The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16

man and a scholar Again, II the despoil-
er OF this class reads in a volume of verse
lifts his very soul. and he feels that he
cannot exist without this evangel lying
snuggled in his pocketbook next to his
heart, he may neatly clip IL out in his
frenzy of appreciation and who shall nee
essarily be the wiser for some time to
come? This, too, is one of the incidents
likewise is most unpleasantly significant
Can one truly love a poem and steal IL.
too? Does poetry incite TO theft? Does IL
tend to make its adorer Irresponsible?
These and many other startling questions
may well present themselves to the psy-
developed at the Mercantile.
The third class-that which cheats the
library. out of dues for extra books by
furtively carrying them away-is believed
TO be fairly numerous. One would think
this practice would be scarcely feasible:
does exist without discovery. Books are
missed, diligently searched for. and not
found; then they suddenly reappear, and
the conclusion is irresistible. Occasionally
one of the assistants was lucky enough
TO spy an old ind most OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ample shawl. Madam said he politely.
when she came VI to the desk. you have
two more books than you are entitled to-"
most Indignantly. Merely that you have
two books under your shawl: / saw you
put them there: have the goodness TO place
~ VA tAiAo AtEh alA CIV
The old lady obeyed. with a scarlet face,
and was never seen Whereabouts again.
The assistant believed that she only meant
TO evade payment Of extra fees.
The anxiety OF the library management
to afford every convenience and facility to
its subscribers puts an opportunity In the
way of any who are inclined TO purloin and
to evade extra payments. In order that
subscribers may have an opportunity TO
examine at leisure all new books. the latter
are ranged on shelves on the public side OF
the long counter behind which the bulk OF
the library, Is protected from all except
official hands. Thus there is the freest ac-
cess to these books.
1t is interesting to note the character OF
the favorite authors of peculators-
Pure literature is not in demand. Para
disc Lost is never lost. The same Is true
of Loves Labor's Lost" A work like
The Lost strsdiyarius Is. no~e'ers al ~
current fiction is not the chiefest favorite
of the purloiners. The book OF books with
them-the pearl OF price, as IL were-is a
cook book. Cook books are the thorns in
the flesh of the Librarians of the Mercantile
They must have them In order TO supply
the legitimate demand. and IL Is most diff
cult TO have them on account of the flegiti-
mate demand. Next to the cook book
comes the work on bookkeeping. After
this follow books on stenography and other
t~reatises OF "A practical and technical ma
ture. mastery OF which leads TO livelihood.
There is some partially for history but al
which have become classics of literature.
For example. the latest misapproDrated
WORKS IN this kfnd were LAMBS History
OF New York Thompson's History OF
Long Island and a history of South Caro-
lima. the name of the author of which an
assistant in the library could not recall.
Thompson's work and the South Carolina
history were both out of print and quite
rare. Shortly after the theft of the former
the librarians read of the sale OF a copy
of Thompson for s25. They did not believe.
however. that IL was their stolen copy.
Fortunately. they are not entirely bereft or
Thompson. having "A second copy Such ex-
periences have caused them 10 require a
deposit upon books which for any reason
they are particularly unwilling TO lose.
Books long lost sometimes return Ike
bread cast upon the waters. They are sell
dom the PREPARATIONS OF tented consciences-
They come from secondhand bo0kdealerS,
who find them I'm purchased lots and would
rather not be caught in possession. They
come. too. from relatives of deceased per-
sons. and from auctioneers who In cata-
logulne the library OF some departed citi-
zen of high standing make discoveries. II
seems to be the accepted method OF pro-
cedure among dealers and anctioneers 10
send back I'm haste and without consulta-
ton any book bearing the multitudinous
stamps of the Mercantile. In consequences
of the futility OF trying 10 sell books stolen
from the library. II Is believed that they
are seldom confscated for that purpose. but
for keeps"
That forgetfulness Il often the cause OF
permanent or long disappearance Is un-
cellent terms with a gentleman who had
long been n subscriber visited him one
evening after he had ceased TO be one. and
pretty soon saw in his bookcase a volume
belonging 10 the library. Bless me- ex-
planned the gentleman. didn't know I
had that" Fortunately. his character was
regarded as above suspicion
M