The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-27
READ THE CATALOGUES.

One who really loves books will find
deep enjoyment in examination of the book
publishers catalogues of their new and
old books and their lists Of special publica-
tons; nor does the pleasure depend to any
great degree on the ability to buy what
happens to appeal to the taste among the
works described. The imagination. it is
true. must play a part here. but he is not
a genuine lover of books who does not
like to read about them and who has not
the fancy to picture the volumes he cares
for arrayed on the shelf before him, or
with their pages open under his hand. and
to rejoice in the vision. And If in the lists
the student discovers some work which
he especially yearns for, yet is not able
to possess. at that moment Is aroused a
purpose eventually to secure the coveted
treasure. He is inspired with an aim, and
what he so much desires he is reasonably
sure at some time to obtain. II he gains
1t at the cost of some self-denial so much
the better; the book then takes on a new
value in his eyes. The man who builds up
his library one book at a time, each vol
ume one to fill a specific want. derives in
finitely more satisfaction from his posses
sions than would be the case were he to
give a general order to his bookseller to
fill his shelves. In the one case the books
take on an intimate personal q~uality-the
owner has a distinct affection for them; in
the other case they are furniture, nothing
more.
But one need not even anticipate future
purchase of books 30 find pleasure and
| profit in the inspection of catalogues. In
these days of public libraries everybody
reads books of one sort or another. and it
selection, that the patrons of such Libraries
have some information concerning current
publications other than that afforded by
the bare lists Of titles issued by librarians.
If they are students in special lines they
may learn from the publishers records
what is being put forth on their chosen SUBJ
jects; II they are merely seeking entertain
ment and wish only light literature they
may learn something Of the character of
the new works of Nv this
story by a w~ell-known author is historical
and therefore to be Stunned, whether that
by a new writer is tragic or otherwise,
whether this other with a promising title
is intended for Juvenile or adult readers,
and so on. Library attendants know. how
much at a loss many apparently intelligent
applicants at their counters are when max
ing their selections. They know only of
those new books which have been doomed
like a health food; beyond them, with a
very mine Of riches within reach, they are
uniformed.
And II they wish to make holiday gifts
how much better to have definite Informal
ton concerning the output in this line be-
fore going to the shops. and so be able to
avoid the hasty, indiscriminate choice and
the dissatisfaction that often follows. It Is
not enough to have the annual catalogue OF
the holiday list of one publishing house
only. Have a dozen of them Each es-
Enlistment has its distinctive character
istics. Each has its speciality and each
offers something desirable that the others
do not.
Apart from what they contain these
booklets, most of them, afford an aesthetic
pleasure to the admirer Of fine printing,
their type, their specimen illustrations,
their portraits Of authors and their gener-
ally attractive appearance making them
worth preserving. Send for the cata-
logues and study them.