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know how grateful the change is； and you will agree with me when I say
that nothing else is so quieting to the nerves； so conducive to physical
health； and so quick to restore a lively flow of the spirits。
Lafcadio Hearn once wrote a treatise upon perfumes； an ingenious and
scholarly performance； he limited the edition to fifty copies and published
it privatelyso the book is rarely met with。 Curiously enough； however；
this author had nothing to say in the book about the smells of books；
which I regard as a most unpardonable error； unless； properly estimating
the subject to be worthy of a separate treatise； he has postponed its
consideration and treatment to a time when he can devote the requisite
study and care to it。
We have it upon the authority of William Blades that books breathe；
however； the testimony of experts is not needed upon this point； for if
anybody be sceptical； all he has to do to convince himself is to open a door
of a bookcase at any time and his olfactories will be greeted by an outrush
of odors that will prove to him beyond all doubt that books do actually
consume air and exhale perfumes。
Visitors to the British Museum complain not unfrequently that they are
overcome by the closeness of the atmosphere in that place； and what is
known as the British Museum headache has come to be recognized by the
medical profession in London as a specific ailment due to the absence of
oxygen in the atmosphere； which condition is caused by the multitude of
books； each one of which； by that breathing process peculiar to books；
consumes several thousand cubic feet of air every twenty…four hours。
Professor Huxley wondered for a long time why the atmosphere of the
British Museum should be poisonous while other libraries were free from
the poison； a series of experiments convinced him that the presence of
poison in the atmosphere was due to the number of profane books in the
Museum。 He recommended that these poison…engendering volumes be
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treated once every six months with a bath of cedria； which； as I understand；
is a solution of the juices of the cedar tree； this； he said； would purge the
mischievous volumes temporarily of their evil propensities and abilities。
I do not know whether this remedy is effective； but I remember to have
read in Pliny that cedria was used by the ancients to render their
manuscripts imperishable。 When Cneius Terentius went digging in his
estate in the Janiculum he came upon a coffer which contained not only
the remains of Numa； the old Roman king； but also the manuscripts of the
famous laws which Numa compiled。 The king was in some such
condition as you might suppose him to be after having been buried several
centuries； but the manuscripts were as fresh as new； and their being so is
said to have been due to the fact that before their burial they were rubbed
with citrus leaves。
These so…called books of Numa would perhaps have been preserved
unto this day but for the fanaticism of the people who exhumed and read
them； they were promptly burned by Quintus Petilius； the praetor； because
（as Cassius Hemina explains） they treated of philosophical subjects； or
because； as Livy testifies； their doctrines were inimical to the religion then
existing。
As I have had little to do with profane literature； I know nothing of the
habits of such books as Professor Huxley has prescribed an antidote
against。 Of such books as I have gathered about me and made my
constant companions I can say truthfully that a more delectable…flavored
lot it were impossible to find。 As I walk amongst them； touching first
this one and then that； and regarding all with glances of affectionate
approval； I fancy that I am walking in a splendid garden； full of charming
vistas； wherein parterre after parterre of beautiful flowers is unfolded to
my enraptured vision； and surely there never were other odors so
delightful as the odors which my books exhale！
My garden aboundeth in pleasant nooks And fragrance is
over it all； For sweet is the smell of my old； old books In their
places against the wall。
Here is a folio that's grim with age And yellow and green
with mould； There's the breath of the sea on every page And
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THE LOVE AFFAIRS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC
the hint of a stanch ship's hold。
And here is a treasure from France la belle Exhaleth a faint
perfume Of wedded lily and asphodel In a garden of song
abloom。
And this wee little book of Puritan mien And rude；
conspicuous print Hath the Yankee flavor of wintergreen； Or；
may be； of peppermint。
In Walton the brooks a…babbling tell Where the cheery daisy
grows； And where in meadow or woodland dwell The
buttercup and the rose。
But best beloved of books； I ween； Are those which one
perceives Are hallowed by ashes dropped between The yellow；
well…thumbed leaves。
For it's here a laugh and it's there a tear； Till the treasured
book is read； And the ashes betwixt the pages here Tell us of
one long dead。
But the gracious presence reappears As we read the book
again； And the fragrance of precious； distant years Filleth the
hearts of men
Come； pluck with me in my garden nooks The posies that
bloom for all； Oh； sweet is the smell of my old； old books In
their places against the wall！
Better than flowers are they； these books of mine！ For what are the
seasons to them？ Neither can the drought of summer nor the asperity of
winter wither or change them。 At all times and under all circumstances
they are the sameradiant； fragrant； hopeful； helpful！ There is no charm
which they do not possess； no beauty that is no