In the living-room of Mr. Reginald De Koven in Washington, the low bookshelves circle the room 
Taking Care of the Books 
ALL TYPES OF BOOKCASES FOR THE LIBRARY, LIVING-ROOM, DEN AND STUDY- BUILT- 
IN SHELVES, WITH DOORS AND WITHOUT, PORTABLE CASES AND OLD SECRETARIES 
by Russell Fisher 
Photographs by C. H. Claudy, Waldon Fawcett and others 
poseur.” A mere array of titles on a bookshelf means absolutely 
nothing in these days of material prosperity and cheap printing; 
the marks of wear and the manner in which the volumes are 
cared for are the true indices that bear a message. Most of us 
have too high a regard for the purely decorative value of well 
filled bookshelves and not enough reverence for the true worth 
of the contents between the covers. “Books furnish a room so 
well,” we say, and lay them in by the yard. How much easier 
it would be to judge a man’s taste for literature if books in them¬ 
selves were repellent in appearance—and how less attractive 
would be our libraries and living-rooms in their absence. But 
this is to be an article on bookcases, not a dissertation on the 
ethics of library-making. Let me say just one thing more, and 
I will have done with my preaching: Have about you only the 
books that you really want and that truly represent your tastes; 
success in arranging them in an attractive manner does not 
depend on the number of volumes. To satisfy yourself that this 
theorem is true look at the first illustration at the top of the next 
page. The combination of fireplace, seat, window and built-in 
bookshelves, small though the latter are, conveys the impression 
that here dwells one who loves books—loves them to read, not 
for the sake of their decorative quality as mere furniture. A 
large library, completely walled in by crowded shelves, may 
convey the impression that the dweller therein owns quantities 
T HE saying, “Show me a man’s books and I’ll tell you what 
manner of man he is,” is an old one, and well worn by 
much use. Its present-day descendant is, “Show me a man’s 
library and I’ll tell you whether he is a true book-lover or a mere 
If bookcases are built in, they should match the standing woodwork 
rather than the furniture 
( 56 ) 
