Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-01

! sun shining, there should be bells ring
ing there should be streaners thrown
across the street and fanfares played
by trumpets when he comes along to
buy the best book written In 500 years,
1000 years, 1000 years!
On second thought he Is willing
TO concede that actuality is better than
dreams; the casual manner Of finding
q gooG book is the best, after all, be-
cause 1t adds to the romance, and there
Is no department of life, not even love,
In which there Is more romance than
among books.
He wanders into a book store, with
no particular volume in mind. He
looks over the shelves; he paws over the
books upon the tables. He does not
know what he wants; he finds nothing
that he likes. The publishers re-
mainders" are that and nothing more.
Idly he wonders why so many books
are published. Surely ninety-nine out
of a hundred books here, he believes,
could never have sold more than two
or three thousand copies each. Each
author probably bought several hundred
to send around to his friends.
Now the remainder lie helplessly upon
such tables as these, hoping down in
their paper hearts that some one will
come along and like them well enough
to give them home at last.
Then a clerk comes UP with q fair
volume in her hand. =.
Here Is one am sure you VIII like, ;"
she says.
The booklover accepts it with hesita-
ton. Yes, he has seen it mentioned
with favor In several reviews. Wen,
he Is not particularly interested, but
he will risk S37S on it.
But even as he carries 1t home he
forgets the price and finds himself
thinking only about the book Some
thing strange Is happening in his heart
and mind He has experienced the feel
ing before; he knows that he Is on the
eve Of q discovery.
Do not ask him how he knows. He
could not tell you, he could not explain
1t to himself, but he suddenly becomes
very sure that he will like this book.
He puts it of, even as child does
favorite piece of cake until dessert.
When he begins reading 1t at last
every word he finds exactly right. AS
he goes on he discovers himself wor-
ried slightly-but only slightly-that
he may at last find some one word
which is not appropriate.
He need not worry
This is the one book of the month,
the year, perhaps lneClme, LOT MN.
He has felt that way before about
books, and his mind tells him from his
experiences that he will find every word
the right word in this book
A good book, great book, is like
that. There is no word that could be
changed. Just how an author achieves
this supreme command Of words is
mystery. Often successful professional
writer's fail of it, although their books
may sell by the thousands of copies.
Then, again, an obscure person,
writing from a full heart and mind,
will put onto paper dreams which thrill
all readers, which are so exact in
phraseology that by no exercise OF mere
intelligence could a committee of the
best writer's who ever lived find them
selves able to change word OF 1t with
benefit.
In this good book one finds Dickens
sentiment without his Sentimentality,
Isaial1's poetry without his sternness,
Browning's thought without his harsh
ness.
This is a book, my friend, and happy
will / be If you can find 1t in your
heart to love 1t as do.