New-York tribune., 1899-10-07
THE BOOKCASE AS A VILLAGE.

THE BOOKCASE AS A VILLAGE.
We have spoken Of books as friends, as
corresponding in sentiment to relatives,
to relatives-in-law, to mere acquaint-
the volumes in the library, there is found
a suggestion for Autumn evening reverie
in thought of their communal character.
For individuals do not dwell together and
be still in isolation. JuXtapOsition alone
will make society. If one by one we per-
sonify all our books, we must think OF
them in the aggregate as community;
we must recognize their dependence on
one another: we must see, in the leaning
together of two volumes when a third Is
taken from between them, in the fall of
half a shelf full when fat volume OF
law or religion is removed, incidents that
are typical of the commonest social phe-
nomena. We shall observe that our book
case is village.
The various shelves make excellent
streets There is a broad one that is a
boulevard The richest volumes dwell
there the books that have most sumptu-
Gus bindings, finest paper, the most ex-
uuiste illustrations. Hardly one Is una
hny
nearly self-sufficient, they give an air OF
wealth and luxury to Bookvillage; they
stamp it with their splendor. They may
be- perhaps, less wise, less witty, less
cultured. or less helpful than some OF
the smaller volumes that are on other
shelves; in your heart you may not care
as much for them; but they are fine to
see, imposing as "a Set" and doubtless
you are literary snob enough to be glad
to feel at home with them, to be on fa-
miliar terms with this upper ten"
The shelf next to this is Of an entirely
different character. Brains live there. 1t
is a street of professional men and wo-
men. They are not many Of them rich in
this worlds goods; they live humbly.
brown-but how much they know! 1t Is
street of plain living and high thinking.
professor Of ancient history. and he
knows all about Carthage and other
hopelessly out date affairs. One can't
expect him to belong to the Village I'M
provement Society; but If one wanted to
know the birth date Of Rameses or the
historical justification Of an Antony-Cle
opatra story one would go to him with an
assurance that he could give it. Just on.
a couple Of houses, is a real Litterateur.
His output Is essays and he is very
charming. He rarely makes a reference
to religion: but he and the Minister, who
comes next, are fast friends. They cling
together. as like as two brothers, drawn
by an affinity of tastes. Often as breaches
have occurred on Intellect Row. you
never saw these friends fall away from
one another The Minister breaches, the
Essayist dreams. Each gives to the other
full swing in his proper sphere and looks.
one fancies, almost enviously on him.
The Essayist is spare and short the Cler-
gyman stout and short. Sometimes the
one is absent from town and sometimes
the other; but no one else ever tries to fill
the gap. The Minister comes home from
his preaching. the Essayist from his lect-
uring. and they slip into the old places
to be back again, and are mutu-
ally loyal
Neither Of these cares a rap for the big
fellow. in The long black coat, who lives
at the end of the street. He Is a Social
reformer. He thinks the two friends are
on the wrong track for improving their
world and would assert that they wasted