Evening star., 1932-04-01

A magnificent old volume on birds.
filled to the brim with hand-colored
Illustrations, went to the bCokbinderS
The other day to get new covers, the old
Ones being dog -eared after a hundred
years of service.
Happy is the book which thus en-
uears Itself over the generations. and
happy the owners thereof, whoever
they may be, for theirs is one OF the
greatest joys of the booklover, who has
any joys.
The care Of books Is akin to the care
Of other worth-w while articles but with
this diference-that there usually is
less that may be done to them and for
them. What should be done, however,
Is essential.
The average booklover is the veriest
amateur in the repair of book. and
perhaps 1t is just as well that he is;
for then he win turn his injured vol
umes over to those who make a busi-
ness OF such work.
There are certain things with may
be done by any one how yer, to keep
the home library in shape. Funda-
ifental, of course, Is the proper place to
keep them. Usually this resolves itself
into the question of closed cases or open
shelves. Each has its good points.
Cases With glass doors undoubtedly
keep books better shielded from the
effects Of wet weather In Summer and
the excessively dry air OF Winter. Less
dust gets to them. The open shelves
have the advantage of being more
'booky" In appearance, and this is no
small thing, indeed, to a "booky''
person.
While 1t is true that most books
printed and bound nowadays will alb
sorb water and bow up in wet weather,
ttey equally will give 1t out again when
1t is dry, SO that In the long run they
afe not much harmed one way or the
other. Most OF this may be overcome
In open cases bv seeing to it that the
books are fitted into their places rather
tightly. A little juggling Of the vol
umes when putting them into open
shelves will insure each book having a
snug At, so that the tendency toward
bowling is overcome by the f1rmneSs
with which the book is held In its place
BY the volumes on either side Of 1t.
Another simple way of keeping a
book from getting a permanent bend in
its covers, always unSightly 10 the eye
Of real friend OF books, is TO keep 1t
with other books lying on top of It,
This is for the book which one is read
ing and keeping ON table. Those who
have no special interest in books may
feel that this attitude is a mere finicki-
ness. but it is common attitude among
bookloyerS. to whom no phase of what
a book is, or may do or may be, is too
small for consideration. 1t is this very
attention to small details which makes
a man a booklover.
The common habit of placing book
on a table by an open window and
allowing it to remain there all night
almost invariably results in a bowed
back. which at once is unsightly and
disagreeable. often such book backs
bo% out at both sides, the front cover
to the left hand and the right cover to
the right. so that the reader almost
feels es If he is trying to read a ball.
The sensible book owner, as distin-
guished from the borrower will make
habit OF inspecting the covers of his
newer books, with an eye for their de-
ficiencieS in this respect; and If they
give promise OF being of poor stuff. not
thick enough for standing alone, he
should put them at the bottom Of his
current pile, not on top. This bit of
thoughtfulneSs will insure him a fiat
book at all times.
DuSting books periodically will help
keep them in good condition. Such
dusting, includes q thorough going ever
OF the floors and sides and backs OF the
cases, whether glassed or open. All
boeklevers know that the best way to
dust a book Is to open the covers and
then clap them together vigorously,
thus knocking the dust out of them by
sheer impact. Then wiping of the
tops and bindings with cheesecloth puts
them In condition for another half wear
All this Is merely preliminary care
of good books. If one is finickv about
his library. large or small. 1t will have
much better chance of attaining old
age without suffering any of the in
juries which are more difficult 10 re-