the library(图书馆)-第7节
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orderly and in good case； and would tell him what to buy and what to
avoid。 By the LIBRARY we do not understand a study where no one
goes； and where the master of the house keeps his boots； an assortment of
walking…sticks； the 〃Waverley Novels；〃 〃Pearson on the Creed；〃 〃Hume's
Essays；〃 and a collection of sermons。 In； alas！ too many English homes；
the Library is no more than this； and each generation passes without
adding a book； except now and then a Bradshaw or a railway novel； to the
collection on the shelves。 The success； perhaps； of circulating libraries；
or； it may be； the Aryan tendencies of our race； 〃which does not read； and
lives in the open air；〃 have made books the rarest of possessions in many
houses。 There are relics of the age before circulating libraries； there are
fragments of the lettered store of some scholarly great…grandfather； and
these； with a few odd numbers of magazines； a few primers and manuals；
some sermons and novels； make up the ordinary library of an English
household。 But the amateur； whom we have in our thoughts； can never
be satisfied with these commonplace supplies。 He has a taste for books
more or less rare； and for books neatly bound； in short； for books； in the
fabrication of which ART has not been absent。 He loves to have his
study； like Montaigne's； remote from the interruption of servants； wife； and
children； a kind of shrine； where he may be at home with himself； with the
illustrious dead； and with the genius of literature。 The room may look
east； west； or south； provided that it be dry； warm； light； and airy。 Among
the many enemies of books the first great foe is DAMP； and we must
describe the necessary precautions to be taken against this peril。 We will
suppose that the amateur keeps his ordinary working books； modern tomes；
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and all that serve him as literary tools； on open shelves。 These may reach
the roof； if he has books to fill them； and it is only necessary to see that the
back of the bookcases are slightly removed from contact with the walls。
The more precious and beautifully bound treasures will naturally be stored
in a case with closely…fitting glass…doors。 ｛2｝ The shelves should be
lined with velvet or chamois leather； that the delicate edges of the books
may not suffer from contact with the wood。 A leather lining； fitted to the
back of the case； will also help to keep out humidity。 Most writers
recommend that the bookcases should be made of wood close in the grain；
such as well…seasoned oak； or； for smaller tabernacles of literature； of
mahogany； satin…wood lined with cedar； ebony； and so forth。 These
close…grained woods are less easily penetrated by insects； and it is fancied
that book…worms dislike the aromatic scents of cedar； sandal wood； and
Russia leather。 There was once a bibliophile who said that a man could
only love one book at a time； and the darling of the moment he used to
carry about in a charming leather case。 Others； men of few books；
preserve them in long boxes with glass fronts； which may be removed
from place to place as readily as the household gods of Laban。 But the
amateur who not only worships but reads books； needs larger receptacles；
and in the open oak cases for modern authors； and for books with common
modern papers and bindings； in the closed armoire for books of rarity and
price； he will find； we think； the most useful mode of arranging his
treasures。 His shelves will decline in height from the lowest； where huge
folios stand at case； to the top ranges； while Elzevirs repose on a level with
the eye。 It is well that each upper shelf should have a leather fringe to
keep the dust away。
As to the shape of the bookcases； and the furniture； and ornaments of
the library； every amateur will please himself。 Perhaps the satin…wood or
mahogany tabernacles of rare books are best made after the model of what
furniture…dealers indifferently call the 〃Queen Anne〃 or the 〃Chippendale〃
style。 There is a pleasant quaintness in the carved architectural
ornaments of the top； and the inlaid flowers of marquetry go well with the
pretty florid editions of the last century； the books that were illustrated by
Stothard and Gravelot。 Ebony suits theological tomes very well；
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especially when they are bound in white vellum。 As to furniture； people
who can afford it will imitate the arrangements of Lucullus； in Mr。 Hill
Burton's charming volume 〃The Book…hunter〃 （Blackwood； Edinburgh；
1862）。〃Everything is of perfect finish；the mahogany…railed gallery； the
tiny ladders； the broad winged lecterns； with leathern cushions on the
edges to keep the wood from grazing the rich bindings； the books
themselves； each shelf uniform with its facings； or rather backings； like
well…dressed lines at a review。〃 The late Sir William Stirling…Maxwell； a
famous bibliophile； invented a very nice library chair。 It is most
comfortable to sit on； and； as the top of the back is broad and flat； it can be
used as a ladder of two high steps； when one wants to reach a book on a
lofty shelf。 A kind of square revolving bookcase； an American invention；
manufactured by Messrs。 Trubner； is useful to the working man of letters。
Made in oak； stained green； it is not unsightly。 As to ornaments； every
man to his taste。 You may have a 〃pallid bust of Pallas〃 above your
classical collection； or fill the niches in a shrine of old French light
literature； pastoral and comedy； with delicate shepherdesses in Chelsea
china。 On such matters a modest writer； like Mr。 Jingle when Mr。
Pickwick ordered dinner； 〃will not presume to dictate。〃
Next to damp； dust and dirt are the chief enemies of books。 At short
intervals； books and shelves ought to be dusted by the amateur himself。
Even Dr。 Johnson； who was careless of his person； and of volumes lent to
him； was careful about the cleanliness of his own books。 Boswell found
him one day with big gloves on his hands beating the dust out of his
library； as was his custom。 There is nothing so hideous as a dirty thumb…
mark on a white page。 These marks are commonly made； not because
the reader has unwashed hands； but because the dust which settles on the
top edge of books falls in； and is smudged when they are opened。 Gilt…
top edges should be smoothed with a handkerchief； and a small brush
should be kept for brushing the tops of books with rough edges； before
they are opened。 But it were well that all books had the top edge gilt。
There is no better preservative against dust。 Dust not only dirties books；
it seems to supply what Mr。 Spencer would call a fitting environment for
book…worms。 The works of book…worms speak for themselves； and are
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manifest to all。 How many a rare and valuable volume is spoiled by neat
round holes drilled through cover and leaves！ But as to the nature of
your worm； authorities differ greatly。 The ancients knew this plague； of
which Lucian speaks。 Mr。 Blades mentions a white book…worm； slain by
the librarian of the Bodleian。 In Byzantium the black sort prevailed。
Evenus； the grammarian； wrote an epigram against the black book…worm
（〃Anthol。 Pal。；〃 ix。 251）：…
Pest of the Muses； devourer of pages； in crannies that lurkest； Fruits
of the Muses to taint； labour of learning to spoil； Wherefore； oh black…
fleshed worm！ wert thou born for the evil thou workest？ Wher
