woman asked for George Moore’s “Esther Waters,” recognized, I believe, as one of the most serious and superb of modern novels.  The work was included in the catalogue of the Library.  In reply to her request she was informed that she could not have “Esther Waters” unless she obtained from the Chief Mandarin or Librarian special permission to read it, on the ground that she was a “student of literature.”  I doubt whether the imagination of nincompoops and boards of management has ever devised anything more beautiful than this.

* * * * *

But the lady had a husband, and the husband, being a prominent journalist, had the editorial use of a newspaper in Boston.  He began to make inquiries, and he discovered that many of the catalog cards were marked with red stars, and that a star signified that the work described on the card was not morally fit for general circulation.  He further discovered that works rankly and frankly pornographic and works of distinguished art were starred with the same star.  Lastly, he discovered that the Chief Mandarin or Librarian, all out of his own head and off his own bat, had appointed a reading committee for the dividing of modern fiction into sheep and goats, and that the said committee consisted exclusively of Boston dames mature in years.  He exposed the entire affair in his newspapers and made a very pleasing sensation.  The first result was that his wife was afterwards received at the Library with imperial honours and given to understand by kotowing sub-mandarins that she might have the whole red-star library sent home to her house if she so desired.  There was no other result.  The rest of reading Boston remained under the motherly but autocratic care of ces dames.  Those skilled in the artistic records of Boston may remember that the management of the same Library once refused the offered gift of a statue of a woman holding a baby, on the sole ground that the woman was not attired.

[26 May ’10]

More interesting information has accrued to me concerning literary censorship in the British provinces.  Glasgow has about a dozen lending libraries, chiefly, I believe, of the Carnegie species.  In none of these are the works of Richardson, Fielding, and Smollett allowed a place.  Further, “Anna Karenina,” “Resurrection,” “Tess,” “Jude the Obscure,” and “Tono-Bungay” are banned.  Further, and still more droll, in the words of a correspondent who has been good enough to send me all sorts of particulars:  “A few days ago I applied at the Mitchell Library (a reference library in the centre of the town) for Whitman’s poems.  The attendant procured the volume, but, before handing it to me, consulted one of the senior librarians.  This official scrutinized me from a distance of about eight yards and finally nodded his head in acquiescence.  The book was then given to me.  On the back of it a little red label was affixed.  I made inquiry and discovered that books with these labels are only given out to persons of (what shall I say?) good moral appearance.”