253. Arrange _contents_ either in the order of the volumes or alphabetically by the titles of the articles.
Argentile and Curan; a legendary drama, v. 2.
Chronological list of painters to 1689, v. 3.
Dryden’s preface to his translation of Du Fresnoy, v. 3.
Essay on the meaning of the word angel, as used by St. Paul, v. 4.
Examination of the prophecy in Matthew 24th, v. 4.
Musæus: a monody to the memory of Mr. Pope, v. 1.
Vol. «1.» Musæus, a monody to the memory of Mr. Pope. — Odes, sonnets, epitaphs and inscriptions, elegies. — The English garden. — Religio clerici. — Hymns and psalms. «2.» Elfrida, a dramatic poem. — Caractacus, a dramatic poem. — Sappho. — Argentile and Curan, a legendary drama. — Pygmalion, a lyrical scene. «3.» Du Fresnoy’s art of painting. — Dryden’s preface to his translation of Du Fresnoy. — Chronological list of painters to 1689. — Essays on English church music. «4.» Sermons. — Essay on the meaning of the word angel, as used by St. Paul. — Examination of the prophecy in Matthew 24th.
It is evident how much much more compendious the second method is. But there is no reason why an alphabetical “contents” should not be run into a single paragraph.
The titles of novels and plays contained in any collection ought to be entered in the main alphabet; it is difficult then to see the advantage of an alphabetical arrangement of the same titles under the collection. Many other collections are composed of works for which alphabetical order is no gain, because the words of their titles are not mnemonic words, and it is not worth while to take the trouble of arranging them; but there are others composed of both classes, in which such order is very convenient. { 93}
254. Care must be taken not to mix two subjects together because their names are spelled in the same way.
Thus «Grace» before meals, «Grace» of body, «Grace» the musical term, and «Grace» the theological term, must be four distinct headings.
255. Under subject-headings group titles topically when it can be done, otherwise arrange them by the authors’ names.
Alphabetical arrangement by authors’ names is useful when a subject-entry is a substitute for a title-entry, but otherwise is as useless as it is inappropriate. If the author’s name is known the book should be looked for under that, not under the subject; if it is not known, what good can an arrangement by authors do? Sometimes, if one has forgotten the Christian name of an author, it may be easier to find him under a subject than in a crowd of Smiths or Joneses or Müllers, and this use of a subject-heading is impaired by grouping or by chronological order; but such use is infrequent, and the main design of a subject-entry should not be subordinated to this side advantage.