70 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



about him. But in books he can quite find his 

 ideal world. His house and library and gar- 

 den are of his own making — his refuge, his 

 solace. It is only one's own books that become 

 one's best friends. The public library is not 

 equal to mine. It is larger and fuller, it is 

 quite a life necessity, and I consult it freely. 

 But my books I touch as man clasps hands with 

 genuine friends, and read and mark. So they 

 come to have a special interest, they are as tried 

 and tested friends. I know them and they 

 know me. I may not take them in hand for 

 months, but I could not spare them from my 

 shelves or sight. The very sight of them is 

 full of memories, favorite passages start up as 

 remembered dreams. One and his books should 

 be as flint and steel, striking fire at every im- 

 pact! 



Into every true book some vital part of the 

 author himself has gone — his deepest convic- 

 tions, his sincerest purposes, his finest feelings. 

 It is this inwoven personality that is so interest- 

 ing and so profitable for study. The ambition 

 of the genuine author and artist is not the mere 

 making of himself known in his work. To one 

 who reads deeply enough all true poetry and 

 literature is autobiographic. The purpose of 

 serious reading is not merely to be delighted 



