BOOKS AS GIFTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 June 1925, Page 4

BOOKS AS GIFTS

A writer in tlio Times says the giver of a v cll-chcsen book is blessed in this, as in no other, gift. He piav carry it home with him and may himself enjoy it before bidding it farewell; lie may write in it his own as well as his friends’ name, thus perpetuating his good wishes and earning for himself remembrance, not for an hour only, but on many an evening far away. A fly-leaf inscription, rediscovered long after tho writer of it is forgotten, proves again and again to bo the kindliest and tlio least scif-coiiscious of epitaphs. Aud if tho buyer of a book be of a practical mind and little careful for his own epitaph, ho may yet bo pleased after his own manner. Ho may wrap up his gift with ■perhaps loss labour of brown paper than is required of him by any other offering, for none is more conveniently shaped; lie may send it cheaply, anil ho may ho glad in the thought that his few shillings have helped the art of letters to its not too frequent reward. How much pleasanter, after all, than a hundred things to smoko or a pound of food to eat! How much more amusing to send on its adventures some essay in immortality, however frail, however imperfect, than to lavish upon a well-fed acquaintance goods which are by name “perishable” and which lliev might, have bail weighed out to them, in return for their own shillings, from any tradesman’s pan! But could they mil, equally have bought our volume'’ over any bookseller’s counter? Indeed, they could not: our own personality dwells in tlio choice of the book we scud, and that is not to bo had for all tlio shillings ill the world. With works of art—and nono is cheaper or moro easily accessible than a book—we may send a part of ourselves. _ Therein lie's tho peculiarity of tlio gift; therein lies also the pleasure of the giving.