Closets and Shelves

Old clothes and college texts have great sentimental value. Unfortunately they can not be bound in pastel-pink ribbons, and filed away as neatly as love letters. Hungry moths and avid vermin are too liable to corrupt such earthly treasures. Hence they often pad the maws of ashcans and end their usefulness in dumps. For a cherished garment or a much-thumbed book, that fate is bitter. Far better to fling both clothes and texts, with a gesture of sublime extravagance, into the eager coffers of the Brooks House Old Clothes Drive which are secreted in the janitor's office and library of each House.

The economic foresight of retaining, both clothes and books is admirable; the economic optimism of selling them is praiseworthy. Far be it from Brooks House to stifle foresight or optimism. Nevertheless, an anecdotal punch line of William Dean Howell's is applicable now: "Distinguished men can't care much for their (old) clothes, sir. Their thoughts soars to 'igher things, sir."