Evening star., 1945-03-08
This and That
By Charles E. Trace,Deu.

ARLINGTON, Va.
For several years I have been inter-
ested in collecting butterflies and have
1alr-slzed collection. ~
would you please tell me the names
OF some books on butterflies and where
l can get them? I wish that the book
would contain habits and habitations of
butterflies and moths.
would you also give me the names
OF some establishments selling acces-
sories? Yours trulv p D"
We take pleasure in referring our
young correspondent to the Public LIZ
brary
He is not alone in not knowing how
TO use this great collection, where in
telllgent and eager persons are waiting
to help him.
But young people, of all persons, ought
to Use the facilities of the Public Library
and its branches, because such usage
trains them in research.
Life, itself, may be called research
Certainly all education, at least formal
education is research.
research, after all, is just learning
something. And 1t is not what others
tell us, but what we find out for our
selves, that really counts.
Inc young man or young woman who
learns how to use a good library has
something which will be useful all life
long.
In wartime, as in peacetime, books
beckon to us. They offer themselves
freely to all corners. They are the real
democrats, the genuine lovers of man
klno. Men made them, and SO they
give themselves back again, with love,
lntelllgence and affection That is WHY
there is something real and great in
every good book.
certainly every person knows this.
put 1t is amazing how many of us fail
10 put 1T to use, especially when it comes
10 looking up things for ourselves.
Every one knows how it is with die
tionaries. We have all been taught,
from childhood up, to use the diction-
ary. But we all shrink from it, except
IN times OF necessity. There is world
OF interest and information, however.
in these big books. All of us should
use them more.
Yet what do we find?
How do you spell so-and-so?"
Ihat is the question, spoken to an
associate, when the big book is right
at hand, waiting to be opened.
What does so-and-so mean?"
The big book is eager to tell us. But
the largest sized dictionary is clumsy
to handle-and the smaller one we re-
member, are not likely to have the word,
anyway. So we ask somebody.
X X
One OF the old standard books on
butterflies is THE Butterfly Book, by
w. }. Holland.
There are number of others, which
may be found at the Public Library.
There are, as matter of fact, many
libraries in Washington. Few cities
have as many. Certainly every young
scholar in Washington and vicinity
should have a first-hand working ac-
quaintance with the Library of Con-
greSs.
Every book published is supposed to
be there, including all the books On
butterflies. There one may see and
handle them all, if he desires, and at
leisure determine which ones he should
own, if any.
Personal research in book stores. too.
is rewarding. In second hand stores
many old books, difficult to ind else
where, may be discovered by careful
search. How to use such places is not
taught in schools, but any young person
can teach himself, and will find that he
not only adds to his store of informa-
ton, but has sort of Treasure Island
at his command through no more trou-
Bile than opening a door.
II our correspondent would 70 down
some Saturday to the New National
Museum, the workers there would be
glad to show him thousands OF butter-
flies and moths and tell him all about
the books and where supplies may be
purchased.