Evening star., 1923-01-05
BOOKS IN HOME LIBRARY GIVE
MUCH PLEASURE AND BENEFIT
Selections Should Be Based on Family
Tastes, Education and Capacity as
Readers-Literary Test.

Of hook. Any volume fresh from the
bindery has natural tendency to stay
closed. The usual way to overcome
II is by jerking the book open in the
middle until there comes a creaking
break somewhere in the binding. After
that the book stays open, but before
many months the leaves begin to loosen
from the threads. The right way to
break in" book is TO lay it on it's
back on a table and then open only
a few leaves at time alternately al
the front and at the back. until you
reach the middle of the volume. Do
not Keep your place by opening a book
untll the covers meet and then laying
IL down still open. Limp leather-bo
volumes may stand such treatment. but
those bound in stiff covers will not.
Almost as bad is the practice of
heeplhs your place by putting be-
tween the leaves some bulky object.
such as ball of yarn or a jack
knife. a paper bookmark is best.
Hasty cutting of the leaves of
Dook has left many a damaged edge;
TOT instance, when boy uses a pen
Gil or girl the handy hairpin.
10 mark a certain passage leaves its
tran OF dog cared unsightliness. As
TOT reading with hands that leave
thumb prints. that is inexcusable
Paper covers are useful in preserv-
ing the fresh appearance of books
but some persons object to the ap-
pearance and feeling of "a covered
pooE. However, for those who have
no objection to them, covers are a
great protection. especially on books
USED by children. Nothing is better
team ordinary brown paper If the
cover has tendency TO Slip off from
a book use gummed labels to hold il
hrm. \ cook book should be covered
with oilcloth
Rooms in which books are kept
should not be subjected to extremes
either of heat and cold or dampness
and dryness. If a book is left very
long near artificial heat shrinkage
ana consequent loosening will take
OF furniture. Leaving a book con-
stantly in sunshine will have the
same erect and, in addition will fade
the covers Damp places should also
oe aNolded on account of mildew.
How injurious extreme moisture
may he is all to well known by per-
sons who have tried to keep a Ii
orarN IN good condition on a foggy
sea coast. Tobacco smoke and gas
es Iuhes also are injurious to books
brary and gazed at the backs of his
favorlte valuable books through
clouds of tobacco smoke may have
oeen building castles in the air, but
ne mas also been iniuring the bind
ings of his books.
AuChE VI SnclVe9.
,Bookshelves should never be put up
close against a wall nor the books
placed on tie floor There should al
ways be space for the air TO cir-
culate on all sides of the book
shelves. Doors Of bookcases should
be LETT open from time to time on
warm days. Library windows should
not be left open at night or in damp
weather. but in warm weather the
moro ventilation the better. Most
bookcases are made without doors
but curtain will keep out an as
tonishing amount of dust.
DeltcatelE bound books, or those
with paper backs, may be easily
cleaned when dusty or finger-marked.
by rubbing gently with pulverized
pumlce stone. Occasionally every
book should be taken from the shelf
or bookcase and busted, and before
putting the books back the shelves
should be washed with warm water
and turpentine. and when they are
dry a. little cedar oil should be ap-
piled to them with brush This will
keep away insects and worms
To make d preservative for leather
backed books, put some castor oil
in an earthen jar. add one-half it's
weight of shredded para fin. warm it.
and the wax will melt. Put a little of
this preparation on a piece of flannel
and work it well into the binding of
the book. Do not leave books for
very long in slanting position on
the shelf or they will become Top
sided"
To make an inexpensive bookcase.
get from your grocer four empty
| fruit crates, each about twenty-four
inches long. Nail these one above the
other and remove the Stats from the
front of each crate. Coat with dark
brown paint, or any other color you
wish. This will make a good four
sectional bookcase. Hang a silk or
]
for protection.
An oblong packing box, not too
deep. would also make a good book :
case Remove the cover and stand
the box on the small end. Have
shelves placed AT intervals in the box
to hold the books. Paint the box and
place curtain on rods in front of the
books.