The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-02-01
Diamond Cut Diamond

Al0nlOAlAA SAG
We notice with regret the Increasing
popularity of diamond editions OF
books. Almost every season sees fresh
announcements Of them. We find
them lying on all center tables; We see
them In travellers haut'sen all railway
trains.
Questioning whence Il is popularity
arises, we can find but two explana
| tons Of it First, the desire ri I'LL men
to get as much as possible for q given
sum of money; second, TIE cahven-
fence of having large ampn'it d read
ing matter in compact and portable
| form. These are the two good euds
which appear 10 be and which claim
70 he answered BY - nd editions.
We find both tl,es,. rs falee az
they are plausible. Fiistiy, What is u
| be the standard of"money's WORTH?
Not mere bulk, surely; not mere num-
her in anything under heaven which
we buy; but availability and quality
and adaptation to oar need. To a.
sumo that diamond edition of Ten
nyson or Dickens is Of better quality
than one printed in far, large type
would be ludicrously absurd; to assume
that il is better adapted TO any ones
use, more available under any circum-
stances. is to beg the whole question.
Here again must ceme IN a second
definition, drawing sharp iinc be-
tween apparent and temporary con.
venience aud permanent. usefulness
and good; bet seen not only lie piice
of the other, but the price ore rays
year by year, minute by minute, for
using the diamond edition and for us
ing the other.
Ii we could strike a balance Of pref
| erence among our seDes, would not
sight be the one for the possession Of
which we would, If we must, give up
all the others?
Those born blind are, il is said, more
cheerful, more content than those who
| are born deaf and dumb. This is easily
understood. The deaf and dumb man
receives constant suggestion through
his eye OF all that his ear loses aud his
lips IRE forbidden; inevitably he exag-
gerates his loss, and can never forget
it. The man born blind receives no
such vivi suggestion through hearing
or touch of what sight might reveal.
His utmost fancy Of a color Is that it Is
like some sound; and as for shape, he
even more Of il than We do who see.
But what language can describe the
agony of deprivation which it must be
| to become biinde Once to have known
/ light, aud then to 81. in darkness fer
ever? Once to have known the com-
partnership Of books. aud then to be
exiIed from them:
! Realizing this, one would think
that no human being could ever be
found guilty of one moments care
lessness or abuse Of his eyes. But the
/ y
excepting that poor uulcsst drudge.
| the stomach, Witch Is so habiiualiy
neglected, overwolhee, and injured as
| the eye.
Properly used and cared FIR, it need
not fail IL so yoen rs il does. 0cuIists
say that the eye which has never been
strained by reading and writing in dim
or unsteady light. or while the body is
| in motion, a. in railway riding, or in
al improper position, rs In lyi <
dnwn-snch an eye will stand the we r
can any other organ Ia the body We
believe this. HIS inefiahle delicarx
and perfection of mechanism indicate
this. They also Indicate the probable
irreparahleness of even slight injur,
10 il. We know II young girl, of al,
apparently healthy body, who by one
short reading at twilight IL book Of
fine print 80 lost the use of her ewes
that for two years SHE was ,shls. TO read
oaly nj caretully-measured ard ,iimin-
ished intervals OF "A few niof,eut- each
nbiiged 10 exercise the greatest caution
and foibearanre. such deprivation a.
this Is nothing less than eHe degree ni
being blind. That thousands Of people
may abuse their eyes aud escape lhis
result does not make it any the wiser.
any the more right FOR them to run
tie risk.
How much, then, do men get a.
their moneys worth when they bu>
diamond editions Of books at even one
tenth the cost of editions in larger
type?
The claim Of convenience for trans
portation in favor of diamond editions
has always seemed to Us singuariy
shallow. In cases where library or
part OF n library is to be acked up and
moved from one place to another, what
difference do few more cubic feet to a
box, or even few more boxes. make ? |
And In case (which is the favori,e |
illustration Of their value1 OF books TO |
he taken as companions on short Jour
neys, do let us inquire soberly how
mu, h of Tennyson one would be like
~ to read between New York and
Philadelphia IT he cares for his
eyes, he will not read one word; but. if
he does not. and reads the entire way,
and all. will he be likely to
get through with the whole Of Mr.
rennyson's works?
Nature is the most inexorahle #
creditors; she gives long credits, un.
luckily for US, but she reckons com
pound interest on her bills. She gives
~ uttermost freedom of choice: but
.he holds Us TO our bargain with i'm
olacahlc sternness. She never sells
damaged goods. nor takes back second
hand ones which Nc have spoiled. We
AN Ill our book shelves with Ola
nond editions. If we like, and hire
who knows no hattart |