The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-20

hobhEsS OF Tile w AS-- LABEL pulIS--DlL-
LINGsaATE, PERSONALITY AND PopGUSs.-Snce
onr recent article on the subject of the terri
bic war going on between the booksellers and
certain persons who may be termed by indivi-
duals Of highly imaginative turn of mind,
book critics, great deal of light has been
thrown upon the cause Of the quarrel and the
facts which led to its DEVELOPMENT.
We publish elsewhere some extraordinary
articles from the camps of both contending
parties. The statements are not new, but they
are SO positively put as to have extorted An
open confession from one of the journalists al
luded to in the great bribery article which ap-
peared in the booksellers organ some two weeks
since. The man in the play says, "The thief
in each bush doth fear an officer" aud all the
birds that were hit by the publishers shot
tluttered terribly. The newspapers, throughout
The country, commented upon the expose OF
the tactics Of the philosophers of the moral
New York journals and church going publish
ers. The facts which were stated in the He
RAID as to the salaries which the book critics
received from the publishers were re-abirmed
in many quarters, and the names Of the critics
given in some instances. Public attention was
directed to the matter, and the upshot Of the
affair is that the book notices in the journals
alluded to have lost what little influence they
might have had previously.
The reviewer who gets the most money from
the publishers, and who is consequently the
principal mark at which the Circular fired,
waxed exceeding wroth at the discovery and
exposure of what his Boston friend aptly calls
his snug little arrangements" aud made
personal quarrel of it, by naming Mr.. Ma
son, q bookseller, as the author of the article
in the Circular. The reviewer--who, being q
Fourisrite, ought to be philosopher-lost his
temper and called Mason bad names. Mr..
Mason then sued the Tribune for libel. If this
case ever comes to trial, it will be more inte-
resting to the world of letters than nything of
the kind since the invention Of printing. We
shall have some curious disclosures then, IN
der oath.
The Boston papers then took the matter in
hand, aud a correspondent OF the -4tlas siga-
ing himself 'Upsilon,' was very severe upon
The Tribune. The last named journal charged
the authorship of the Epsilon" letter to Mr..
/. II. Underwood, once free soil temperance
politician, but now reader of Ms. for Phillips
Sampson & Co. The Tribune further called
Mr.. Underwood an "insect," and many other
Dad names--using such language as one might
have expected to hear on the Five Points be-
fore Mr.. Pease carried the gospel and beef
soup into that benighted region. The lin
sect" talks back at the Tribune, which pleasant
and polite journal again proceeds to abuse an
innocent young nan who was not known by
name to hundred of its readers, but who
is now probably aware of the fact that he can
net touch pitch and escape deflement.
In the meantime the Tribune weaker ally--a
Journal established, we shoald think, for the
express purpose Of putting the publications OF
Publishing house-palters and shuffles and
lodges as usual. The editor cannot deny the
charges made by the publishers, and affects to
treat them with contempt. But the main point
Is gained. The relations existing between some
OF the reviewers and the publishers have been
made known. The whole putt system has been
blown up by the very men who originated It,
and hereafter the public will remember that
not one word in relation to new books can be
believed. The public cannot tell whether to
read book or not, by anything which may be
published concerning It in the leading jour
mails, as they call themselves. Only one daily
journal here has denied the charges made ~
the publishers and the critic of that Journal
has salary suificien. to buy nany Injuries
required to keep up the character CT q private
gentleman, as a rsapascrip. reader for large
book publishing house short distance up
Broadway. The very next day after the dig
play Of vir.uous Indignation in our heavy CO.
temporary, ne published three notices OF books
emanaii0g from the concern above named, and
each notice led off with some such sweet strain
as thistle say that inc Browns have en-
ceeded their previous efforts ia getting out
his work." &C., &C., or This is undoubtedly
the best work Of the kind ever issued from
the press"--preCiscly ths kind CT sentences
which are wanted for the Advertisements cor
tanning the Opinions Of the press" Ard ii
our readers will carefully examine these news
papers, they will have the best evidence ia the
world tia. the publishers charges are true.
The opening Of this snbjao. mast DO q great
deal of good. For years the New York pub
litbers havo been using the mos strenuous Of
forts to control the newspapers worth con-
trolling One house in perticular-sae partners
Of which call themselves the monarchs Of the
trade, end attempt to treat the other publish.
era as their suhjects-has been distinguished ia
this game, and has TO answer for orignasingit
These publishers labored necessarily for years
10 corrupt the newspapers They have ia.
srlgued until they have got tue control Of two
daily papers. They ought to be ashamed Of
such contemplate conduct to obtain power
over their fellowa Ii they coald no. sell
their books without disgracing themselves aud
their critics, they should have retired, AMI
even sold off TIA. Tremendous magazine.
even If 1t has circulation OF one hundred
end Gity thousand copies and is sent "to