The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22


protecting the book that is so we'll loved. the
spiritual and the material book lover have
worked together. They have not, however.
exhausted the subject. Therefore 1t is that
one who loves the inside and the outside Of
good books gladly avails himself of the col
umns of ThE Sun to add his mite to the
sum of human knowledge and perhaps by
c~entring the attention Of scientific men as we'll
as of the guardians of books on a most destruc-
tive enemy. the bookworm. to preserve many .
valuable tome to the book lovers of the future.
My study of the bookworm was begun in
the library OF Georgetown University
classic ground. A century ago, scholars who
have since won fame trod these halls l peace.
fully paced. The air of the old library was
freighted with glorious memories of trial and
of success, and invites one to linger over ancient
volumes stored with learning, Imagination.
wit, or adventure. st. Bernard. st. Thomas,
A. Lapide. Cervantes. Calderon, Button, Cooke.
i had thumbed again and again. wondering
only at tho power of thought or Of word, when.
Of . sudden. / found a new cause OF wonder.
On tho gray page Of my quiet book | saw
before me a tiny being. Close inspection
told me this thing was an insect. Could 1t DO
living1 And why was IL there? The word
"~bookworm" / knew. The thought flashed
across my mind, could this be a living book
wormS" Heretofore the name in my mind had
been coupled only with beings of fancy ana o:
action. The insect was seemingly alive. At
once I determined to know more about him.
and TO make sure whether the storied book.
worm were indeed a myth or a reality. /
watched the little fellow cautiously. lest. In
fright. he should scurry away and be lost In
the mysterious gloom Of the library. He was
brown In color, 80 much l made out. That
he moved 1 was not positive, until / had placed
. microscope over him. Then | was no longer
in doubt. Each one OF his six little legs was
srsdge. Having photographed him in my
minds eye. and ana then t trs1sferred him to a
. step further. Was he alone? | examine
the book carefully, and along the edge OF the
binding. under a little heap of paper dust, |
OF the first one. so industriously had these
two little beings worked that they had de.
most completely.
If a bookworm he a worm that eats books"
two real Lookworms. The most voracious de-
yonrer Of literature never toGk In as much 81
OF them and their trade III know more.
Taxing my two ,curIosities with me, car
S:,S%at i9'% Tie @ Sniysrsi!y. P 9GS Rsy. f +. he P. lI Isfrt.
lnTSEsrlMS the box, ! resented i 70 him.
sstcd. told my story; Take them down
y Mr., spGtt"ra The Iihgs,I"N e CSnSryss,
carried them 10 MIR. Spoilord, who was no less
surprised than tho President had heeu.
Through .iir. Srotiord's kiuduess the worms
wore placed IA TIE hands of Prof. Baird for
scientific investigation at the smithsonian In
s%titutiun, iInf, Baird conveyed them Ia Prof.
Riley, chief Of the FntomolNgica! commission
Of the lniicd States Agricultural Department..
Through his continued kindness, and through
bis courtesy IL placing al lay disposal the
Cnited states chronological library, I was I'm.
abl.d "a pursue my iuNest'sation ON n thor
oughly sCicGtiiV lmsis.
\ great philosopher has written: I'm Old
way. as In wood, there Is found an annual
Which seems In La the smallest DI NIL pFnn-
lures, called the ucNrus, 1t is small and white.
And in bOuNs Iaarc are uthc"s like those found
In cloth. aud they ARE like scorpions without
. ~, the smallest Of nh These words |
9unte rom. no less ancient or trustworthy an
authority than Aristotle. The reader will
mud the original Greek in chapter -, book ",
OF the History of Animals"
Evidently Aristotle knew somewhat about
. eookwOrm, and | am led 10 believe HAT he
bad seen one or more Of one possible species,
OLssrYedkia books, there is oae, extremely