Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-15

size, must, of necessity, contain many
unread books. One becomes enamored
let us say. with the stories Of Joseph
Conrad. Nothing but complete SCI
will do. Half way through The shelf
however the reader comes on dull days
The pristine joy seems 20 drop out OF
Conrad. 1t Is not the authors fault
nor the readers. 1t is book fate. AND
1t makes no difference.
There are as good books In that sea
as ever have been caught. The re.
mainder OF Conrad shall lie imprisoned
caught forever between boards, waiting
for the reading hand. And 1t makes
little difference after ALL whether the
original purchaser reads them all OIL
not. As long as the books hang TO-
gether some one will read them.
Happy Is the booklover who can look
forward to passing his books down
through the ages to other booklovers
Yet no man can be sure that his son
will be reader, too. He may love only
golf. Hear him saying, Yes, my
father loved these books. but ] haven't
time to read them, and they take uE
lot OF room. What do You say II
turn them over to the auctioneer?"
So another home library comes or
the market. Those who have attended
such book sales know that ut no SORT
more lntertwlned. There Is alway!
something sad in seeing home thing.
thus handled by strangers, but the sad.
deSt OF all sights Is that OF a much be.
loved book, perhaps interlined by some
one who priced 1t, falling into the
hands OF some one who lacks the ca
pacity for appreciation.
= = =
The other side OF the picture, upon
which one prefers TO dwell, Is that oil
the beloved book coming into the hands
OF another booklover, perhaps a youns
man with heart and mind afre with
greatness. He longs 10 be great, but
he does not exactly know how to &C.
compliSh his greatness. Perhaps thi.
old book will help him!
He carries it home tenderly. loving 1t:
FADED leather cover, marveling at the
hne texture Of It's pages after all these
years. He notes the name written or
the hyleaf, wonders who he might have
been, knows that he must have been 9
man great deal like himself.
He finds q bond down the centuries
tying together man and man who never
knew each other, but who recognize
each othsr now between the covers Of
the same book,
This Is the happiest fate that can be-
fall any book, 1t is passing of the
torch from hand to hand. 1t is inspir-
Ing TO think of those happy volumes
which have been passing down from
careful hand TO careful hand through
the years.
What IL the weather around the
counters exposed to the air darkens
their covers, and spots them with the
rains OF many lands? If they we're good
stout volumes to begin with, and were
loved properly, they can face most OF
the storms that blow.
Some one will surely come along the
pavement shortly who will recognize
them and bear them away to another
happy haven, where they will be treas
ured anew as long as life shall last.
Such is the Immortality of q good
book, defying man and Nature alike
and linking one generation of men and
books with another. Styles and tastes
may change. Puritanism may give place
TO sophistication, "wisecracking" to seri-
Gus thought, but good book goes on
forever, finding its attics, its shelves, its
place in the world, its knowing minds,
its appreciattve hearts, its tender hands