The San Francisco call., 1895-07-28

cyclopedias, dictionaries and aliases to
begin with, good history of each country,
the best novels and essays, books OF poems
and tales of adventure. She put thought
and time into the selecting, and the result
was worthy OF any connoisseur Of books.
Mrs. William II. Crocker is lover of
books and great reader, but they are the
books of the day-those talked OF and
written about. She would read and judge
for herself their worth and merit, and hav-
ing a mind of her own, her criticisms are
as original as good. All the American
magazines, the best London and Paris
periodicals, are subscribed for by her. The
world goes mad suddenly over revived
interest in the history of Napoleon. New
memoirs are written. This author pro-
pounds tale of his relation to the fair sex;
another gathers and edits his correspond
ence. Meneval's "reminiscences are re-
printed-the wit writes Mr.. Bonaparte of
Corsica-and Mrs. Crocker has them all.
Joan d'Arc's spirit rises from the ashes OF
her martyrdom, and her simple faith and
her great courage, after many years, again
electrifies the world, and while all peoples
read again of the heroine OF France, SO
Mrs. Crocker seeks all knowledge of the
same.
The Yellow Book is put forth with the
view and expectation OF revolutionlzlng
magazine lore and making, and Mrs.
Crocker has the Yellow Book. She is also
a fine French scholar, and is as well up"
in French as English literature. And this
is not to say that Mrs. Crocker has not the
usual knowledge and appreciation of the
classics but she has a mind to the present,
and thinks and talks with the world OF
to-day.
Miss Kohl is another book-lover. Into
the realm of history and science she goes
with Prescott, Froude and Fiske. She
travels over continents with Sala, and see
nations at war with one another-Lincoln
holding in his hands the destiny OF the
United States, and hears the tales of the
great plain man then in vogue and recita-
tions of his wit then going the rounds:
she sees the funeral professions of the
great musician or painter, the coronation
of kings, the marriages OF royalty, through
Sala's eyes.
Miss Kohl has made the trip to the
Island Empire, on which the eyes OF the
world have been so lately turned in sur
prise and admiration, and she goes over
in mind those delightful scenes among
this most fascinating people in 'Unfamil-.
lar Japan, "The Women and Children OF
Japan" !" MADAME Chrysantheme," "The
Mikados Empire, "Jinrikisha Days" and
the many other books descriptive OF this
artistic people and their fowery island
home.
She also has the late illustrated books
which are being so beautifully brought out
in this day of discovery OF fine methods OF
reproduction - Raphaeps Madonna" J"
"Gibson's Drawings and "Pennell's Pen
Drawings"
Miss Kate Dillon is young woman,
well educated. but lately come of age and
into her inheritance OF a large property.
Miss Cosgrave has been her teacher, and
L L. l. II, L. -
stilled into her pupils mind an apprecia-
ton and desire for greater knowledge of
the "best thoughts of the best men,"
Miss Dillons books are bought with the
idea of use-to read and learn. She greatly
values her present collection, though as
vet comps paratively limited, of rare ana
unique books; but her largest purchases
are what should always constitute the
backbone of a library before branching out
into special lines-the accepted classics
and works of authors whose names are
familiar household words. Miss Dillon has
not a bookroom where all her books are
collected together. Her illustrated books
are left in her reception-rooms for the
pleasure of her guests, and near her sleep
ing-room she retains a room where the
books she is at present reading and study
ing are upon the table and shelves, some
what in confusion. showing this to be her
workshop. And here, with her books, are
some choice paintings by Keith, greatly
priced by the young possessor.
Miss Casserly is the friend of the young
literary aspirant. No new voice is heard
singing but it catches her ear. She waits
not until the world, so distrustful of the
would-be poet, is forced into seeing his
merits, too late usually to bring compensa-
ton to the heralder of new tidings, but the
new volume she possesses herself of and
accepts or rejects its worth in her own
judgment.
There are several names that might be
grouped together, as their plan in the pur-
chase of books and their aim in reading are
much alike and also typify a large class of