Evening star., 1936-12-04
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEWELL.

The fatal inability of most persons to
return borrowed book is something all
Of us ought to take stock Of, now and
then, because every one Is IN the same
boat upon occasion.
There are few friends CT books who do
not have at least half q dozen books OF
the moment out in the hands OF friends
who, despite the very best intentions,
seem to have no idea of returning them.
This short list will not include the
dozens of good books which have
vanished over the years. They are gone
beyond redemption. The longer list con-
tains, perhaps, some treasures particu-
larly valued for associations sake. Bor-
rowers, alas, never seem to think Of such
things.
Nor will the shorter or long lists include
books deliberately carried away-a polite
term-by those who happened to take a
fancy to them. If there is ever an excuse
for theft, perhaps that OF good book by
some one who sincerely appreciates 1t
is best.
While there is sorrow in the loss, there
Is some increment of satisfaction, and
even little glory, in thinking that ones
precious volume has fallen into loving
though tarnished hands.
One may recall the young collegian
who walked of, over four years, with
almost half of a public library, so great
was his determination to read all that he
wanted to read.
When finally he was apprehended, the
authorities both collegiate and town,
dealt lightly with him, so different is the
case when one steals for love of books.
The greatest harm done in not return
ing borrowed book does not lie in the
actual physical loss of the volume so
much as in the affront done the kindli-
ness of the loaner.
Nothing pleases him or her so much as
to share good book with friend.
This is one Of life's most beautiful
sentiments.
Books mean so much to the booklover,
more than 1t is possible to make the other
type of person understand. Not all
humans. of course, really love books, any
more than all love dogs.
There always have been and always
will be persons who seem to find just a
little more in books than many others
do, and they need not be highbrows in
the ordinary sense, nor collectors in
another. What they must be is de-
termined. happily. by their own attitude
toward their books.
The booklover comes to want to share
his treasures. He who takes his books
and then refrains from returning them
(and in good condition. tool is striking
a real blow at one of life's finest traits,
the desire to share knowledge with others.
In the olden times it was no unusual
thing for a discoverer of some secret to
keep it entirely to himself. The attitude
still persists. in some instances plausibly
and necessarily.
But the sharing of the worlds knowl-
edge has gone on as determinedly; of the
making of many books there is, truly. no
end; for the sharing of this knowledge
there is no better way than the sharing
of books.
Schools are only one way of sharing the
printed word. and most charming way,
because books have a durability which
many other forms of printing lack,
through the very nature of things.
1t is because a book is easily handled
and kept that it may be passed from one
friend to another
But here we deliberately run afoul, ap-
parently. Of a bit of psychology.
The amateur dog breeder and the lend
ing library for pay seem to have learned