Isaac's Journal: A 19th Century Book Collection

Reader Contribution by The Mother Earth News Editors
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This story is from Lyn Fenwick, submitted as part of our Wisdom From Our Elders collection of self-sufficient tales from yesteryear.

To read more of Isaac’s 19th century journal entries see Lyn Fenwick’s blog.

 I immediately formed a kinship with Isaac because of our common love for books. When Isaac’s journal began in December, 1870, he was a druggist in Rossville, Ill., in his mid-twenties. He was prospering, with every bit of money he could set aside spent on his book collection, views for his stereoscope, and portrait cards of famous people that he kept in albums. He had a curious mind that he wanted to fill with the writings of great authors, pictures of the world, and images of important people. He was determined to build his book collection despite being criticized by some of his less literary friends. Regarding the money he spent, he wrote in his journal: “Some get rid of a good deal [of money] in horses and buggies, great many in whisky, and how many on women? Ike [Isaac] fools good deal away in Books and Views and Pictures.” That is not to suggest that Isaac wasn’t keeping his eyes open for a well-educated young lady. He tried charming one young miss by loaning her some of his art books, and he paid particular attention to a bright young bookkeeper at Henderson & Lee’s store, the first female employed in that position in town. He was also quite interested in a young woman who played chess and appreciated music, but unfortunately for Isaac, none of these relationships matured into a romance.

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