Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-14

thing grown RIDICULOUS through tnt
| change of taste or the advance of art
is to write in ones memory in indelible
characters: Destroy everything which
can neither give comfoG nor pleasure
to the diving" 81
Large Accommodations Even of books
those treasures which in many cases
only grow more valuable with age. be-
come of doubtful value and sanity
when a crisis arrives which is like
throwing search-light on facts.
After certain books cease to be in ac
tive use in a family. they should be
sent out to do their work elsewhere.
Take for instance the accumulated vol
umes of bound reviews: often they will
stand on shelves for ten years at a
time only moved by the caretaker.
Men unable to buy or far from free
libraries would use them as thirsty
travellers drink from a fountain-head.
ITO own a good library" is to be rich
after the best fashion; but good
library to the owner is one whose vol
umes are in constant, active use. the
books that are friends and companions.
those without which one is lonely and
bereaved. Forty Years of bound Lit
tells teeming with the best thought of
every English-speaking country would
be like an uncovered mine to men
apart from cultured life and the fric-
ton of modern thought: to him who
digested the little ray-covered weekly
as it arrived they would only represent
a mass of heavy volumes from such Il
year to such another. and be like
lockedup gold.
1t does not seem too exoteric a view of
the question to aver that any of us who
can afford to buy books and subscribe to
reviews should yearly weed our book
shelves and pass on to our less favored
brethren. a share of our gains. When
thousands of volumes are to be taken
down from the shelves of deserted
home, it, easily becomes apparent how
much better 1t would have been to use
them as shoulder to the wheel of prog
ress'' and send them forth on some er-
rand of kindness.
When material things are seen to be in
distinct excess of daily need and enjoy
of possibilities Of doing good surrounds
each and every one of us. Somebody.
somewhere, is eagerly looking for that
very thing which lies inert and almos, an
after we have loosened our grasp and one
who knew not Joseph enters our small
kingdom some energetic young hand vii!
draw it into the light of day. and eN.
claim: What under the sun is this for?
Did you ever see suon a'queer old thing
in your life?"
While we live we can gently Sever the
tie which binds us TO those objects from
which the lustre of their epoch is fading.
To see a vanload of things. once sources
of youthful pride of acquisition, and once
considered examples of good taste. bat
tered by the usage 81 passing years and
long since superseded by advancing art,
on It's way to a public si,lesroom because
no place of welcome can be found for
xns1, Oft % shelter
and the rich would despise Is to learn as
you can in no other way that to acquire
slowly and only what actually contrib
utes directly to meet humanity's require
ments is the simplest common sense.
1t brings up grave. questions. oe stew
ardship. of responsibility towards the
ing. and the fellow creatures who lack
everything. TO see these piles OF things
which seem to have no fitting place on
earth.
10 make home beaul full in simple adhe-
renee to our daily incrt asing knowledge OF
what constitutes true beauty. TO lend ev-
cry grace possible to even the plaiuest
k is as much 1e IVY IS nos of wife IN he r
husbands eyes. With ali home
thoughts would desire to link this. as
a fundamental duty. No place. no fur
nishlng, is SO restricted as to preclude
charm; but what this article deprecates
fervently is useless buying. unnecessary
change. and the accumulation of what is
no longer loved and used.
Not to be in a hurry to follow The
"fads" of the changeful fashion: not q
be too eager to set aside the old, ana
when we do. to see to it that our over
flow enriohes our neighbor and does no,
stand hidden away under our own roof;
to let our purchases be warranted by an
assurance that they tend to make glad
the family heart and are genuine.
Could the young purchasers a the bar
gain SALE have been present with those
who looked sadly at each other and
asked: What shall we do with this?
they would have cheerfully ordered to
their small homes the plain we;l-made
things easily within their reach. and de-
sired nothing for which they had not
present necessity of use.