Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-08
100
miscellaneous.
Return your Borrowed Books.


We have been intending, for several weeks
past, TO give Our readers the benefit of the
following most excellent advice, hut other
matter has crowded it out of our columns
II is Just as good now as when it was writ
ten, however, and VIC trust that no one will
read il without profit. The reckless disre-
gard of the right of property in books, which
obtnins among people of good principle aud
good feeling is truly marvellous, aud is Sc
rious defect IN character. A lady or gentle
man who borrows dollar from friends
purse, returns il with scrupulous punctuality,
but either will borrow n book worth twice as
much, and after lumblng and soing and
lending it, forget to return it, until its patient
owner is compelled 10 seek it. Yet every
body knows that books are often among ones
most treasured possessions, precious from u
thousand sweet aud hallowed associations.
For our own part, we regard Our valued
books us Our friends, aud do not readily eX.
cuse any indignity Offered them. New Years
Day has passed, but Tomorrow will be 81.
Valentines, and we respectfully recommend
that il be observed in the manner recon-
mendcd by the Inquirer; aud we assure the
careless borrowers of books, that no more
acceptable Valentine can they send to n
friend, than valuable book, long since bor-
rowed, aud concerning the fate of which the
sggrieved owner has wondered in vain.
A SEAsONABLE EDlcr.-Undcr this head.
proclamation appears in the New York
Christian Inquirer" recommending all
persons, upon the FIRST Day OF THE New
YEAR, "1o examine their libraries, study
and center tables, 'what-nots,' repositories
of pamphlets aud newspapers, carefully TO
ascertain whether they have in their possess
sion any volumes, bound or unbound, tracts,
ia
tut had aud obtained simply for perusul
from friends and acquaintOnces and in all
cases where such examination results il
finding any publications, ancient or modern
big or little, prose or poetry, songs or ser
mons, belonging to parties who lament los
tones, broken sets, or missing periodicals
10 forthwith do up said publications. IN clenI
pupcr, and by their own or more trustworthy
hands transport them home Aud it is fur
ihcr recommended, that all persons who be
licvc that hooks are books and umbrellas nHi
brellas, that lending is not giving, that debt,
are to he paid, and promises TO ho redcenr
ed, observe and keep the day above nance
in the manner cnjoiuet, in order that they
may bc thankful for relief from the accusa
tions of conscience, and also make theiI
friends thankful for the recovery of proper
~, the titles 10 which are vested in them be-
yond all quibble or doubt"
Cordially concurring in the above Procla-
NATION, we lay its recommendations before
our readers and though they will not be
able this year to observe the First Day OF
tho year in the prescribed manner, it will
answer just as well TO devote some portion Of
the morning or afternoon when they receive
this paper, to the examination of their libra
ries, book-tables, and closets, that all bor-
rowed books, newspapers, umbrellas, Sc,
may he returned forthwith to their owners.
Speaking MS one OF the large class of len
ders OF bools, we may be allowed perIuis
sion To say, that nothing is so well calcuat
cd To make man selfish respecting hi;
property of this kind, as the almost uniyer
sal carecssness-not TO call il by II harshel
namc--of borrowers. For il is, of course
the most interesting works that man has Oh
his shelves, which are most sought aiter.-
To lend books 10 those who will read them
at once, take care OF them, aud promptly
return them, is pleasure but to lend them
10 those who will do none of these, is, most
decidedly, sacrifice 10 friendship or polite
ness.-!Sat. Euening Post.