Water Valley progress., 1902-08-02
DOOR OF MUsTY VOLUMES.
II Regarded by q True B0Ok-Lover
as Excelling the Rarest Frag-
rance In Nature.

rance In Nature.
My friend was holding book not
quite three inches from his nose and
rapidly turning the leaves. suggest
ed that he do his busting at rather
greater distance, relates writer in
the New York Tribune.
'You have made a slight mistake. -
said he. Il am not housecleaning. /
allow dust and cobwebs on my bot
ties only-not on my books"
"Then this rite of yours I began.
"That is the word,' said he, pausing
a moment to taste what / had said.
1T is a rite, and only the elect, the
knowing, are worthy to witness it."
"Seal me of the tribe" said /.
Il fear you could not understand, !"
answered he, shaking his head doubt
fully. "But listen. / was perfume
hunting on the works of Charles Lamb.
You came upon me as / was enjoying
the aroma of volume III-the first
Ella essays, you will remember. The
two volumes of letters are also rather
rare, but somehow this is the most
delicate in odor of the entire set. Try
it, he added, generously, handing over
the volume. ] sought to remember how
he had held it.
Nearer the nose," said he, ssyou're
quite cut of range" l adjusted the
book to his satisfaction
And now you're ready for turning" !"
! passed the 300 pages rapidly in re-
view before my waiting sense of smell.
"Your thumb touch is not delicate" !"
exclaimed he with some impatience.
"You bear on too hard. Just see how
you've blunted the edge of the leaves.
They should be sharp as razor. Once
again." | exerted myself to please
him.
That's good" said he. "Isn't it de-
licious?"
II was so busy with the machinery
of the thing that l forgot to try for
the scent" / had to confess in some
Embarrassment. "And now, finally"
This time had mastered the mechan-
ism and was receptive to the message
of the leaves
''Well," said he, as hesitated.
"Why, | get a subdued dusty and
musty odor," replied I. .'What else.
indeed?"
II, too, had to serve my apprentice
ship said he in tone of disappoint-
ment. "But if you have the stuff in
you, there will come time when this
will be. to you the rarest fragrance.
Nature is well enough in it's way with
flowers and foliage and the breath of
cattle, but this is altogether finer and
makes its appeal to more highly-de-
veloped sense. Take the Bohn library
publishers of Addison, Ricardo,
Adam Smith. OF course, each book of
theirs gives out its own peculiar whiff
but everything they publish comes up
to high standard. You appreciate
that this perfume is not something
applied to the completed book, as your
maid puts cologne on her pocket hand
kerchief. 1t is the very essence of
the book. 1t is the product of binding
and leaves and cover and print-the
perfect blend of the workmanship.
Only the English can come at it. Our
American books have too business
like smell. They are done in haste
machine made and not put together
by loving hands. can always analyze
the odor of them into it's separate ele-
ments. The glazed paper, the glue, are
irrepressible.'
1T must take long training" said I,
making ready to depart.
''The time is well spent, !" replied he,
rs he took down volume of ssThe Spec
tator" and lovingly sampled it.