Evening star., 1928-04-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The translations are those used by
the Golden Book when It reprints, as
1t does from time to time. one Of the
short story masterpieces Of the French
writer. We have critically compared
the translations In this set with those
in later and more elaborate land far
more costlyD editions and have no
hesitancy In saying that we regard
them as superior.
When these merits are combined with
the absurd French drawings which
accompany the stories one may we'll
| feel that he has an interesting book
bargain. Even an extravagant person
might well have Il feeling Of salts
faction when he believes that he has
got his moneys worth.
Getting ones moneys worth. in books
or anything else. is distinctly worth
while. Most men or women who have
| reached any maturity, and who have
had an average experience and asso-
citation, reach certain very definite con-
clusions as to prices.
A woman can tell instinctively
whether a pair of silk stockings is a
good value or not. Men have an un-
| canny way Of sizing up" the new
motor cars. and placing prices upon
them before they have heard the sales
mans figures
1t is only when men get out of the
things they know that this buyers
intuition" fails them. You may know
everything in the world about automo-
bile values, but II you have not had
experience in diamonds you will never
guess that the ring the jeweler care
leSSlv places on your finger Is actually
worth $4,000.
n " II
We have a set of Edgar Allan Poe
(also in 10 volumes) which we picked
up for the modest price of bucks. iron
men. simoleonS, greenbacks, sinkers
plunks. or what you will. All of these
books, 1t must be remembered are
brand new. not second hand. The Poe
set was put out first many wears ago
shortly after the death of Poe. and
therefore carries much Of the un-
fortunate controversy which resulted in
regard to the literary executorship of
MS works. Several poems not found In
the newer editions are included.
A feature OF these 10 volumes, in so
lar as We are concerned. is the thick
paper on which they are printed
While we admire the thin paper and
are willing to admit its desirahflity in
some works OF reference, we personally
shrink from books printed on 1t. as our
fingers find 1t bothersome to turn. and
IN nine cases out OF 10 the type Shows
through the page. and this too. is
oothersome. even IL 1t shows through
only very family.
We never look at these sets in our
cases without having feeling OF having
got our moneys worth. The same thing
applies to almost an entire set al
Dickens. which we picked up. volume
by volume, at book sale several wears
ago. The special appeal Of these books
Is their very large type. Not only does
large type and wide spacing make for
easier reading. 1t gives a sense of
openpcss which actually helps any
writing in the world. We have often
thought that Bibles in atrociously tiny
type ought to be prohibited. Much
more Is involved than eye conservation.
Another book bargain is the an
niversary edition of Seneca's Morals
put out by Harpers. This book. which
sold at 81, We got for ST cents. since
Seneca seems TO be drug on the
modern market. We have an old,
leather-bound edition Of that grand
piece OF fakery, Ossian's Poems" I" which
We secured at modest cost Some OF
our bargains. let II be whispered, are
not so good Maybe we will write about
them. too. But Of that, as they used
TO say, more anon.