8 



The classification of a great library is 

 equivalent to a classification of human 

 knowledge, and may, if men please, be- 

 come the standard or symbol of conflicting 

 schools of thought. It might, for example, 

 be plausibly maintained that knowledge, 

 and therefore the library, should begin with 

 the definition of man's relation to the un- 

 seen powers around him — that is, with 

 Natural Theology. Or with man himself as 

 the unit of all things human — that is, with 

 Anthropology. Or, on Nature's own pattern, 

 with the most rudimentary forms of exis- 

 tence. Hence, as we heard yesterday from 

 the distinguished gentleman who here re- 

 presents the fifth part of the world, the 

 reading-room library at Melbourne be- 

 gins with works on the subject of Sponges. 

 Fortunately for the neutral bibliographer, 

 there exists a book which not only holds 



