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at 〃dans ce bas monde it fut permis aux joies du bibliophile d'aller encore plus loin。〃 He imagined that the delights of the amateur could only go further； in heaven。 It chanced； however； one day that he was turning over the 〃Oeuvres Inedites〃 of Rousseau； when he found a letter； in which Jean Jacques； writing in 1763； asked MotiersTravers to send him the 〃Imitatio Christi。〃 Now the date 1764 is memorable； in Rousseau's 〃Confessions；〃 for a burst of sentiment over a periwinkle； the first he had noticed particularly since his residence at Les Charmettes； where the flower had been remarked by Madame de Warens。 Thus M。 Tenant de Latour had recovered the very identical periwinkle； which caused the tear of sensibility to moisten the fine eyes of Jean Jacques Rousseau。
We cannot all be adorers of Rousseau。 But M。 de Latour was an enthusiast； and this little anecdote of his explains the sentimental side of the bibliophile's pursuit。 Yes； it is SENTIMENT that makes us feel a lively affection for the books that seem to connect us with great poets and students long ago dead。 Their hands grasp ours across the ages。 I never see the first edition of Homer； that monument of typography and of enthusiasm for letters； printed at Florence （1488） at the expense of young Bernardo and Nerio Nerli； and of their friend Giovanni Acciajuoli； but I feel moved to cry with Heyne； 〃salvete juvenes； nobiles et generosi； ＇Greek text＇。〃
Such is our apology for bookcollecting。 But the best defence of the taste would be a list of the names of great collectors； a 〃vision of mighty bookhunters。〃 Let us say nothing of Seth and Noah； for their reputation as amateurs is only based on the authority of the tract De Bibliothecis Antediluvianis。 The library of Assurbanipal I pass over； for its volumes were made； as Pliny says； of coctiles laterculi； of baked tiles； which have been deciphered by the late Mr。 Gee Smith。 Philosophers as well as immemorial kings； Pharaohs and Ptolemys； are on our side。 It was objected to Plato； by persons answering to the cheap scribblers of today； that he； though a sage； gave a hundred minae （360 pounds） for three treatises of Philolaus； while Aristotle paid nearly thrice the sum for a few books that had been in the library of Speusippus。 Did not a Latin philosopher go great lengths in a laudable anxiety to purchase an Odyssey 〃as old as Homer；〃 and what would not Cicero； that great collector； have given for the Ascraean editio princeps of Hesiod； scratched on mouldy old plates of lead？ Perhaps Dr。 Schliemann may find an original edition of the 〃Iliad〃 at Orchomenos； but of all early copies none seems so attractive as that engraved on the leaden plates which Pausanias saw at Ascra。 Then； in modern times； what 〃great allies〃 has the collector； what brethren in bookhunting？ The names are like the catalogue with which Villon fills his 〃Ballade des Seigneurs du Temps Jadis。〃 A collector was 〃le preux Charlemaigne〃 and our English Alfred。 The Kings of Hungary； as Mathias Corvinus； the Kings of France； and their queens； and their mistresses； and their lords； were all amateurs。 So was our Henry VIII。； and James I。； who 〃wished he could be chained to a shelf in the Bodleian。〃 The middle age gives us Richard de Bury； among ecclesiastics； and the Renaissance boasts Sir Thomas More； with that 〃pretty fardle of books； in the small type of Aldus；〃 which he carried for a freight to the people of Utopia。 Men of the world； like Bussy Rabutin； queens like our Elizabeth； popes like Innocent X。； financiers like Colbert （who made the Grand Turk send him Levant morocco for bindings）； men of letters like Scott and Southey； Janin and Nodier； and Paul Lacroix； warriors like Junot and Prince Eugene； these are only leaders of panies in the great army of lovers of books； in which it is honourable enough to be a private soldier。
THE LIBRARY
The Library which is to be spoken of in these pages； is all unlike the halls which a Spencer or a Huth fills with treasure beyond price。 The age of great libraries has gone by； and where a collector of the old school survives； he is usually a man of enormous wealth； who might； if he pleased； be distinguished in parliament； in society； on the turf itself； or in any of the pursuits where unlimited supplies of money are strictly necessary。 The old amateurs； whom La Bruyere was wont to sneer at； were not satisfied unless they possessed many thousands of books。 For a collector like Cardinal Mazarin； Naude bought up the whole stock of many a bookseller； and left great towns as bare of printed paper as if a tornado had passed； and blown the leaves away。 In our modern times； as the industrious Bibliophile Jacob； says； the fashion of bookcollecting has changed； 〃from the vast hall that it was； the library of the amateur has shrunk to a closet； to a mere bookcase。 Nothing but a neat article of furniture is needed now； where a great gallery or a long suite of rooms was once required。 The book has bee； as it were； a jewel； and is kept in a kind of jewelcase。〃 It is not quantity of pages； nor lofty piles of ordinary binding； nor theological folios and classic quartos； that the modern amateur desires。 He is content with but a few books of distinction and elegance； masterpieces of printing and binding； or relics of famous old collectors； of statesmen； philosophers； beautiful dead ladies； or； again； he buys illustrated books； or first editions of the modern classics。 No one； not the Duc d'Aumale； or M。 James Rothschild himself； with his 100 books worth 40；000 pounds； can possess very many copies of books which are inevitably rare。 Thus the adviser who would offer suggestions to the amateur； need scarcely write； like Naude and the old authorities； about the size and due position of the library。 He need hardly warn the builder to make the salle face the east； 〃because the eastern winds； being warm and dry of their nature； greatly temper the air； fortify the senses； make subtle the humours； purify the spirits； preserve a healthy disposition of the whole body； and； to say all in one word； are most wholesome and salubrious。〃 The east wind； like the fashion of book collecting； has altered in character a good deal since the days when Naude was librarian to Cardinal Mazarin。 One might as well repeat the learned Isidorus his counsels about the panels of green marble （that refreshes the eye）； and Boethius his censures on library walls of ivory and glass； as fall back on the ancient ideas of librarians dead and gone。
The amateur； then； is the person we have in our eye； and especially the bibliophile who has but lately been bitten with this pleasant mania of collecting。 We would teach him how to arrange and keep his books orderly and in good case； and would tell him what to buy and what to avoid。 By the LIBRARY we do not understand a study where no one goes； and where the master of the house keeps his boots； an assortment of walkingsticks； the 〃Waverley Novels；〃 〃Pearson on the Creed；〃 〃Hume's Essays；〃 and a collection of sermons。 In； alas！ too many English homes； the Library is no more than this； and each generation passes without adding a book； except now and then a Bradshaw or a railway novel； to the collectio