One wonders about the selection of this library. At first glance it would seem that the practical head. of the book section in a prosperous Gepartment store had selected the titles with an eye on the tired business man. But there are outstanding exceptions. Who chose "Colas Breugnon, Burgundian," by Roma-me Roland? Whose inspiration was "Legends," by Amy Lowell? "The Economic Principles of Peace," by Keyes? We conclude that these and similar books represent endow ments made to the library by previous passengers. Perhaps they! have not cared to carry the books along further, Perhaps they have cared so much for them that they. have felt constrained to leave them for the mental well-being of fature passengers. Perhaps they just plain forgot them.
Tt is instructive to sit in the writing room near the bookcases and Join in the informal causerie that, centres about the selection of the volumes. Often a kindred soul to make the voyage memorable may be discovered by this device. Of; course it is largely women who patronize the shelves. Even the Bi tish allow their wives to select ti reading for them on shipboard. They do it well, too. Husbands would be pleased to hear themselves described as "not caring much for this light stuff, really preferring books on polities, economies, history, travel or the like, but what can one expect from a ship's library?" And so they get their pet Oppenor Zone Greys and also the credit for possessing high literary:
words but accommodating dis.
"Sheiks," "Top of the and "If Winter Comes" are smuggled out quietly, their readers' attitude even to the Deck-in "being distinctly apologetic. If detected they are likely' to explain that such purely popular trash has so repelled them that they refused to read the book when it was the rage, but now that there is absolutely ' nothing else to do on this stupid ship they might as well find out what people, went so mad about any way.
The Gentlest Reader companions was: ig the other day. Investigation proved that she ws not indulging in mal-de-mer in the} seclusion of her cabin. She was not in the writing room, the saloon, the lounge, the smoking room. The bath boy testified that she was not in the tub, the Captain that she was not on the Bridge. Finally she discovered on the boat deck, id the wireless operator's den. She tried to pull her steamer rug over the pile of books at her elbow and affected to slumber beneath hee sunshade, but we were upon her.
"Ghenko, the Mongol Invasion, her pursuers aloud. "Do you leave us for them, pray' demanded an aggrieved youth.
She flushed consciously. "Some! of them T know are good," she de-ruded, "and the others may be. Not a single person has taken them out of the library all this trip and 1 done think it's fair. How would you like it if nobody listened to)
Tt was a palpable hit and the lad for once made no answer. studied the librarian's bool continued, and I know that 'I've Married Marjorie' has been taken out four times, and even 'The Brimming Cup' three times. Of course don't know whether they read the; latter or not. "It was returned sus-Piciously early. But any way, it looks very popular on the record all back her most ardent admirer, "I'l take out 'American - Poetry" and 'Maryknoll Mission Papers' to-night ard 'Book of Games' and the rest in succession. But do come and play Shuffleboard now.'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.