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（but I forget where） that he used his forefinger as a paper…cutter and that
he did not hesitate to mutilate old folios which he borrowed。 But he was
extraordinarily tender with his manuscripts； and he was wont to carry in
his pockets a soft brush with which he used to dust off his manuscripts
most carefully before handing them to the publisher。
Sir Walter Scott was similarly careful with his books； and he used； for
purposes of dusting them； the end of a fox's tail set in a handle of silver。
Scott； was； however； particular and systematic in the arrangement of his
books； and his work…room； with its choice bric…a…brac and its interesting
collection of pictures and framed letters； was a veritable paradise to the
visiting book…lover and curio… lover。 He was as fond of early rising as
Francis Jeffrey was averse to it； and both these eminent men were strongly
attached to animal pets。 Jeffrey particularly affected an aged and
garrulous parrot and an equally disreputable little dog。 Scott was so
stanch a friend of dogs that wherever he went he was accompanied by one
or twosometimes by a whole kennelof these faithful brutes。
In Mrs。 Gordon's noble ‘‘Memoirs'' we have a vivid picture of
Professor Wilson's workroom。 All was confusion there： ‘‘his room was a
strange mixture of what may be called order and untidiness； for there was
not a scrap of paper or a book that his hand could not light upon in a
moment； while to the casual eye； in search of discovery； it would appear
chaos。'' Wilson had no love for fine furniture； and he seems to have
crowded his books together without regard to any system of classification。
He had a habit of mixing his books around with fishing…tackle； and his
charming biographer tells us it was no uncommon thing to find the
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‘‘Wealth of Nations；'' ‘‘Boxiana；'' the ‘‘Faerie Queen；'' Jeremy Taylor；
and Ben Jonson occupying close quarters with fishing…rods； boxing…gloves；
and tins of barley…sugar。
Charles Lamb's favorite workshop was in an attic； upon the walls of
this room he and his sister pasted old prints and gay pictures； and this
resulted in giving the place a cheery aspect。 Lamb loved old books； old
friends； old times； ‘‘he evades the present； he works at the future； and his
affections revert to and settle on the past；''so says Hazlitt。 His favorite
books seem to have been Bunyan's ‘‘Holy War；'' Browne's ‘‘Urn…Burial；''
Burton's ‘‘Anatomy of Melancholy；'' Fuller's ‘‘Worthies；'' and Taylor's
‘‘Holy Living and Dying。'' Thomas Westwood tells us that there were
few modern volumes in his library； it being his custom to give away and
throw away （as the same writer asserts） presentation copies of
contemporaneous literature。 Says Barry Cornwall： ‘‘Lamb's pleasures
lay amongst the books of the old English writers；'' and Lamb himself
uttered these memorable words： ‘‘I cannot sit and thinkbooks think for
me。''
Wordsworth； on the other hand； cared little for books； his library was a
small one； embracing hardly more than five hundred volumes。 He drew
his inspiration not from books； but from Nature。 From all that I have
heard of him I judge him to have been a very dull man。 Allibone relates
of him that he once remarked that he did not consider himself a witty poet。
‘‘Indeed；'' quoth he； ‘‘I don't think I ever was witty but once in my life。''
His friends urged him to tell them about it。 After some hesitation； he
said： ‘‘Well； I will tell you。 I was standing some time ago at the
entrance of Rydal Mount。 A man accosted me with the question： ‘Pray；
sir； have you seen my wife pass by？' Whereupon I retorted； ‘Why； my
good friend； I didn't know till this moment that you had a wife。' ''
Illustrative of Wordsworth's vanity； it is told that when it was reported
that the next Waverley novel was to be ‘‘Rob Roy；'' the poet took down his
‘‘Ballads'' and read to the company ‘‘Rob Roy's Grave。'' Then he said
gravely： ‘‘I do not know what more Mr。 Scott can have to say on the
subject。''
Wordsworth and Dickens disliked each other cordially。 Having been
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asked his opinion of the young novelist； Wordsworth answered： ‘‘Why；
I'm not much given to turn critic on people I meet； but； as you ask me； I
will cordially avow that I thought him a very talkative young personbut I
dare say he may be very clever。 Mind； I don't want to say a word against
him； for I have never read a line he has written。''
The same inquirer subsequently asked Dickens how he liked
Wordsworth。 ‘‘Like him！'' roared Dickens； ‘‘not at all； he is a dreadful
Old Ass！''
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XIX
OUR DEBT TO MONKISH MEN
Where one has the time and the money to devote to the collection of
missals and illuminated books； the avocation must be a very delightful one。
I never look upon a missal or upon a bit of antique illumination that I do
not invest that object with a certain poetic romance； and I picture to myself
long lines of monkish men bending over their tasks； and applying
themselves with pious enthusiasm thereto。 We should not flatter
ourselves that the enjoyment of the delights of bibliomania was reserved
to one time and generation； a greater than any of us lived many centuries
ago； and went his bibliomaniacal way； gathering together treasures from
every quarter； and diffusing every where a veneration and love for books。
Richard de Bury was the king； if not the father； of bibliomaniacs； his
immortal work reveals to us that long before the invention of printing men
were tormented and enraptured by those very same desires； envies；
jealousies； greeds； enthusiasms； and passions which possess and control
bibliomaniacs at the present time。 That vanity was sometimes the
controlling passion with the early collectors is evidenced in a passage in
Barclay's satire； ‘‘The Ship of Fools''； there are the stanzas which apply so
neatly to certain people I know that sometimes I actually suspect that
Barclay's prophetic eye must have had these nineteenth…century charlatans
in view。
But yet I have them in great reverence And honor； saving
them from filth and ordure By often brushing and much diligence。
Full goodly bound in pleasant coverture Of damask； satin； or else
of velvet pure； I keep them sure； fearing lest they should be lost； For
in them is the cunning wherein I me boast。
But if it fortune that any learned man Within my house fall
to disputation； I draw the curtains to show my books them；
That they of my cunning should make probation； I love not to fall
into altercation； And while they come； my books I turn and wind；
For all is in them； and nothing in my mind。
Richard de Bury had exceptional opportunities for gratifying his
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bibliomaniac passions。 He was chancellor and treasurer of Edward III。；
and his official position gained him access to public and private libraries
and to the society of literary men。 Moreover； when it became known that
he was fond of such things； people from every quarter sent him and
brought him old books； it may be that they hoped in this wise to court his
official favor； or perhaps they were prompted by the less selfish motive of