"SIC TRANSIT GLOR1A’·
' I
during the winter of l872—73,discussed the pos-
sibility of Towne’s engagement as librarian of
the Public Library of Kentucky. As evidence of ‘ .
this conclusion there are two letters which I
Towne later made public, written to him by Dur-
rett and Walter N. Haldeman in March, 1873.
These letters made reference to previous nego— —
tiations and answered inquiries Towne had put
to the two trustees. In part Durrett’s leté V
ter said:
...If I am permitted to advise, Iwould
say, by all means take the place of li-
brarian of the PublicLibrary ofKentucky.
It will be no ordinary place in a very
short time. It will be a place that any 4
one proud of being a librarian will be {
proud to occupy. I know more about the _
thing than any one living, and I think I » l
see far enough into the future to under- Q
stand the position of a librarian here in I
·· a few years to come. The only objection ,
‘. I have to your letter is the price named.
I What I spoke of to the trustees after my 1
talk with you last fall was $l800. It i
would be better to begin with this sum. A
There will be no difficulty about in- ‘
creasing it, and no difficulty about mak- ,
ing the place permanent. I would suggest lf
$l50 per month, or $35 per week for the
first year. Think of it and write me if I
· that will not do. I don’t wish you to
understand that I could not secure you ‘
I the $2500, but mean to suggest the $1800
as better now for both under the circum— ,
stances to be dealt with.(l9)
35
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