THE CARE OF BOOKS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1247, 23 January 1896, Page 15

THE CARE OF BOOKS.

Much is written about the care of everything about the house from garret to basement, but little, if anything, is said upon the care of books. When closing-the house for a prolonged absence, remove the books from the shelves and cleanse them from all dust with a clean cloth. Encase in paper covers and replace them, being Careful not to crowd them. Books, like other things of value, last and look new under careful treatment, and become worn and shabby when neglected. None of them should be piled one upon the top of another-, or be allowed to stand diagonally. After the books are covered, draw the bookcase out from the wall, remove the shelves and dust carefully; then wash with a sponge. Book-moths, spidei-s, and insects become at home in the bookcase, and rear numerous progeny in a short time. But a thorough washing and drying of the case inside and out is sufficient to dislodge them. If the case is protected with glass doors, the books may be replaced on the shelves ; otherwise they should be packed away in boxes which have been properly lined with paper. Their seclusion from the light for a few months.will tend to make the covers regain their brightness of tint. The boxes should be open for the air to circulate well, as books packed away for the summer in an air-tight box will warp, and the printed edges stick together. < To remove grease from the pages of a book, lay upon the spot a little magnesia or powdered chalk, and under it the same; set on it a warm flat-iron, and as soon as the grease is melted it will be absorbed and leave the paper clean. To clean engravings' in books or a printed page that has turned yellow from any cause: Place a pano of glass behind the engraving, so as to preserve the lower pages from moisture. Cover the picture with salt, then squeeze a lemon on it, and see that all the salt is -dampened with the juice. Now have someone hold the book for you in such a position that you can pour hot water (not too hot, or you will break the glass) over the page, without wetting the balance of the book. Rinse the salt all off with the water, and let the page dry slowly, and it will be clean and white.