Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-06-05
OWN YOUR OWN BOOKS.
It Is Better Than Knocking Around In
Yuhlic Iihraries.


It is Better Than Knocking Around In
Public Libraries.
Let me say to you, young man or WON. !
an, begin at once the foundation of
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 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 'out!" as / designate
the volume / want. So that, If | had
an idea burning in my soul when came
in, ! 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 publici.
ty, with me it is wholly out of the
question. Perhaps it is my want OF
concentration. Perhaps moreover, if
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
park benches, / could read in a public
library. But If my author is to kindle
me and inspire me with suggestion for
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 prNprietorship 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 up! 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 cat 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 shelf
ali -aisused. But you know where tc
find what you want. AS time goes on
one day you spring out of your
chair exclaiming: II have read
something on this point. Oh, have it.
IL is in such and such q volume. Seel
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 l have no Dickens of my own
But you have Byron. You pull II
out You sit and read and charm your
self with pleasure far more exquisite
than when you first perused it.
There is no greater error than to sup
pose that mere reading of all the
pages of book once exhausts it. 1t i.
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 tt
you. You will learn how to select. Yor
will sell some books as years pass, bu
some will always be dear as life to you
You will acquire the habit of changing
round" bookstores, which cultivates {
man as the face of friend sharpenetf
the face. You will read reviews
and learn to be on the watch for thu
newest and latest in thought No ont
reads reviews who does not buy books
yet reviews are often nowadays thu
ripest thought in newspaper. You
home will be perfumed by your library
Flowers on a table are not so aesthetic
The lack of the library is the severes
reproach on many sordid home among
the mere money-getters. In fact on,
would, but for the overgrowth of whicl
the illustrious Englishman complains
as soon think OF borrowing cradles an
eating dishes as the few masterfu
books that underlie present humal
knowledge and culture.
81 am a young man living in a board
ing-house. A library would be an in
cumbrance." To which Ireply: A youn
man with library will prove irresisti
BILE. He will soon have a local habits
ton and name. He will outgrow hi
clearinghouse. The world has plac
for him and his books. Randolph Hill
in Boston Globe.