The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-06
LIBRARY THAT COSTS NOTHING.
How Clever Woman Keeps Up
With the Current TOpicx.

New York, Jan. Allow did you be-
come so well informed?" one woman
asked another with a little touch OF iusti-
hable envy in her voice. You are a very
busy housekeeper with children to look
after. You don't attend clubs, yet you
seem to know about every man, woman
or book Of the day. 1 wish you would
tell me the secret"
Whatever information I have. nv
dear, was the answer has been gained
through a clipping collection 1 borrow
cd the scheme from the New York news
papers Five years ago a friend of mine
VINO worked on one of them told me how.
In their offices, whole rooms were devoted
10 clpplngs from various magazines and
papers systematically catalogued and
used for reference.
The idea appealed to me as an excel
lent one for the private individual, espe-
cially for woman like myself, who can
not afford to buy many books.
we take two good newspapers. one
Whlch my husband prefers and one which
is my choice. From time to time, when I
am at leisure and perhaps too tired to
90 more exacting work, l clip these pa
pers and sort the clippings, according to
SUBJECT, into manila envelopes"
What variety of matter do you clip.
may ! ask?
Anything which is likely to have
more than passing interest. The life Of
some celebrated man or woman, or anec-
dotes concerning famous people; an inter
esting bit of statistics which one ought
to have at command; an historical study:
an account of a famous painting; natural
history; wild birds, wild f1owers-anythins
which seems worth while"
What a good idea! l am all inps
thence to begin one myself at once. Do
tell me about your system of cataiogu-
ing"
Il invented my own system, a very sim
pie enc. In a large public collection like
That OF newspaper office it would be
necessary to have an elaborated method
but any woman can invent one for ker
own use. I put each general subject, such
as Birds, Cookery. England, Education,
into large square envelopes and arrange
them on the shelf according 10 letters
Famous men ard women l catalogue sep
arately in small envelopes about six
inches 'ong and four wide
Il have long since found my clippings
of great value. The library has now
grown to a size which renders it posi-
BILE for me to refer to il as ! would "a
any other library, if | had one at com
mand. If / hear of a famous parsonage
whose history has escaped my memory l
take the next idle moment to consult my
clippings and read a short sketch of his
life and work. 1t is the same with his
tory or science, upon which l become rus
ty. The chances are that shall find an
account of the point l need in the en-
yelopes.
1T isn't by any means necessary 10
read all one clips. Clip an article If the
subject interests or is likely TO Interest
you. Tuck it away for future reference.
And you clip papers only; no maya
zines?"
"Oh, yes. clip magazines which
have bought for one article or story they
contain and which l do not care TO bind'
All pamphlets that are sent to the mouse,
unless they are devoted to advertising
catalogue also. Pictures, too If they arc
clear and seem faithful; with photogra 'hs
on any interesting subjects.
simple as it IL. a private library o.
this kind avoids that one supreme faut
of the public one--dirty books, with 'u7
possibility of lurking disease germs.
Beside the pleasure and the genera
information, have had some very pracN-
cal help from the clippings. l have one
envelope filed with good cooking recelPe7
clipped at different times. Another con
tains many new wrinkles in househ9l'
science. OF course. one has TO use JuIE
ment in selecting these. but with care
becomes a wonderful help"
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