volumes of "Lives of the Queens of 48 PRIVATE LIBRARIES England" by Agnes Strickland, printed by George Bell, London, 1885, with fine steel portraits, in soft, rich calf; the Macmillan edition of P. Lanfrey's life of Napoleon in four volumes; English Women of Letters, and French Women of Letters, by Julia Kavanagh, each in two volumes, London, 1863, handsomely tooled in calf, marbled edges; Michael Angelo and Raphael, by R. Duppa, London, 1856, steel engravings in extra ca'lf; the large paper edition of the correspondence of John Lothrop Motley edited by George Wiliam Curtis, in two volumes. But perhaps the gem of the Parkhurst library in the biographical section is a large paper copy of the life of George Washington, by Chief Justice John Marshall, in five volumes, "London; printed for Richard Phillips, 1804." This is the finest copy of this work we have ever examined. In every way, printing, paper, engraving of plates and maps, and calf binding artistically gilded, the work is one to admire. The size of the page is eleven by eight and a half inches, the printed page, seven by five inches. There are many maps in this copy, with a portrait of Washington, a view of Mount Vernon, a plate of the city of OF BANGOR. 49 Washington in 1800, and an interesting map of "Boston and Charlestown" in 1800. Now let us look at a few sets of books and a few special works to give an idea of the range of the collection in what may be termed general literature or the great masters of fiction, romance and poetry. First of all is a set of the Waverly novels, the Edinburgh edition of Adam & Charles Black, 1829, in 48 12-mo. volumes, "Dedicated to the King," with beautiful steel plates; Dickens' works with all the celebrated Cruikshank illustrations, No. 120 of the large paper, uncut edition of Cassino 500 copies only, in 45 volumes; the novels of Samuel Richardson, edited by Leslie Stephen, twelve volumes, the London edition of Sotheran, uncut; works of Honore de Balsac in 38 volumes, the fine tall copy of the Roberts Brothers' edition in Roxburghe binding; novels of Charles Lever, the beautiful Little & Brown edition; a copy of the edition de luxe, of the novels of Edward Bulwer, Lord Lytton, made at the University Press, uncut, in 32 volumes, beautifully illustrated-this copy being No. 246; History of English 50 PRIVATE LIBRARIES Literature, by Henry A. Taine, London edition of 1886, in four volumes; Arthur Gilman's edition of Chaucer; the elegant Aldine edition of the English Poets, known as the Pickering edition of 1851, from the Chiswick press of Charles Whittingham, London, the edition de luxe of Thackeray's novels, No. 892 of the Estes & Lauriat edition of 1,000 copies, in 29 volumes; a fine uncut copy, of the large paper edition of Victor Hugo, with Dore's illustrations, No. 374, in 30 volumes; the Bohn libraries, those volumes so well known to all students, the works of Washington Irving-a beautiful copy; Appleton's American Cyclopedia with all the annual volumes; Appleton's Cylopedia of American Biography, and the last edition of the works of Herbert Spencer, Appleton's, in sixteen volumes, beautiful half morocco. When we come to Mr. Parkhurst's favorite branch of study outside of his first love, history, and yet closely related to it, constitutional and international law, we reach a library of books of themselves, remarkable for the wide dates and range of authors represented-a collection which we venture is found in but few if any strictly private and non-pro OF BANGOR. 51 fessional libraries in the state. In international law the great authorities grouped are M. de Wicquefort, Bodin, Pufendorf, Selden, Wheaton, Emmeric de Vattel and Grotius. In constitutional law we find the great authorities, Marshall, Pomeroy and Cooley on the constitution, the Madison papers, the Federalist, the Hartford convention, the Kentucky convention, and the Elliott debates. That the wealth of great books in this department may be better understood by those interested, we transcribe, at greater or less length, some rare titles in this rich collection, taking the volumes as we come to them without special reference to rarity or chronology. It may be said, in reference to this list which is but the merest indication of the rich treasures in Mr. Parkhurst's library in this branch, that the general works on political economy and constitutional law give first the historical evidences of our constitution, the earlier works telling how law was made, while the later ones tell how it is interpreted. In addition to these there are many works on citizenship by all the more important authors: Albany Debates, 1802. Hartford Convention, Theodore Dwight, 1833. 52 PRIVATE LIBRARIES The Federalist. (The Hallowell, Maine, edition of 1857). Journals of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. The Virginia Convention of 1829-30. The Madison Papers, Three volumes. Elliott, Jonathan, Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, as Demanded by the General Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. Four volumes. Washington, 1836. Malthus, T. R., Essay on the Principles of Population. Three volumes. London: John Murray, 1817. (In full calf, a soft and beautiful binding). Grottii, Hugonis, International Law. Oambridge University. Whewell, William, The Law of Nations, London, 1845. Vattel, E. de, The Law of Nations, 1883. Carey, M., The Political Olive Branch, or Faults on Both Sides, Federal and Democratic. Philadelphia, July 11, 1817. Wicquefort, de Monsieur, The Private Counsellor to the Duke of Brunswick, The Embassador and His Functions. Translated into English by Mr. Digby. London: Printed for Bernard Lintott, 1716. (Large paper,royal octave,double columns; full calf). Lalor, John J., Cyclopedia of Political Science. Three volumes. Pufendorf, the Baron, (Councellor of State to His Late Swedish Majesty, and to the Present King of Prussia). The Law of Nature and Nations. Eight Books written in Latin, Translated into English from the best edition, Oxford, 1703. (Royal octavo, double columns). The Campbell Pamphlets, 1862. (A rare collection.) OF BANGOR. 