Evening star., 1934-09-29
, THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

progress through q volume may be
traced as easily as that OF the woman
who insists on eating bon bons while
reading.
The proper turning over Of the
leaves Of a book Is something easily
learned. Thereafter it becomes both
pleasure, to the sense of touch, and
pride that one knows how to treat a
! friend
The book Is held In the left hand
and the forehnger Of the right hand
and the thumb are extended until
the f1eshy part Of the underside OF
the finger contacts the upper rim of
the page.
This is rather putting the cart be-
| fore the horse, however, for this con-
tact is not made until the ball of the
! thumb Is first allowed to fall about
the middle OF the page, from side to
i side.
This prior thumb action braces the
hand and permits the finger gently
but firmly to turn over the page.
Thumb and finger are then lifted,
and Immediately press down the page
10 the left. still with the fleshy parts
Of finger and thumb.
In this entire action, 80 automatic
that one will have to do 1t with de-
! liberation to see how 1t is done. the
fingernail or thumbnail at no time is
permitted to touch the sheet.
Amy one can test out a suspect In a
second by watching him turn the
sheets OF a book.
II he uses the method here outlined,
he loves books as things.
II he reaches onto the right side Of
q sheet from underneath bringing the
| tlngernail Of the index finger squarely
into the paper, know for a certainty
| that he Is one either unframed or one
who simply has no regard for books as
physical creations. He who feels this
particular charm Of books will never
handle them as II they were sticks
/ or stones, but will recognize. even
| thrill, to the sensitive materials OF
which they are made.
We would say to those who do not
love books in this good way that this
is in no sense dry subject, nor have
We squeezed it dry, either now or in
the past. To those who love books
really and properly, as 50 many Of us
choose to believe, there is no posi-
| bility Of writing too much or too often
on the subject The same applies to
many other matters. Those who hold
that All orange" as they quantity put
it. may be squeezed dry. really mean
that they are not interested III q sub
ject at all
That Is their loss In the world OF
books the real bookman is always in
terested in any sane discussion OF
books. The same holds true in the
world OF plants. No one who honestly
loves flowers is ever offended because
some writer tells him something he
already knows All he asks is that
the words ring with conviction. Then,
like the two friends who last night
witnessed a play. he can stand the
same matter over and over again,
always with renewed delight. because
| It is a subject which interests him.
Outsiders should keep out.
The b0oklover is he who not only
| loves what he finds in books. but also
| the books themselves-the actual
physical specimens OF matter which
he takes in his hands. whose binding
appeals to him. whose type may strike
him as too small, whose paper is too
thin. and SO on. Such man or
woman will never mistreat books.
Others may. and their education. to
that extent at least. has been
! neglected Proper handling of books
ought to be taught in the grades, but
we have never heard OF any such
elementary instruction as given above,
and yet without it no one can be
I called friend of books.