The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

Librarians jealousy guard the treasures
intrusted TO their care. The preservation
OF their books is the motive of their ex-
is;ence. and &c accomplish that end they
take pains to notify the public that any
mutilation Of a volume lent. no matter
how small it's intrinsic worth, VIII be
punished with fines terrible 20 think upon
and difficult 70 pay. ''Mutilation" doubt
less is meant 70 include scribhling-indeed,
il is so defined in some notices
Notwithstanding the penalty threatened
for the violation OF library laws. many
readers whose propensity for InaniPuiat-
Ing the lead pencil has overcome their
discretion reekIessly have 5Otted down
their opinions on the ideas Of the author
al these comments are finely penciled.
and Indicate that they have been invalu-
able as literary training. inasmuch as
their brevfty has constrained The critic
10 cultivate the quality Of precision-a viz
tue that contrasts favorably with the
aimless volubiIlty Of the printed page,
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger
"The Egotist" Unpopular.
Works OF fiction. being most popular
with the average reader. have come II
for more than their share OF marking In
this class or literature the book that has
received the hardest Knockout blow is
The EgOtist-" Some impatient reader
after tOulng through a few intricate
paragraphs. has written. 7 have tried
seven times 20 read this book. because 1
thought ought 20 read II. but can't for
I rt,fr e
I leg" Below this. IN a different hand, IS
pencIled. Amen" Admirers OF Mere
dith NAV construe this latter comment
any way they Ike, but the natural infer
! enCe OF the subsequent reader IS that H.
/ too, indicates inability on The part OF
/ some suffering lover q straightforward
! English 10 wade through or shy past the
complex description OF that Incompatible
/ neither limb.
/ George Moore likewise comes in for
/ some hot shot IN Evelyn Innss." for a
/ plain-spOken person. who IS evidently an
| OperagOer as wei as a novel reader, re-
! cords his Impressions thus, so Margaret
4 Msclntyre IS the model for that. IS she-
/ WeHr And. again. the observer OF these
notes may put his own construction upon
the remark o. the amateur critic
RaDs for stockton ar HOwelIs.
Dear TO the hearts - many a novel
/ reader are the advent IS Of Mrs. Lecks
and Mrs. A,esnt-e. but that even the do
/ ings OF these two estimable ladies. as
/ duly chronicled by AIr. Stockton. are dis
/ approved by az least one library hsbit1e
IS evidenced BY the note scribbled on the
4 last PAGE: This book Is 10 good" 8Ir.
1 Howeus also comes IN for a few hard
] L. H.~s
| one inaPprecistive reader The worst
book I ever read. while another. after a
painful tussle with Tbs Minister s
/ Charge" takes the liberty % advising the
| author as 10 his literary future II this
IS the best you can DO. quit"
II dog ears and thumb prints and fer
vent ordinations are an index 20 real
I heartfelt popularity. then Dickens IS still
the most widely read author IN eur Il
braries to-day. notwithstanding the an
nuai cry that the pedestal on which he
4 has been enthroned IS crUmbling away.
?! Miss AlcOtt's books are also well worn
I and the comments express. as IN the case
/ OF Dickens. personal affection as well as
/ literary regard. George EliOts books fre-
7 uuentlv are underlined. but seldom com
mented on An exception IS found near
the middle of the second volume OF MID
dlemarch." where an emphatic reader
I delivers the opinion that 'DOrothea IS a
fcol." "'Roulola" also calls forth a pro
test from another weary plodder, who
puts up the vail. "Oh. but this Is dry
/ Balzac has the wind taken out Of his
sails BY a scrawl on the dyleaf OF Cousin
\ Betty" which reads IN this fashion; i
shall need 20 be fumigated after this. J
shall need 20 stand outdoors a week and
let the fresh air blow through ne"
Next 70 works OF fiction. cOOkbOOks are
chosen as the groundwork for the most
i volunsnOus commentaries There is one
book in particular whose readers smile
when they come 10 a certain recipe. FOL
On the margin is written: Take Notice
p This recipe Is no good. Il ought 70 bS
scratched out. 7 made a cake by II and
It wouldn't raise. Il wasn't ~ for dos