Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-10
HIS BOOKS HIS ALL
Old James Guild, Dying, CIings
to Musty Volumes.
HOPES TO REOPEN STORE
For Thirty Years Bookseller Has
Conducted Curiosity Shop.
FRIEND OF MANY FAMOUS MEN
Never Changed a Price Once Made,
Not Even for Tom Reed or
Senator Ingalls,.
HOPES TO REOPEN STORE
FRIEND OF MANY FAMOUS MEN

Old James Guild. bookseller and
philosopher, who is i'll for the first time
in all his long life. and whose shop at
the lower end of the Avenue is closed
for the first time in thirty years, isn't
going to give in if he can help in No
stree. Bless your soul. he'll be down
al the old shop next week sitting in
front of the door on d rickety old chair
and chatting with his cronies.
He said so himself this morning as
he lay prOpped up on sofa in his
sons home a few doors away from the
old shop; said it as if he meant it. and
his son drew the reporter aside and
cautioned him to humor the old mans
idea. But his son believes that he
isn't going to be able to get down to
the shop again and that the beginning
Of the long journey is in sight.
Old James Guilds eyesight is almost
gone. He can't even read the papers
now much less the dusty old books in
his dusty old shop, but his mind is
clear and keen and peopled with won
derful memories of the Olden, golden
days. when he and his old friend. John
G. Wood. used to browse through tho
old books. coming across new treas
ures each day, and sitting long into
the night talking Of them. Old John
u.
years, but he was remarkable man
with books Old James Guild admits
that, and he was never much given to
beStOwing praise.
Praises His Old Friend.
lie knew books. No doubt about
that" he said this morning. knew
bindings, and editions. but best or all
he knew the real insides. Remarkable
man was Johnnie Wood. Worked in
the Treasury Department. Used TO
serve as sor: of assistant to me in
the old days just for love of the books.
Never gave him any pay. That would
have insulted him. and besides he vol
unteered his services.
old James Guild is a Scotchman.
1.-The only trouble with JOHNNIE WOOD,
he continued as quaint smile played
over his wrinkled face, was that he
didn't belong to the nineteenth century.
Johnnie was hardly ever known 10 talk
about anything subsequent to the reign
of .IuIius Caesar. If he did find himself
talking about something that had hap
pened recently he'd pull up with a jerk
and switch to Rameses or Alexander or
one of those ancient fellows. But John
ME was a wonderful man and I've missed
him terribly these many years.
The old mans face frightened when
the reporter mentioned that he used TO
be a friend of Speaker Reed
His Meeting With Tom Reed.
Fine fellow, Reed he said briskly,
but almighty close on money matters.
Bless your SOUL but that man certainly
did love a dollar. Love dollar? Hear
me. Love a dime l should have said.
Saw a picture in my window once and
stopped in to ask me how much it was.
told him $40. IN give you five he
said. Won't take it, 1 answered back.
and he walked away. Next day he
pa ssed by again. Changed your mind?'
he asked Never change it, says l. and
he went away. He kept asking me that
same question every day for week or
more, and that's how We got to be &C
quainted.
Used to drop in here right often. and
every once In while ned ask some
thing about that picture. One day he
said: Jim, If you don't change your
mind about the price of that picture I'll
buy 1t from your executor for s.. l
buried him and that pictures still out
side in the shop. Tom Reed might have
prices for me. No, stree.
Senator ingalls, of Kansas and Tom
Watson of Georgia were other old friends
Of the bookseller whom he spoke fOndly
Oh tHlS but the conversation
finally tired him and he sank back ex-
hausted on the sofa. He sat up again
with an effort, however, as the reporter
started to say goodbye.
Get it right he said. and his voice
was all a-tremble. 'Old James Guild
Amt give i'm yet. He's going to open up
the old place again. He's alive yet and
amt going to die. Get it right
And the old man crumpled all up on
the sofa again as the reporter left the
room.