The Washington times., 1904-02-27
A SCTapbook Made
Of Times Clippings

To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
r I am firm in the conviction that words
OF praise should not all be reserved for
the funeral Grafton or the Inscription
on the tombstone. Bestow some Of the
flowers OF appreciation on the living
1t will stimulate them TO higher and
nobler deeds. and will have a salutary
effect upon those who witness the dis
tribution
wish to acknowledge my apprecia-
ton OF the valuable service The Times
IS rendering by publishing carefully pre-
pared maps Of the war region in the
East. and experimenting them with in
teresting descriptions and statistics
showing the relative conditions Of the
contesting nations.
In my regular diary. which Is formed
by using every month an ordinary FIVE
cent composition book OF ninety-six
pages. 7 paste these maps and clippings
from the daily papers, and supplement
them with such references and sugges-
tons as the circumstances demand. This
daily personal record and collection of
living. appropriate material constitutes
a valuable encyclopedia history Of the
times.
I pursued this plan throughout the
have. in succinct form. a continuous
history of those days, including the i'm
portant events and the official docu-
ments involved.
Perhaps 7 may be INDUCED in few
practical observations:
I. Newspapers are. as a consequence.
read with greater interest and the val
liable material which they prepare from
day to day is utilized. The labors and
expense incurred by the publishers Of
our periodical literature are not only ap-
preciated. but they are justly made the
foundation OF the subsequent history Of
the times.
2 This practice results in the judicious
education OF scissors. an essential factor
I'm the production of newspapers and
books Scissors need to be trained just
as do the pen and pencil. In fact, a
person will often exhibit more taste and
character in what he clips than in what
he writes The scrapbook is an index to
character.
3 This keeping OF scrapbooks. graded.
classified and indexed may and in fact.
should be encouraged and conducted IN
every family. school and society. II pa
rents would give proper attention to it
they would give amusement to their
sons and daughters that would prove
incalculable I'm its benefits. Reading
would be increased. newspapers would
be more highly appreciated. and. as a
consequence. would be Of a higher and
more important order.
A. Teachers could make II a means of
providing for their schools the most
important literature they can use. With
tact in the premises. scrapbooks in
biography. history, science. morals. etc,
can be provided with little or no ex-
pense.
5. Years ago I called the attention OF
Col. John r. Young, Librarian Of Con-
gress TO the prOpriety OF establishing
such a system OF classified scrapbooks
In his department. lie wrote me that
the matter met mis- approval, and that
he would institute steps for developing
the project His death INTERVIEWED and
think the matter was dropped II does
seem TO me that that great Library
could. with some increased force and
additional means. be made a leading
factor In the nation 10 utilize the i'm
mcnse amount Of valuable literature
which is annually wasted
J. FRAISE RICHARD.
Washington. Febs %. 1904