se them. . . . . No person has any claim to be a scholar
until he can conduct such an original investigation with ease and
pleasure.' The foregoing was the advice of a well-known American
librarian.

FOOTNOTE:

[24] Those who read everything acquire something, and especially they
acquire, as the Bishop of Oxford (Dr. Wilberforce), once said, the
invaluable power of knowing where, when they wanted first-hand
information, they could most easily obtain it. That is the knowledge of
the lawyer; and the knowledge of the lawyer, if he is competent,
gradually becomes of the kind which qualifies him to be a
judge.--_Spectator_, January 2nd, 1897.

_Boudoir Libraries._

Women have their own way of loving books. They are very rarely students,
and more rarely still do they amass really great libraries, though many
of the famous women of history have done so. Yet a woman likes to have
her own books, and she likes, too, to have them separate from her
husband's or her brothers', or the general family collection. Most women
like tiny editions fitted into tiny cases.[25] Colour is much more to a
woman than to a man, and in the binding of her books she will very often
be very happily inspired. I think that it is in De Maistre's _Journey
Round my Room_ that he says, 'It is certain that colours exercise an
influence over us to the extent of rendering us gay or sad, according to
their shades.' Charming tiny bookcases are now sold in various woods and
in all sizes, and these have the advantage of being easily moved from
place to place. A very pretty effect can be produced by a book-screen,
but this, to be of service for taking books, must be placed in a room
larger than most boudoirs. In choosing bindings for small books do not
be surprised if, when bound, your books are not as flexible as they
should be. The easy opening of a book, and this particularly applies to
small books, depends very much upon the thickness of the paper used, and
small books printed on thick paper will never open well. Much blame is
often heaped upon binders in this direction which is by no means their
fault. Roan, parchment, vellum, morocco, and buckram are all suitable
for boudoir bindings. Very pretty effects are produced by binding a
series of small books in vellum with green lettering-pieces, and green
edges instead of gilded edges. White backs, with pink or blue
lettering-pieces, are also very dainty; and a pretty effect of another
kind is produced