The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-14
CARE OE FINE BOOKS.
Valuable Suggestions Obtained From
Well-Known Bibliopole.

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Well-Known Bibliopole.
A representative of the American An
alyst called upon a well-known biblio-
pole of New York City for information
respecting the care of fine books. ga
book" said the expert, ''is delicate
organization, whose foes are perpetu-
ally endeavoring to destroy it, and its
foes are legion. Water, moisture or damp
ness, on the one hand. and excessive dry
ness on the other, are both extremely
injurious. A high temperature dries
paper, parchment and leather, and rem
ders them very brittle. In the opposite
direction great cold affects books in the
same manner, but to much smaller ex-
tent. For this reason Swede or Can
adam has harder time with his library
than Frenchman, an Englishman or
an American. But the hardest time
of all is experienced by the resi-
dents Of hot climates like South
ern India, Egypt, Brazil and CO.
lombia. Another dangerous enemy to
all books is what is usually termed
mold. This is not simple veg
etable growth, as is popularity believed.
Microscopists have discovered over a
hundred species of mold with which
libraries are afflicted. Some attack
paper; others parchment; some fatten
on sheepskin, while others prefer mo-
rocco for diet. There is hardly sub
stance of any sort used in bookmaking
but what has anywhere from two to
ten different molds which find in it a
home or source of nouriShment. In
sectS are the cause of endless trouble.
Flies and spiders merely soil books;
moths and butterflies lay eggs which
hatch into vOraciOuS and destructive
larvae. These do any amount of dam
age l have seen rare and valuable
volumes which had been bored through
and through by these minute pests.
Ants do little or no harm in temperate
ATTITUDES, but are scOurge in the trop-
les. A colony of white ants has fire.
quently been known to devour not only
library, but also the book cases in
which the books were kept. In pro.
viding against these dangers a lit
tie common sense will suggest
all requisite remedies. A library
should be kept clean, well-dust-
cd and thoroughly ventilated. A
hardwood, marble or mosaic floor with
rugs is far better than a carpeted
one. For the same reason wooden or
leather furniture is superior to the
handsomest products in silk and wool
of the upholsterer'S art. In respect to
heating, CRATE fire either of coal OF
the old-fashioned one of wood is the
best. Dry hot-air from registers or fur
naces, is too desiccating, while a gas
stove or oil stove is ruinous. For fight
ing mold and insect life there are a
number of good methods. Pieces OF
camphor, menthol and tobacco are OF
great value. They should be placed in
bookcases on every shelf. Pulverized
salicylic acid sprinkled over the books
and shelves is probably the best. 1t is
colOrless, tasteless and odOrless, and
has no action either chemical or me.
chanical upon the books. Spraying a
bookcase with a weak solution of zorro
sive sublimate has been recommended
but do not like the idea of playing
with SO powerful a poison. Last of all
| in using fine books put on a tempo
rary cover before you begin reading"