THE REFERENCE BOOKS.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CRIMSON:-

I HAVE often gone to the Library to get certain books that are put aside for reference; but somehow or other these books are never to be found. I thought it strange that no matter at what hour of the day I might come, some studious individual had the start of me.

One day, as I was staring disconsolately at the shelves, in vain straining my eyes for the wished-for book, a youth came along, mounted the step-ladder, and, removing some books on the top shelf, brought from behind them the very book I was looking for. The mystery was solved. Instead of some studious person having the book, it was an extremely selfish individual, who, in order to have the book when he desired it, had deprived many others from using it in the meanwhile. This is done through selfishness. Another cause of our being deprived of books is carelessness : a student finishing a book, instead of replacing it on the shelf where he found it, leaves it on the table, where it may remain the rest of the day. Not finding it on the shelf, we infer that some one is using it, so give up further search.

If students would be more particular in both these respects, and if they would not take down a half-dozen books when they use only one, a great many more men would be benefited by these reference books, and the object of the professors in placing them aside would be more nearly realized.

C.