children look to see where Roumania and Bulgaria and Greece and
Constantinople and the Dardanelles are on the map, they will learn more
of real geography in half an hour than they will learn in a week of
school study concerning countries in which they have no interest. When
there is reading aloud in the family circle, if every unfamiliar word
is looked up in a dictionary, which should always lie easily accessible
upon the table, they will get unconsciously a widening of their
vocabulary and a knowledge of the use of English which will be an
invaluable supplement to the work of their teacher of English in the
school. As to cyclopadias they are of all sizes from the little six-
volumed cyclopadia in the Everyman's Library to the twenty-nine volumed
Encyclopadia Britannica, and from the general cyclopadia with more or
less full information on every conceivable topic to the more
distinctive family cyclopadia which covers the life of the household.
Where there are children in the family the cyclopadia which covers the
field they are most apt to be interested in--such as "The Library of
Work & Play" or "The Guide Series" to biography, music, pictures, etc.
--is the best one to begin with. After they have learned to go to it for
information which they want, they will desire a more general cyclopadia
because their wants have increased and broadened.

So much for books as ornaments and as tools. Certainly not less
important, if comparisons can be made I am inclined to say more
important, is their usefulness as friends.

In Smith College this distinction is marked by the College authorities
in an interesting and valuable manner. In the library building there is
a room for study. It is furnished with a number of plain oak or walnut
tables and with chairs which do not invite to repose. There are
librarians present to get from the stacks the special books which the