RULES FOR HANDLING BOOKS.
NEVER touch a book with damp or soiled hands. Never pull a book from a shelf by the binding at the top, but by the back. Never open a book farther than to bring both sides of the cover into the same plane. Always place a large book upon a table before opening it. Always open a large book from the middle, never from the ends or cover. Never hold a small book with the thumb pressed into the binding at the lower back, but hold it with the thumb and little finger upon the leaves and three fingers upon the back. Never hold a book near a fire. Never drop a book upon the floor. Never lean or rest upon an open book. Always mark your place with a thin book-mark. Never close a book with a pencil, pad of paper, or anything else between the leaves. Never rub dust from books, but brush it off with a soft, dry cloth or duster. Never touch a book with a damp cloth, nor with a sponge in any form. Never attempt to dry, by a fire, a book accidentally wet, but wipe off the moisture with a soft, dry cloth. Always keep any neatly-bound, borrowed book covered with paper while in your possession. Never cut the leaves of a book or a magazine with a sharp knife, as the edge is sure to run into the print, nor with the finger, but with a paper cutter or ordinary table knife. Never turn leaves with the thumb; always turn leaves from the top with the middle or forefinger. —Selected.