The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-18
Him wot prigs
Wot isn't his'n,
When he's cotched,
NhonlA on IN rriasn ~

No. I lend my books with pleasure and
receive them with more. The man that
refuses to lend a book, unless it be q very
rare or very costly one, is a curmudg-
con, dog in the manger. At an early
period, when books we're literally volumes,
that is, rolls of manuscript, and were in
consequence of taeir laboriously slow con-
struction both rare and valuable, it was but
reasonable to refuse to lend book, for it's
accidental loss or destruction would have
been irre ' How they valued books Sss
been evolved since the time when our fore
fathers secured their treasures to their
shelves by chain and rope and bolt. In the
library at Grantham, Lincolnshire, Eng
land, the curious in such matters may still
chained books of our ancestors. More than
once during the thirteenth century, when a
church council was being held and the ext
gencles of debate required a consultation of
the works of the fathers, the assembled
divines had to dispatch at no inconsiderable
them from some distant monastic IL
brary. and goodly sum it was, I
warrant you, they were compelled to deposit
in pledge for their safe return. A rare pre-
caution against the professional book bor-
rover of to-day! When next he saunters in
on his usual errand, might suggest to him
to leave the cost of the book he wishes in
its vacant place, and resume his possession
when resume mine. I'm afraid it would
not do, but the idea is as good to-day as in
medieval times. Nor were the fathers
alone alone in such request: 50 rare were the
occasion, when king of France wished to
possess copy of the writings of
Baize, noted Arabian physician, the facul-
ty of medicine in the university of Paris
refused to lend the original to the monarch
himself without sufficient guarantee.
ANhor QnnthQr in,
tended to bequeath his extensive library to
the British museum in London, but in an
evil hour the authorities of that institution
refused him, while confined to his house by
sickness. the temporary loan of a rare folio
in their possession, and he altered his will
But with the introduction of the art Of
printing. and the consequent cheapening
of books was nous avons change tout celia.
You know the story of the poor student who
sent a note to che of his professors asking
for the loan of book he could not afford
to buy, and of the formal answer he re-
ceived that the professor made it a rule
never to lend books but that the student was
welcome to come to his library and read all
day long. l confess to sneaking sympathy
with that professor. But the whirligig of
bitterly cold morning the professors fire
refused to burn and he sent his servant in
haste to borrow from the student pair of
bellows. II am extremely sorry" was the
answer, II make it rule never to lend my
bellows, but the professor is quite vel
come to come here and blow my ire all day
long"
But there are books and books. Why,
have some dainty Elzevirs and some rare
first editions that Delilah herself could not
persuade me to lend. How we'll I remem-
Der the. first time ] called an Elzevir my
own! It was Horace; it is close to my ell
bow at this moment and as take it down
and softly turn the leaves, can recall
the whole adventure as wildly rs if it had
happened yesterday. ! had been spending
lived in one of the London suburbs, and as
left their house to return to town the
clocks were striking midnight. A hasty,
rush to the depot confirmed ME in my sus-