The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-06-10

Just now, when the Public Library
is unable to buy any new books, per.
haps It is we'll to recall some Of the
old ones which are always good but
which, much Of the time, are standing
idle on the shelves. partly perhaps,
because Of their shabby, unattractive
covers.
One such in a very old binding In.
deed Is Outdoor Papers" by Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. The date on
the title page is 1868. The first eight
essays discuss hygiene in a most at
tractive way. "A Letter to a Dyspep-
tic" is both amusing and full Of com.
mon sense. "The Health Of Our Girls"
though written a half-century ago,
amidst vastly different conditions.
seems still very modern and timely.
The last six essays concern Nature.
Mr.. Higginson writes with no aim for
effect. he INDUCES in no fowery Ian
guage, his descriptions are not the
traditional, unknowing descriptions Of
rhetoricians. He writes intimately,
feelingly, straight.forwardly and defin.
itely. There is no vagueness in his
word pictures. He tells us exactly
what he has seen and heard. Bird
lovers will feel the charm OF THE
Life Of Birds" and everyone who cares
at all for the outdoor world will en-
Joy his April Days." MY Outdoor
Study" Water Lilies" and Snow"
II Is quite likely that many lovers Of
Dickens have never read his plays. We
have them now In an edition very at
tractive both In type and binding.
They are included in the second vol
ume of his Miscellaneous Papers"
which are reprints Of articles publish
ed in various periodicals. The plays
are called "rhe Strange Gentleman"
"The Village Coquettes." "Is She His
Wife? or Something Singular" "The
Lamplighter." Mr.. Nightingale's d.
ary" and mo Thoroughfare." Perhaps
the first, the last and "The Lamp
lighter" are the most interesting.
Among the reprints are found many
short articles on political, social and
art topics some of which are serious,
some amusing.
About four years ago, We added to
the library, "The Making Of PERSONAL
ty." by Bliss Carman. It Is full Of the
music of life, of the outdoor world. Of
keeping oneself In tune with the uni.
verse, OF the Toys of an all round ex.
istence. of the helps toward and the
power of health. Many of the teachers
and a number Of others have enjoyed
It. but It deserves still larger AL.
dience. A friend OF mine who finds
It exceedingly attractive. still feels
more closely drawn to an older book
along similar lines, and should like
to call attention to the latter as we
are dealing just now with old books,
II IL Emerson's Conduct Of Life" A
great many people who feel them.
selves familiar with Emerson have
read little Of his aside from his best.
known essays. Perhaps II IL easy to
feel acquainted with Emerson after
slight reading, not because we grasp
the depths of his thought, but because
every sentence he writes Is so indi'
vidual, so Characteristic that we feel
we should know Its authorship any
where, though unsigned. II IL use
less for anyone to advertise Emerson
Those who love his writings know his
charm and others Gan not know II Sec
ond hand. They must learn for them
selves. wish simply to call attention
to the Conduct of Life" which ! am
glad to say we have in very attrac'
tive edition. II includes chapters on
Fate" Power" Wealth" Culture.
Behavior" Worship" "Considera.
tions by the Way" Beauty" "Illu'
sions."
Marjorie Daw" has many lovers,
but few people seem to know that her
creator. Thomas Bailey Aldrich, has
another heroine quite worth our ac'
quaintance. Prudence Palfrey, She
gives the name to medium.sixed nov
ell which has very old.fashioned nav
or and yet has good share Of excite
ment In the plot. Ask for It at the
library.
A few months ago. was skimmins
hastily for cataloging purposes yes
terdays with Authors" by James T.
Fields. had never happened across
the book before and It was with dim
Guilty that ! kept to my task and did
not rush out to find some Of my friends
to 20 over the pages with me slowly,
In comfortable and solid enjoyment
for I felt ! had discovered treasure,
The author was . publisher Of rare
i A