The Russellville Democrat., 1890-05-22
own YOUR own BOOKS.
1t Is Better Than Knocking Around Il
Public Libraries.


1t Is Better Than Knocking Around In
Public Libraries.
Let me say TO you, young man or wom-
an, begin at. once the foundation OF
your library. You often ask profess
sional men like myself, Glow do you
use the public library2" /. for one.
must reply that / never have yet learned
how, though Ihaye haunted them all my
life. never go into a public library
that do not get confused; my original
quest is blunted or turned aside by the
page Of catalogue matter, my ardor is
cooled BY the mechanical business of
getting what / thought / wanted. My
ideality is broken down by the heat of
the room, the lug Of an overcoat on one
arm, my hat and umbrella under the
other, the search tor blank and PEN
Gil, the crowding Of the man next me,
the payment OF fine on the last book
overhead, the pert and airy delay
OF the pretty girl who stands at
the gate OF knowledge TO stamp
my card, or worst of all, the third or
fourth rebuff of ''outy' as / designate
the volume / want So that If / had
4
in, depart utterly vexed and wholly
out OF writing or speaking mood for that
forenoon. / must so back to my den
and kindle my fires anew. As to sitting
down in the library itself. making notes
aud keeping to my idea in that publici-
ty, with me it is wholly out of the
question. Perhaps it is my want of
concentration. Perhaps, moreover, if |
were a statistician only seeking names
and dates, or, on the other hand, an
idle man, bent only on passing an hour
over a novel indoors rather than on the
park benches, / could read in a public
library. But il my author is to kindle
me and inspire me with suggestion for
any original added work or word, my
dull head must be moro solitary, my
cars less assaulted.
If you buy your own book it is atleast
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 daybreak2 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 Ny turn next" 1t
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:
nd ta1y ~
after you have dreamed over what l
said on such page" Your own book,
marked and leaf turned down, will
sometimes stand year on the shelf
all disused. But you know where to
find what you want. AS time goes on
one day you spring out of your
chair excfaiming: II have read
something on this point Oh, have it.
1t is in such and such volume. See!
Here it ISL You are conversing with
your friend about Rome. What did
Dickens write about the Colosseum?
Dear, dear! got it out of the public
library. have no Dickens of my own. "
But you have Byron. You pull it
out. You sit and read and charm your
self with a pleasure far more exquisite
than when you first perused it.
There is no greater error than to sup
pose that a mere reading of all the
pages of book once exhausts it. 1t is
the fortieth reading that affords the
finest flavor of pleasure. Slowly, yet
surely, even with painful economy. you
collect few good things. The store
will always be worth the investment to
you, You viii learn how to select. You
will sell some books as years pass, but
some viii always be dear as life to you.
You win acquire the habit of hanging
roundn bookstores, which cultivates a
man as the face of friend sharpeneth
the face. You will read reviews
and learn to be on tho watch for the
newest and latest in thought No ono
reads reviews who does not buy books;
yet reviews are often nowadays the
ripest thought in newspaper. Your
home viii be perfumed by your library.
Flowers on table are not so aesthetic.
Tho lack of the library is the severest
rcproach on many a sordid home among
the mere money-getters. In fact one
would, but for the overgrowth of which
the illustrious Englishman complains,
as soon think of borrowing cradles and
eating dishes as the few Inasterful
books that underlie present human
knowledge and culture.
Il am young man living in board
ing-house. A library would be an in
cumbrance." To which reply: A young
man with library will prove irresisti-
bic. He viii soon have local habita-
ton and name. lie will outgrow his
clearinghouse. Tho world has place
for him and his books. Randolph Hill,
in Boston Globe.