Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-05
STATE HOUSE.
An Exponent Of the Uncovered Library
Book Talks.
Vital Statistics Work Going On-News Of the
Departments.

am an exponent of the uncovered
! library. book. said Assistant Librarian
T. ". Emery, Saturday morning. while
taking OF the work in the State Ii
pFdry. gu Will notice that We never
| nave covers on our books. 1t is doing
d great deal 10 retard the education of
the people in art to cover the books
Win Drown wrapping paper. as they
are in so many cases.
Now YOU notice those bows" he said
pointing to group of his young friends
VINO We're pouring over a great volume
containing a history of the Spanish and
Philippine wars. and 50 profusely illus
trated To be called a pictorial history Of
the affair. You can see for yourself
what knowledge is to be derived from
pictures. Those boys are learning
something now all unconscious of it,
because they believe it is all sport in
looking at those pictures.
In the very same manner the book
covers of today are educating the peO-
pie in an art. The covers of the books
Of late years show the acme Of the
book cover designing which has been
brought to its present state only
through years and years of study. On
the covers of the days books are To be
seen the works of the greatest artists
IF the world and of the greatest de
signers, mostly the latter. | presume.
But into their designs they work things
that person in looking at them will
gain an insight of the contents of the
book. and also ideas that will benefit
him in many ways"
MI. Emery says it always makes him
i--i 'ut az sorts To 90 into a library
Where all the books are covered with
the thick paper. 1t is not the cover.
he says. that wears out first. 1t is
always in the binding of the pages.
where the books of the State library
need rebinding. The argument is made
that the books become soiled if the
covers are not placed upon them.
What is the difference. he asks? The
covers are made as they are 70 be ap-
preciated by the readers. OF wat good
will the covers be after the inside IF
the book is worn out? The people
should have a chance to apprcciat" the
covers as they go along.
1t certainly is the desire of everyone
to see the cover design Of books and
the cover that is placed on 50 that ii
cannot be taken off does not half sat
isfy the reader.
Some of the books Of today. and es-
pecially the very latest ones show i
remarkably high state Of art in the
covers. and high prices are paid for the
designing of them. 4 great competi-
ton arises over the proper design for
them and the man to have his work
accepted must be a thorough artist in
every respect. There must be origin
ality as we'll as Appropriateness in
them. Some of the books that We're
placed on the market. during the past
wear show marked improvement over
others. 1t is a liberal education 70
have chance to study and master all
The different designs. 1t is very easy
I'd study them out and it is also 4
pleasure one book of the day that j.
having great run. Janice Meredith.
has a design on the cover of a madal-
lion portrait set in diamonds. over
this is crown and as a relief are
crossed swords. The medallion shows
that the time of the affair was in the
revolutionary days, for the portrait Is
If a girl of those days. The swords
show that the Revolutionary war had
some part Of the story. Everything Is
suggestive just as the cover OF IN men
Knighthood was in Flower" shows Of
The days of the knights and castles on
its cover.
In a way that shows this care in the
cover. look at the new book OF COM
missioner Carleton. He had several
designs and chose one by W. Herbert
Dunton. on account of its appropriate
ness. The cover alone OF his new DOCK
contains two or three stories IN ltsen
10 the eve Of the fisherman and hunter
In Speaking of this cover design SUD
iact if may be we'll to speak of the eX-
traraIv wrong idea the majority of the
naonIa have of the books of the travel
ling library. The press has SAID much
of them. and yet the people do not uH-
derstand fully. one young lady asked
Journal man. recently. Il suppose
those travelling library books arr or
IN very cheapest editions, aren
they"
NO" was the reply. they are the
very best the market affords. You see
the good books in the State library
every time you go there? Well every
hook that goes into travelling llprary
is of the same general makeup as those.
The very same editions are used IN the
travelling libraries that are used III the
state library History, science nctloh
and All classes Of literature are used
and every book is the best