Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-11
G H ZAP LIB R AR Y
HOW A CLEVER WOMAN HAS MAN.
AGED TO GET ONE.
She Has Clipping Collection Cut
From Papers and
Magazines.

How did you become so well informed?'
one woman asked another with a little
touch of justifiable envy in her voice.
You are 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 have my DEAR
was the answer, has been gained through
clipping collection. I borrowed the
scheme from the New York newspapers.
Five years ago friend of mine who worked
on of them told me how, in their Of
fees, whole rooms were devoted to clip
pings from various magazines and papers,
Systematically catalogued and used for ref
erence.
The idea appealed to me as an excellent
one for the private Individual, especially
for woman like myself, who cannot at
ford to buy many books.
I'VE take two good newspapers one
which my husband prefers and one which
is my choice. From time to time. when
am at leisure and perhaps too tired to do
more exacting work, 1 clip these papers
and sort the clippings according to sub
ject into manila envelopes
What variety of matter do you clip. may
1 ask?"
'Anything which is likely to have a more
than passing interest. The life of some
celebrated man or woman, anecdotes
concerning famous people, an interesting
bit of statistics which one ought to have
at command. an historical study, an ac-
count of a famous painting. natural his
tory, wild birds, wild fowers-anything
which seems worth while"
What a good idea! 1 am all Impotence
to begin one myself a once. Do tell me
about your system Of cataloguing.'
Il invented my own system, very SIM
pie one In a large public collection like
that of a newspaper office it would be nee
z1-l I,,t
any woman can invent one for her own use.
1 put each general subject, such as birds,
cookery, England, education, into large
square envelopes, and arrange them on the
shelf according to letters. Famous men
and women 1 catalogue separately in small
envelopes about six inches long and four
wide.
Il have long since found my clippings of
great value. The library has now grown
to a size which renders 1t possible for me
to refer to 1t as I would to any other Ii
brary, if l had one at command. If hear
of a famous parsonage whose history has
escaped my memory take the next 1dle
moment to consult my clippings and read
short sketch of his life and work. 1t Is
the same with history or science, upon
which I become rusty. The chances are
that I shall find an account of the point
l need in the envelopes.
ut isn't by any means necessary to read
all one clips Clip an article if the subject
interests or is likely to interest you. Tuck
II away for future reference.
and you clip papers only; no maya
zines?"
ooh, yes. clip magazines which have
bought for one article or story they con-
tair and which 1 do not care to bind. All
pamphlets that are sent to the house, I'M
less they are devoted to advertising, cata-
logue also Pictures, too, If they are clear
and seem faithful; with photographs on
any interesting, subjects
Simple as it is private library of this
kind avoids that one supreme fault OF the
public one-dirty books, with the possibility
Of lurking disease germs.
Beside the pleasure and the general in
formation, I have had some very practical
help from the clippings. I have one en-
clipped at different times. Another contains
many new "wrinkles'' in household science.
OF course, one has to use judgment In Sc
lecting these, but with care 1t becomes
wonderful help"