Personal Note: Happy Library Workers Day!

[nebroadwe]

LIBERRY CAT SEZ "I CAN HAZ PAINT CHIPS?"

UPDATE: Okay, today's not all about cataloging paint chips, though it is all about cataloging advertising matter.

Consider the following jingle for George Hummel's Premium ESSENCE OF COFFEE, manufactured by Daniel Bohler & Co., to be sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle Dandy." It begins with a history of The Potable, from water ("As all their living was quite plain they were not very quaffy; / They drank cold water night and day and never dreamed of Coffee") to liquor ("But many found that would not do, it set their heads to reeling, / And next day when they sobered up they had an ugly feeling") to tea ("So off they went to Canton Town, and purchased some for trial. / The ladies, when they drank it, said 'twas good beyond denial / But after using it awhile they found their health was sinking; / The doctors said 'twas poisonous and they must stop tea-drinking"). Finally, coffee is discovered and "a Coffee jubilation" ensues, but, sadly, not everyone can partake due to the expense. Various experiments are tried, but then ... well, let Messrs. Bohler & Co. speak for themselves:

For many years the people bought their Coffee at high prices,
At last, to save their money, some tried various devices.
Some roasted chestnuts, rye and wheat, potatoes, corn and barley,
But all their great inventions proved a vain and empty parley.

At length rose HUMMEL 'mongst them all -- they startled at his presence --
And bid them now to come and taste his COMPOUND COFFEE ESSENCE!
So right away the ladies went, to taste the beverage charming,
Then told their husbands they had found a drink that was not harming.

The husbands they sent right away, to get a lot to try it,
And ever since they tasted it, whene'er they're out they buy it.
One shilling's worth will reach as far -- if you are money craving --
As four without the ESSENCE will -- and that I'm sure's a saving.

To close my song I just would say, before you spend your money
For HUMMEL'S COFFEE ESSENCE read the glorious testimony.
And when you buy be sure to see that you be not misguided,
For spurious coffee essence is on every hand provided.

There's a coda lambasting anyone who claims to sell an award-winning coffee essence, but by then the fun's kind of gone out of the enterprise. Me, I'm sticking with milk.