Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-11
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

/ chology account for it. ME and mine
/ is all-powerful.
The man who borrows a book from @
friend puts himself in the position OF
the young man who accepts money from
/ his father. He cannot have the same
regard for the book that the purchaser
had, any more than the boy can have as
much regard for the money as hi:
father had. We believe so much (and
no more) may be said with flnality.
The ancient Stole principle of going
| toward a thing or drawing back from
it was based solidly on the laws of the
human mind. The way to avoid vice
it has been known for centuries, is tc
avoid the first entanglements; for II
one cannot escape then, there is little
chance afterward.
To put ones self into book to the
extent OF laying down so much coin OF
the country for it is to go toward IL
mentally. This is the essence of loving
books. Every reader ought to regard
himself as book lover in some degree
and to put ones earthly treasures into
books tends to make them ones treas
ures, too.
Such is the law of purchase.
Have you ever seen a motor car en-
thusiast stand for hours in the alley,
with cold wind blowing, washing his
car while the water dripped over his
raw hands?
He does not mind it because his heart
is in that car. He likes it. The Amer
lean people like them. Well, there are
thousands who love books in Just the
same way. They, too, would be willing
to stand in cold alleys If such q sacri-
fee were necessary.
X X X
We cannot agree, however, to a propo-
Sition that one should not loan.
We will roar as loudly as the "wets'
If any one demands that we refrain
from this pleasant intemperance.
Loaning is as different from borrow
ing as is day from night.
1t Is the difference between enlighten-
ment in action and the old, fond hope
OF humanity to get something for
nothing.
Never seek a book from a friend, but
II he insists on loaning you one, take
it with thankful heart and try your
best to make up for the lack Of prini-
tive urge.
Never borrow, but lend If it pleases
you to lend. What If you know that
the book which is yours Is now lost
forever?
This is the great fly in the ointment.
In those old days Of which we spoke
so regretfully just now, borrowed book
was regarded by the borrower as some
thing sacred.
The old-time borrower no more would
have crumpled the pages or spilled
water on 1t, or lost it Cor loaned it to
friend), than today he would regard
any of these as crimes.
If q book lover insists on loaning a
good thing to friend, let him do SO
with forgiving heart. This will i'm
prove his disposition and steel him
against recrimination when the inev-
liable happens.
If the impossible should occur; If the
beloved volume should be brought back;
II 1t should prove to have been handled
with loving care, the book lover may
congratulate himself on having such q
friend like even unto himself
In regard to books, therefore, one
would amend Shakespeare's advice. He
said, in general terms, Neither a
borrower nor a lender be-"
Never borrow books, but lend them II
your mind and heart prompt you to do
so. Every book that fails to come back
goes its way, entertaining, perhaps in
spring. 1t may prove some loss to the
publishers. but the lender already has
lost something. Both must be satisfied
with spiritual gains.