They Collect

Herr Nordau treats the mania for collecting useless trifles about one as a species oL degeneracy. What would he think of the child's collection of wishbones mentioned in the Critic? A Topeka girl is a collection of the neckties against which her sunny curls have nestled. A collection of old theater programs is valuable not only to a dramatic editor but has a certain racney value. Making collections of newspaper clippings, classifled according to topics, is a recogniüed Industry, and such collections are frequently sold for considerable sums. The queen of Italy and a man in Keokuk collect shoes. The former has those worn by ï.ïary Queen of Scots, Marie Antoinette and Joan ot' Are (doubtful). The latter treasures insoles made for giants and giantesses.