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Other instances of a similar character have demonstrated that Mrs。 Methuen regards with implacable antipathy the volumes upon which my learned and ingenious friend would fain lavish the superabundance of his affection。 Many years ago the Judge was compelled to resort to every kind of artifice in order to sneak new books into his house； and had he not been imbued with the true afflatus of bibliomania he would long ago have broken down under the heartless tyranny of his vindictive spouse。
When I look around me and survey the persecution to which book…lovers are subjected by their wives； I thank the goddess Fortune that she has cast my lot among the celibates； indeed； it is still one of the few serious questions I have not yet solved； viz。： whether a man can at the same time be true to a wife and to bibliomania。 Both are exacting mistresses； and neither will tolerate a rival。
Dr。 O'Rell has a theory that the trouble with most wives is that they are not caught young enough； he quotes Dr。 Johnson's sage remark to the effect that ‘‘much can be made of a Scotchman if caught young；'' and he asserts that this is equally true of woman。 Mrs。 O'Rell was a mere girl when she wedded with the doctor； and the result of thirty years' experience and training is that this model woman sympathizes with her excellent husband's tastes； and actually has a feeling of contempt for other wives who have never heard of Father Prout and Kit North； and who object to their husbands' smoking in bed。
I recall with what enthusiasm I once heard this superior creature commend the doctor for having accepted in lieu of a fee a set of Calvin's ‘‘Institutes；'' with copious notes； in twelve octavo volumes； and a portfolio of colored fox…hunting prints。 My admiration for this model wife could find expression in no other way； I jumped from my chair； seized her in my arms； and imprinted upon her brow a fervent but respectful kiss。
It would be hard to imagine a prettier picture than that presented to my vision as I looked in from the porch of the doctor's residence upon the doctor's family gathered together in the library after dinner。 The doctor himself； snuggled down in a vast easy…chair； was dividing his attention between a brier pipe and the odes of Propertius； his wife； beside him in her rocker； smiled and smiled again over the quaint humor of Mrs。 Gaskell's ‘‘Cranford''； upon yonder settee； Francis Mahony Methuen； the oldest son； was deep in the perusal of Wilson's ‘‘Tales of the Border''； his brother； Russell Lowell； was equally absorbed in the pathetic tale of ‘‘The Man without a Country''； Letitia Landon Methuen； the daughter； was quietly sobbing over the tragedy of ‘‘Evangeline''； in his high chair sat the chubby baby boy； Beranger Methuen； crowing gleefully over an illustrated copy of that grand old classic； ‘‘Poems for Infant Minds by Two Young Persons。''
For several moments I stood spellbound； regarding with ineffable rapture this inspiring spectacle。 ‘‘How manifold are thy blessings； O Bibliomania；'' thought I； ‘‘and how graciously they are distributed in this joyous circle； wherein it is permitted to see not only the maturer members； but； alas； the youth and even the babes and sucklings drinking freely and gratefully at the fountain…head of thy delights！''
Dr。 O'Rell's library is one of the most charming apartments I know of。 It looks out upon every variety of scenery； for Dr。 O'Rell has had constructed at considerable expense a light iron framework from which are suspended at different times cunningly painted canvases representing landscapes and marines corresponding to the most whimsical fancy。
In the dead of winter； the doctor often has a desire to look out upon a cheery landscape； thereupon； by a simple manipulation of a keyboard； there is unrolled a panorama of velvety hillsides and flowery meads； of grazing sheep； and of piping rustics； so natural is the spectacle that one can almost hear the music of the reeds； and fancy himself in Arcadia。 If in midsummer the heat is oppressive and life seems burthensome； forthwith another canvas is outspread； and the glories of the Alps appear； or a stretch of blue sea； or a corner of a primeval forest。
So there is an outlook for every mood； and I doubt not that this ingenious provision contributes potently towards promoting bibliomaniac harmony and prosperity in my friend's household。 It is true that I myself am not susceptible to external influences when once I am surrounded by books； I do not care a fig whether my library overlooks a garden or a desert； give me my dear companions in their dress of leather； cloth； or boards； and it matters not to me whether God sends storm or sunshine； flowers or hail； light or darkness； noise or calm。 Yet I know and admit that environment means much to most people； and I do most heartily applaud Dr。 O'Rell's versatile device。
I have always thought that De Quincey's workshop would have given me great delight。 The particular thing that excited De Quincey's choler was interference with his books and manuscripts； which he piled atop of one another upon the floor and over his desk； until at last there would be but a narrow little pathway from the desk to the fireplace and from the fireplace to the door； and his writing…tablegracious！ what a Pelion upon Ossa of confusion it must have been！
Yet De Quincey insisted that he knew ‘‘just where everything was；'' and he merely exacted that the servants attempt no such vandalism as ‘‘cleaning up'' in his workshop。 Of course there would presently come a time when there was no more room on the table and when the little pathway to the fireplace and the door would be no longer visible； then； with a sigh； De Quincey would lock the door of that room and betake himself to other quarters； which in turn would eventually become quite as littered up； cluttered up； and impassable as the first rooms。
From all that can be gathered upon the subject it would appear that De Quincey was careless in his treatment of books； I have read somewhere （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