Relative to such matters there is an energy of destruction that keeps pace with the industry of production.

The demands of "waste" must be met: fires must be lighted.

So away go the loose papers, sheets and pamphlets of the minute.

They have served their turn, and there is an end of them.
Hence the difficulty of obtaining, when needed, a copy of a newspaper of old date, or the guide-book or programme of a departed entertainment, or the catalogue of a past auction of books or pictures.

It has been noted that, notwithstanding the enormous circulation it enjoyed, the catalogue of our Great Exhibition of a score of years ago is already a somewhat rare volume.