A Book for All Readers Part 31

BLUNDERS IN CATALOGUING.

Gasparin. The uprising of a great many people.

Hughes, Tom. The scouring of the White House.

Mayhew. The pheasant boy.

Wind in the lower animals (Mind.)

RECENT CALLS FOR BOOKS AT A WESTERN LIBRARY.

Account of Monte Cristo.

Acrost the Kontinent by Boles.

Bula.

Count of Corpus Cristy.

Dant's Infernal comedy.

Darwin's Descent on man.

Feminine Cooper's works.

Infeleese.

Less Miserable.

Some of Macbeth's writings.

Something in the way of friction.

Squeal to a book.

In Vol. 3 of Laporte's "Bibliographie contemporaine," Dibdin's famous book is entered thus: "Bibliomania, or boock, madnss: a bibliographical romance...il.u.s.trated with cats."

A well-known librarian writes:

"The Catalogue of the Indiana State Library for the year 1859 has long been my wonder and admiration. "Bank's History of the Popes" appears under the letter B. Strong in the historical department, it offers a choice between the "Life of John Tyler, by Harper & Brothers," "Memoirs of Moses Henderson, by Jewish Philosophers," "Memoirs and Correspondence of Viscount Castlereach, by the Marquis of Londonderry," and "Memoirs of Benvenuto, by Gellini." In fiction, you may find "Tales of My Landlord by Cleishbotham," and "The Pilot, by the Author of the Pioneers;" while, if your pa.s.sion for plural authorship is otherwise unappeasable--if Beaumont and Fletcher or Erckman-Chatrian seem to you too feeble a combination of talents--you may well be captivated by the t.i.tle "Small Arms, by the United States Army."

"The State of Indiana has undoubtedly learned a good many things since 1859; but whosoever its present librarian may be, it is hardly probable that its highest flight in bibliography has surpa.s.sed the catalogue from which the above are quoted."

Books demanded at a certain public library:

"The Stuck-up Minister"--(Stickit Minister.) "From Jessie to Ernest" (Jest to Earnest).

A country order for books called for "The Thrown of David," "Echo of Hummo" (Ecce h.o.m.o) and "Echo of Deas" (Ecce Deus).

The Nation mentions as an instance of "the havoc which types can make with the t.i.tles of books, that a single catalogue gives us 'Clara Reeve's Old English Barn,' 'Swinburne's Century of Scoundrels,' and 'Una and her Papuse.' But this is outdone by the bookseller who offered for sale "Balvatzky, Mrs. Izis unveiled." Another G.o.ddess is offended in "Transits of Venice, by R. A. Proctor."

In a certain city, an examination of applicants for employment in the public library was held. The following is an exact copy of the answer to a question, asking for the t.i.tle of a work written by each of the authors named: "John Ruskin, 'The Bread Winners;' William H. Prescott, 'The Frozen Pirate;' Charles Darwin, 'The Missing Link;' Thomas Carlyle, 'Caesar's Column.'" The same man is responsible for saying that "B. C."

stands for the Creation, and "A. D." for the Deluge.

Who wants this bright young man?

A STORY ABOUT STORIES.

"When A Man's Single," all "Vanity Fair"

Courts his favor and smiles, And feminine "Moths" "In Silk Attire"

Try on him "A Woman's Wiles."

"The World, the Flesh and the Devil"

Were "Wormwood" and gall to me, Weary and sick of "The Pa.s.sing Show,"

No "Woman's Face" was "Fair to See."

I fled away to "The Mill on the Floss"

"Two Years Ago," "In an Evil Hour,"

For "The Miller's Daughter" there I met, Who "Cometh Up as a Flower."

She was a simple "Rose in June,"

And I was "An Average Man;"

"We Two" were "Far From the Madding Crowd"

When our "Love and Life" began.

It was but "A Modern Instance"

Of true "Love's Random Shot,"

And I, "The Heir of Redclyffe"

Was "Kidnapped": and "Why Not"?

We cannot escape the hand of "Fate,"

And few are "Fated to be Free,"

But beware of "A Social Departure"-- You'll live "Under the Ban," like me.

I tried to force the "Gates Ajar"

For my "Queen of Curds and Cream,"

But "The Pillars of Society"

Shook with horror at my "Dream."

I am no more "A Happy Man,"

Though blessed with "Heavenly Twins,"

Because "The Wicked World" maintains "A Low Marriage" the worst of sins.

"Pride and Prejudice" rule the world, "A Marriage for Love" is "A Capital Crime,"

Beware of "A Country Neighborhood"

And shun "Mad Love" in time.