Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TNACEWELL.

us who love them are tempted to think
upon occasion. To be suprene1y de-
voted to books Is not given to all of us,
perhaps not to very many of us. There
are booklovers in all degrees, just as
there are sportsmen of varying degrees
ously, but not too seriously.
y II X y
Age, rarity, cost, personality, even use,
figure as reasons for being in the home
book collection. Individual preference,
above ALL rules. 1t sets a standard
higher than any OF the others, since 1t
may include them all.
Hobbies may play big part in col
lecting books, both in regard to the per-
sonal idiosyncrasies of the collector and
the appearance of books. If a man is
interested in any game, he may want to
gather together section of home books
devoted to It, If he breeds bulldogs, he
gathers books upon his favorites. The
satisfaction of being an authority on
something or other is gained in no way
easier than by this simple method. 1t
doesn't take much learning" in this
expert" If you know just a little bit
more about subject than your neigh
Dor, he will come to you with his prob
lens. If he Is called upon to enter that
field. An ordinary ability to look wise,
at such times, enables one to come into
a reputation as a wise man. The sooth-
ing influence of a big book upon a seeker
after wisdom is only equaled by its
persuasive powers upon one who is not
acquainted with it.
/ Like, dislike-these are the two main
planks of the home library platform In
so plain a matter 1t might seem that
every Tom, Dick and Harry might be a
specialist, but 1t is astonishing how few
people, after all, know what they like or
dislike. Often they are blown about
by the winds Of opinion, first one way
and then another. until at last they give
the whole thing up in despair
Only he who cultivates genuine opin-
ion can be sure of what he likes and
what he does not like in the world of
books. Often enough he Is called Stub
born, hailed as a "know-it-all," but If
he sticks to his beliefs he will be able to
triumph, because he will then build his
home book shelves on the solid founda-
ton of personal preference.
X X y
The age, rarity, cost, personality of
the book itself becomes only an attri-
butte of the library builder. He is not
forced to consult. as public librarians
must, the likes and dislikes of thou
sands of people, or their needs, real and
imagined, but may go ahead selecting
his books solely on the basis of himself.
When one stops to think how really
few opportunities there are in the mod
ern world for man to be himself. he
must think all the better of the oppor-
tunity given him in the building of a
home library. We must dress mainly as
our friends do, and If we go out to din
ner with them we must eat as they do.
II we do not buy an automobile we are
regarded as mildly eccentric. Even our
thinking, If publicly expressed, must
trickle along with the general trend of
everybody eIse's thoughts.
When 1t comes to selecting books,
however, few are interested in what one
buys. A booklover may purchase what
ne wants, without being called upon by
his friends to justify his expenditure of
money. If he buys a brick house. his
friends are likely to ask him why he
didn't buy a frame house-"they are
so much more artistic but If he
treats himself to "I Think Of Daisy" or
Ultima Thule" no one gives a whoop.
II he puts Williamson's THE Pathway"
or THE Beautiful Years" upon his
shelves, not even his most critical
friend will demand an explanation. One
should be book collector, not in the
ordinary sense, which involves rarity.
age, and so on, but in the best personal
sense, which demands knowledge of
ones self and the courage of ones con-
victionS,