The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-01
Uoman's Uays in Summer Days

4 study of bookbinding and gliding or
| toolng, as IL is called. The lessons cost
| small sum, and l found the work de-
| lightful. The man from whom took les
| sons lived i'm what had at one time evil
IDENTIFY been a sort Of palace. His wife
4 Was an expert binder, and helped him. In
| France they do not have the prejudice
| against letting women learn trades in
| shops as I'm New York. where, II wo-
| man attempts to learn the trade i'm a
regular bindery, the meh refuse 10 work
| with her"
specimen OF Miss Cooks workmanship
which lay on the table was a book bound
| I'm white parchment. decorated with a
| finely executed design OF trailing grape
| vines. with clusters OF grapes. The de-
sign was originated by Miss Cook. who
stated that the book entire. with it's rich
| binding, had cost in materials just IL
| cents.
| the book sixty times" said Miss Cook.
''and in the finest kind OF binding the
| book has to be i'm the press for two
weeks in all during the different pro-
| cesses"
For three years Miss Cook has been the
| binder for the old Astor library on Laf-
| ayette place. where her workroom is
| situated on the ground floor. When the
| library books get torn or in need OF re-
| pair they are sent down to Miss Cook.
| who repairs about three books a day.
When the bindings are old and valuable
every effort Is made TO preserve them.
| Some come down with one board or
| cover off, and others with the strings
which bind the pages TO the cover broken.
The books that are most often In need OF
repair are the genealogical books and
"peerages"
when a book comes down Judge OF
the condition Of the invalid and give il
| the necessary treatment" said Miss
Cook. There is always plenty of work
to be done, and IL is surprising 10 note
how viciously some people will treat the
books. The other day one of tine finest
| and rarest books of reference came down
with four pages cut clean out close TO the
binding. In order to get those four pages
| out. the person had pressed hard with the
I knife and cut away sixty other pages
| which, however. had not been taken
away. The loose pages had to be bouVd
| again, but the four missing ones were
never seen. ! received the appointment
| here when ! had completed my studies In
| Paris, so never applied for the position
to repair the private library which had
been the cause of my undertaking the
work. There are few women who can do
| binding and repairing. and. if more would
| take the work up, am sure they would
he kept busy all the time at private H.
| braries, and find IL remunerative, too"
THE ART OF TALKING WELL.
1t is better to be frankly dull than Pc
| dantic.
One must guard ones self from the
, temptation of talking shop and OF rid
4 ing ones hobby"
Whatever sets one apart as a capital
| "I'' should be avoided
l A joke or humorous story is dependent
! upon its freshness for appreciation. Some
| emotions will not bear warming over"
| 1t is no longer considered good form to
| say a word against any one. An i'll
| natured criticism is a social blunder.
| Gossip. too, is really going out OF fash
| ion.
| True wit Is a gift, not an attainmcnt.
| Those who use II Alright never yield 10
| the temptation of saying anything that
| can wound another I'm order to exhibit
| their own cleverness. 1T is natural and
| spontaneous. "He who runs after wit is
| apt TO catch nonsense"
| Talk that has heartinessj in II and the
| liveliness and sparkle that come of light
| heartedness and innocent gayety is a
| fairly good substitute for wit
Offer 10 each one who speaks the honr-
| age of your undivided attention. Look
| people in the face when you talk IN them.
| Talk OF things not persons. The best
| substitute for wisdom tx silence
| It is a provincialism 10 say ''yes, SIR
mo, ma'am' to ones equal.
| Have convictions of your own. BE
| yourself and not mere echo.
Never ask leading questions We
should show curiosity about the concerns
| OF others only so far as IT may crafty
/ them TO tell US.
Draw out your ncighbor without cat
| echising him Correct him, IL necessary,
without contradlcting him Avoid man
| nerisms.
Strive 20 be natural and at ease. The
| nervousness that conceals Itself under
/ affected vivacity should be controlled. as
| should the loud laugh.--Mrs. Burton
Kingsland, in the August Ladies' Home
| Journal.