The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-05-28
OWN YOUR OWN BOOKS.
II Is Better Than Knocking Around IN
Public Libraries.

your library. You often ask profess
sional men like myself ''How do you
use the public library" /, for one,
must reply that never have yet learned
how. though Ihave haunted them all my
life. never go into public library
that do not get confused; my original
uuest is blunted or turned aside by the
page of catalogue matter, my ardor Is
rooled nv the mechanical business OF
getting what | thought | wanted. My
ideality is broken down by the heat Oh
the room, the lug of an overcoat on ono
arm. nv hat and umbrella under the
other, the search tor blank and PEN
Gil, the crowding of the man next me,
the payment of a fine on the last DOCK
overhead, the pert and airy delay
of the pretty girl who stands at
the gate of knowledge to stamp
nv card, or worst of all, the third or
fourth rebuff of 'out" as l designate
the volume l want So that, if l had
an idea burning in my soul when came
in. I DEPART utterly vexed and wholly |
out of writing or speaking mood for that
forenoon. / must 60 back to my den
and kindle my fires anew. AS to sitting
down in the library itself making notes
and keeping to my idea in that publlcl-
tv, with me it is wholly out OF the
question. Perhaps it is my want OF
concentration. Perhaps, moreover, II
were statistician only seeking names
and dates, or, on the other hand' an
idle man, bent only on passing an hour
over novel indoors rather than on the
parl, benches, | could read in public
library. But if my author is to kindle
me and inspire me with suggestion Tor
any original added work or word, my
dull head must be more solitary, my
ears less assailed
If YOU buy your own book it is at least
clean; it brings no infection into your
dwelling. Is there any thing more de-
lightful than the fragrance of the new
book as you crack it open as flowers
open to the gaze of daybreak? And the
sense of proprietorship prevents all
hurry. You have it. There it rests on
your table, patient for your convenience.
You may lay it down to think for an
hour with no impertinent voice whis'
pering: "Hurry upl My turn next" II
is thinking over book which is the
very most valuable thing about read
ing That is the way we take the lit.
tie book and eat it," as st. John says.
A book Of real worth seems to say:
'Lay me down and take me up again
after you have dreamed over what
said on such page" Your own book,
marked and leaf turned down, will
sometimes stand year on the she'll
all disused. But you know where te
find what you want. AS time goes or
one day you spring out OF you,
chair exclaiming: 81 have reat
something on this point. Oh, have it
1t is in such and such a volume. See
Here it ISL You are conversing will
your friend about Rome What dit
Dickens write about the Colosseum
Dear, dear got it out Of the publ
library. l have no Dickens of my own
But you have Byron. You pull
out. You sit and read and charm your
self with pleasure far more exquisit
than when you first perused it.
There is no greater error than to sur
pose that mere reading of all tn
pages of book once exhausts it. 1t
the fortieth reading that affords th
finest flavor of pleasure. Slowly, yt
surely, even with painful economy, 20
collect few good things. The stoI
will always be worth the investment
YOU. You will learn how to select. YC
will sell some books as years pass, bl
some will always be dear as life to yo
You will acquire the habit of "hangir
round" bookstores, which cultiyates
man as the face of a friend sharpenet
the face. You will read review
and learn to be on the watch for Il
newest and latest in thought No OF
reads reviews who does not buy book
vet reviews are often nowadays tt
ripest thought in q newspaper. lo
home will be perfumed by your librar
Flowers on table are not SO 9stheti
The lack Of the library is the severe
reproach on many sordid homo amor
the mere money-getters. In fact OF
would, but for the overgrowth of whi'
tho illustrious Englishman complain
as soon think OF borrowing cradles al
eating dishes as the few masterf
books that underlie present hum
knowledge and culture.
81 am young man living in boar
ing-house. A library would be an
Uumbrance." To which Ireply: A you
man with library will prove irresis
BILE. He will soon have a local habi
ton and name. He will outgrow
clearinghouse. The world has pla
for him and his books Randolph Hi
in Boston Globe. 80
A Suggestion to Employers.
The quality that enabled man
make it pleasure for his employees
work for him. was valuable one, q
one that had much to DO with his 81
cess. just what 1t was may be diflicl
to tell. Perhaps it was the interest
showed in their welfare, the smile wi
which he greeted them, the considera
ness with which he treated them
bargaining and paying; or it may ha
been something else. 1t was I
solely in sho amount of wages
gave chem, for it is not alleged that
gave them more than was paid
others. There is a magnetism in sol
men that is not possessed by othe
and since it is a native quality it C
not be secured by those who are wi
outfit. At the same time, it is possil
for men to make themselves me-
agreeable than they are, and if this
done, they may overcome the natu
Jofo E / I