Evening star., 1900-10-12

Aid to the Collection, Use and Preservation Of
Books ard the Formation of Public and Private
Libraries BY Ainsworth Rand SpGfford, New
Woodward Lothrop.
One does not need to be professional
librarian to enjoy. appreciate and profit by
a close reading Of Mr.. Spofford's volume.
His subject appeals to every book-owner,
and in these days of many presses and
cheap printing book owners are a great
army. The book has now acquired a dig
nifty emitting it TO be considered collective
ly. Family libraries no longer mere
assortr4snts of standard works arranged on
a parlor table or housed inadequately in a
hanging shelf in the living ROOM" Broad
shelves provided for them with liberal
hand and the care of the book has become
an item Of much study in many households
In the degree that this tendency is fostered
the real value o: the book collection is en-
HANGED. for II is the strong belief of biblio-
phtles that one of the surest steps toward
literary culture is the inculcation in the in
div1dual or an appreciation Of the book It
self, as a thing. Mr.. Spofford writes as q
result of long experience. 1t will be a reve-
lation to many to learn how infinite are the
topics relating TO book care, of which a
Specialist can himself write. as shown by
the mere list Of chapter headings in this
work. Now that libraries are forming If
they have not already formed, in almost
every town in the country, it is we'll that so
the collector, the curator the architect the
trustee, the cataloguer the book handler
and the reader. This work has a special
local interest just now, aside from Mr. Spot
ford's status as a Washingtonian owing to
the fact that the Washington Public Libra
ry is soon TO occupy handsome new home
and expert suggestions concerning its ade-
Quate equipment with books have a. point
ed and timely application.
MEN AND MEASURES OF HALF A CENTURY;
Rv Inch Mil
New York: Charles Scrbner's Sons. Washing
ton: Brentano's.
Hugh McCulloch's life was filled with in
cident and activity. He occupied responsi-
BILE positions and came in contact with the
leaders of the nation. He was. indeed, one
OF them, for his work at the mead Of the
Treasury Department in 1860 easily en-
titles him to rank among the men who sus-
talned the republic during its hour of great
est trial Few men have ever had so rich
an opportunity to mingle among those who
make history. Few have had such responsf-
bilties as those which belonged to Mr. Nc
McCulloch- In consequence few have ever
FOUND II within their power to write such
vtvtdly interesting "reminiscences as these
which are now poSthumously published
forming memorial of the life which was
lately closed. Mr.. McCulloch wrote prior to
1855, as his predatory date shows He did
not attempt, as far as any further sign at
tests, TO carry the volume closer to the
ptElOu- Ills TtEOlieCllOES were cIedreSt OF
the men who had passed away and his per-
spectiye view of the great events which led
TO the war and of the war period and the
reconstruction years was historically ad-
1usted when he cOllated his impressions
The book becomes a valuable item in the
literature OF the national DEVELOPMENT
which Is being evolved men and events
finish their appointed task in the building
Of the republic
NAPOLEON III AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS
POWER. BY Imbert de Saint Armand. With
portraits New York: Charles Scribuer's Sons
Washington: BrentanO's
The Salnt-Amand series of histories de-
scriptive of Napoleon HIS rule of France
has proved one of the most acceptable ven
lures in modern political narration lately
produced. The author writes from large
degree OF personal contact with the person
ages of whom he treats. He has had access
to records which have been to some extent
overlooked by the writers Of the story Of