Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-31
JUDGED BY THE BINDING.
Why Young Ladies go to the COngres-
siOnal Library for Light Literature.

Three young ladies, one with school books under
her arm and two who had evidently just began to
get the dust OF the schools or their noses, stood
near STAR reporter in the Congressional Library
the other day. No lines OF thought marked their
low brows and their cheeks were not paled by
study, but they looked about them at the dusty
volumes with an air OF familiarity. They walked
over TO an alcove filled with books, all of about the
same size and appearance, and stood there waiting
for the young man with SYMPATHETIC eyes and
young whiskers who was just then waiting on
several other young ladies.
Presently the sympathetic eyes turned upon the
three fair students, and without word the young
man began to take books down from one OF the
shelves.
'THERE, TAKE YOUR CHOICE"
he said, laying an armful OF books on the table.
The books were all alike in serious library bind
mgs Of marbleized paper with red leather tips and
backs They might have been philosophical
works or bound lectures on theology or astronomy.
The young ladies bent their three heads together
and consulted as they ran over the titles Occa-
sionally one would pick out volume, run the
pages through her fingers and read the heading OF
some Of the chapters. Then they would consult
over 1t and come TO the conclusion thatI wouldn't
do.
When the whole line had been gone over they
consulted with their eyes, pOuted a little, and
began to look around the walls and up at the
thousands Of volumes that are squeezed together
on the shelves OF the Congressional Library. They
looked at the man searching through nles Of the
earliest newspapers; at the schOOl-bO printing
himself with literal translation OF hts Latin
musty volumes, and gray student OF theology
pouring over volumes OF the 'tAncient Fathers"
The young man smiled and brought another arm
full OF the books and spread them out in line for
inspection. These were quickly looked over and
two Or three selected, and the young ladies' again
allowed their eyes TO wander about the library.
With another smile or Intelligence the young man
spread out more books. With nearly hundred
volumes in line the young ladies looked them all
over took four out the first supply and thanked
the young man for his attention.
one or them remarked that 1t was so hard to tell
Just what book one wanted. Then she told the
young man that the last one, taken on his recon-
mendaton, was just the thinglt was just splendid.
1T sweet little trashy thing" she said, with
Toss OF her head.
AFRAID OF MOTHER.
''Do you KNOW" said the smallest OF the three,
am awfully afraid. ] don't believe I'll take
them" and she took the two books from under her
arm and made hesitating motion to restore them
"Pshaww said one OF her companions. ''They
haven't paper backs"
"Buymother's SO awful" said the other with
little sigh, slowly drawing the books back into her
possession.
"My mother is just as bad. Didn't she throw
that splendid novel Girte gave me e; into the hre9
older girl. "And what did do? Just came here
and got the same trashy book. She didn't say
ali the sweet trashy novels want, If they are in
the Congressional Library binding"
Then they Rugged their books up in their arms
and went their way.
OVERCOMING HONE ANTAGONIST.
This is an instance OF the way young ladies in
Washington overcome home antagonism to light
romance literature. Most OF the novels for which
there is a popular demand, and which can be had
for twenty-five or fifty cents Ia paper-backed edi-
lions, are handsomely bound, and stand with
chaste dignity among the thousands OF serious
philosophical, and theological works. They loox
quite as respectable in their good clothes as do
tho Pilgrims Progress, Dr. Newman'S lectures or
Buffers Analogy, and their respectable dress in
sures their entrance into good society. Many
mothers who are shocked at q paper backed
"rnorns and Orange Blossoms" in yellow, and
| saved Her Honor" and similar books in cheap
editions receive the same volumes with cordial wei
| come, If put IN q dress suit and stamped "Con-
| gresstonal Library"
BOOKS IN TIE LIBRARY.
Bound copies OF all the copyright books and
many not OF this class are found In the Congress
siOnal Library. The families OF Representatives
and Senators have tree access 70 ali BOOKS in the
library, and suitable deposit will secure the loan
| OF books TO most any one. After school hours and
On SATURDAYS young ladies Of the age when they
take most love stories 60 TO the library with the
sanction and consent OF their parents and secure
books that are denied them in the more convenient
| and accessible form. The young man with the
| sympathetic eye generally watts on them and he
/ comes to know what they want without their ask
| ing many eue6tlonA He spreads the neat little
| volumes out before them and gtyu them Their
| choice. They got than, sometimes three q four
Together, and come often.