53 Features of Federalism, 1803. Principles and Views of the Federalists. By Publicola. Martin, Luther, Secret Proceedings and Debates of the Convention Assembled at Philadelphia in the year 1787. Richinond, Va., 1839. The Lost Principle: or the Sectional Equilibrium. By "Barbarossa." "Dedicated to Young Men of the Slave Holding States." ("Showing how it was created; how it was destroyed, how it may be restored." Very rare.) Political Writings of Thomas Paine. Two volumes. New York, 1830. Writings of Levi Woodbury. Three volumes. Private Journal of Aaron Burr. Speeches of Richard B. Sheridan. Five volumes. London: Martin, 1816. (Full calf). Speeches of Henry, Lord Brougham. Four volumes. Edinburgh: Adam & Charles Black, 1858. The Constitution of the Sixteen States which Compose the Confederated Republie, According to the Latest Amendments. Boston: 1797. We have reserved for special mention two old gems in this rare library. One is the great work of that famous classical and Oriental scholar, John Selden-1584 -1654-in which he defended the sovereignty of England over the "narrowseas," in reply to the claims of Holland to the right of fishing on the coasts of England as advocated by Grotius-the main title of which is given: 54 PRIVATE LIBRARIES Mare Clausium: The Right and Dominion of the Sea in Two Books. Written at first in Latin by that Famous and Learned Antiquary, John Selden, Esquire. Formerly Translated into, English, and now perfected and restored by J. H., Gent. Printed for Andrew Kemble and Edward Thomas, and are to be sold at their Shops on St. Margaret's hill in Southwark, and at the Adam and Eve in Little-Britain, MDCLXIII. In the first "book," the sea is proved by the law of nature and nations not to be common to all men but to be susceptible of private dominion and property as well as the land. In the second, it is asserted that the most serene king of Great Britain is the lord and proprietor of the circumfluent and surrounding sea as an inseparable and perpetual appendix of the British Empire. This book was licensed by Will Morice, Feb. 1662. The title page is beautifullly rubricated, and has a double line border in black. The size of th2 printed page is five by ten inches, much of it is in large old English letter, the impression is beautiful and the ink a rich jet black. The title of the other exceedingly rare volume is also given in full: The Six Bookes of a Commonweale. Written by I. Bodin, a famous Lawyer, and a man of great Experience in matters of OF BANGOR. 55 State. Out of the French and Latine Copies, done into English, by Richard Knolles. London, Impensis G. Bishop. 1606. Rex & Lex. The author of this work was Jean Bodin, one of the ablest political thinkers in France during the 16th century1530-1596-and Guizot (History of France, vol. iv, 39,) says of this treatise: "It was the first in original merit among the publications of the sixteenth century." It was originally written in 1587. The book comprises 794 pages. It has a beautifully engraved title page, artistic initials, and the colophon says: "Imprinted at London by Adam Islip, 1606." This copy is in the heavy original leather, and the polished vermilion edges are bright and rich now. The size of the printed page is nine and a half by six and a quarter inches. With this we leave our brief examination of this rare library, which must be the pride of its studious and modest young owner. There are books upon books which we cannot describe, which we cannot even take down to glance at. But we hope we have giren sufficient to show to our people that Bangor possesses in the Parkhurst library one of the most notable private collections in its some 56 PRIVATE LIBRARIES what out-of-the way specialty, that is owned in Maine. Mr. Parkhurst is a close student and a great reader. He reads almost daily, now with the same zest and method that he employed when a student at school and college, keeping up his system of notes, references and helps in many branches-but mainly in those of history and constitutional law. Mr. Parkhurst took d three years' course at the Columbiia university, Washington, and won the degrees of LL. B., and LL. M. MR. BLISS' LIBRARY. They stand in the bookcase yonder In a row apart by themselves, Unknown of the splendid editions That throng my well filled shelves. They are white and frayed at the edges, They are worn and rubbed at the ends; They are rather a sorry collectionBut all of them are Friends. For they are the few-score volumes That I called my Library In the days when books and dollars Alike were scarce to me. There are my well worn Shakespeare, My poets so battered and oldSevere in the "Boston Edition" Or gayer in the "Blue and Gold." The "Complete Macaulay," the "Johnson" I bought at a bookseller's stall. The six fat and dumpy "scrapbooas," The "Spofford" so grand and tall. But the dearest of books and treasures, Whose value I cannot denote, In their worn and rusty binding, My Webster, Everett and Choate. Ah! what to these old companions In raiment meagre and scant, Are the rest, resplendent in Russia, And gorgeous in "Crushed Levant?" Those, too, I prize and cherish, And guard them with lock and key; But these in their dingy covers, Are more than books to me. They are white and frayed at the edges, They are worn and rubbed at the ends; They are truly a sorry collectionBut all of them are Friends. r^i