by dark brown polished calf, with round backs, raised
bands, and yellow edges.

Reference books, such as verbal dictionaries, dictionaries of
quotations, a classical dictionary, an atlas, or a biographical
dictionary, should always be to hand; and even when these are in the
large library, duplicates should be kept in the boudoir.

In a very charming book, already referred to, called _The Story of my
House_, there is certain practical advice which seems to be the result
of much experience and excellent taste on the part of the writer.

'With regard to the bookcases themselves, their height should depend
upon that of the ceilings, and the number of one's volumes. For
classification and reference it is more convenient to have numerous
small cases of similar or nearly similar size, and the same general
style of construction, than a few large cases in which everything is
engulphed. With small or medium-sized receptacles, each one may contain
volumes relating to certain departments or different languages, as the
case may be; by this means a volume and its kindred may be readily
found.'

'The style and colour of the bindings, also, may subserve a similar
purpose; as, for instance, the poets in yellow or orange, books on
nature in olive, the philosophers in blue, the French classics in red,
&c. Unless methodically arranged, even with a very small library, a
volume is often difficult to turn to when desired for immediate
consultation, requiring tedious search, especially if the volumes are
arranged upon the shelves with respect to size and outward symmetry.
This may be avoided by the use of small bookcases and a definite style
of binding.'

I think here that the boudoir library should have its own catalogue, and
every bookshelf marked or numbered. Every boudoir library should have a
catalogue.

'In a room ten and a half to eleven feet high, five feet is a desirable
height for the bookcases. Besides the drawers at the base, this will
afford space for four rows of books, to include octavos, duodecimos, and
smaller volumes. The shelves should, of course, be shifting. . . . . By
leaving the top of the bookcase twelve to thirteen inches wide, ample
space will be allowed for additional small books, porcelain, and
_bric-a-brac_. It must be borne in mind that tall bookcases, in addition
to the inaccessibility of the volumes in the upper shelves, have little,
if any, space for pictures on the walls above them.'

It may be approp