Page 134 - Cornelius Hedges Story

121 The Cornelius Hedges Story

Chapter 8
His Love of Books and Knowledge

Cornelius Hedges’ love of books was not only exhibited in his
efforts on behalf of the Helena Library, but also in the accumulation
of an extensive personal library. To him, books, newspapers and
periodicals were necessary tools for mental discipline, and the
acquisition of useful knowledge.

According to his son Toby, the Hedges’ library “was undoubtedly
the largest and most expensive private library” in Helena.394 Hedges
gathered a library to have material to read, not to have books for
exhibition and dust collection. He had a tender spot in his heart
for books, as is well illustrated by the quotation on his book plate,
“Use, But Don’t Abuse.” One time, in his journal, he disapprovingly
commented, “Case of mutilation at the Library.”395

He maintained regular accounts with book dealers in the east
during the time he lived in Montana. The three most important
dealers to him were the American Book Exchange, John R. Alden of
Boston, and Lovering’s of New York City.396

In 1868, Hedges purchased a set of American Encyclopedia from
a Methodist minister, Rev. A.M. Bough, and commented “They are
a great treasure.”397

Of the hundreds of volumes of Judge Hedges’ extensive library,
three leather-bound books from his library are now treasured
among the historical mementos on display at the Montana Grand
Lodge Library and Archives, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
of Montana, in Helena. The books owned by the Grand Lodge are:
Quinti Horatii Flucci Opera: Interpretations - Notes, London, 1741; A
Spanish-English Dictionary, Henrique Neuman, Diccionario Neuvo
de las Dos Lenguas Espanola E. Inglisa, Philadelphia, 1823; and
a history book originally belonging to Dennis Hedges, Cornelius’
father, L. H . Young, The Historical Cabinet, New Haven, 1834.

Cornelius was always concerned about mental discipline and
constantly tried to keep his mind from being idle. In Iowa, in 1863,
he wrote “Evening fooled away at stores for want of something to
read or study.”398