Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-02-28
BRooKvILLE. IND. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY Is, 1868 {

over one hundred thousand volumes. In
the spring of 1864 Mr.. Adams began the
Army and Macy Stories,'' of which sew
enty five thousand volumes have already
been sold, and twelve thousand year are
demanded by the trade. In the same year
the "Riverdate Stories," in twelve VOL
umes, for young children, we're published,
and the sales already amount to one hun
/ dred and twenty y.6ve thousand volumes.
In 1865 Mr.. Adams went to Europe, main
ly that he might gather material for Sc
rics Of books which had long been in bis
mind" Young America abroad" Three
volumes of this series were published last
year and twenty five thousand sold, and
when the time since they were issued is
taken into consideration, il is evident that
the.ssle. will at least equal that of any Of
lia linus 1beokstt During this tine
twelve thousand copies'Uf thc~initiai>~el<
ume we're sold. Two series Of this char
acter are announced, six volumes each,
but before the second is begun Mr.. Adams
intends visiting Europe again, to CLEAN
fresh material in Spsin, Portugal, Italy,
Greece, Turkey, Russia, Austria, Prussia,
Denmark, Sweden aud Norway. The
"Starry Flag series, the last on our list,
originally appeared in "Okirer Optics
lMagozine," an illustrated weekly publ
cation for boys and girls, which he edits
with signal tact and ability. During the
present season three volumes of this series
have been issued and twenty.one thou
sand copies sold.
These facts are certainly startling from
their magnitude, but let u recapitulstion
aid the reader in his estimate Of Oliver
| Optics fertility Of genius aud bis remark
able popularity. The figures given are in
"rouDd numbers" but in each instance
below the actual sale: 49,
Boat Club Series, volumes Sale ...I00, ,oeo
Woodyille /" ............ ....lOO 100
Army and Navy Series, O volumes. 80. 20 200
III, erdale Series, IL volumes ....... ....l25,000
Young America Abroad, volumes,
Is out and 8 la proeessl. ......... 40. $4,000
Starry flag Series, volumes. (3 out
and3 In process l......... $1,000
-
Total, SO volumes. with sale os....-...44e 900
In addition TO these, Mr.. Adams has
written popular spelling book, two nov
els which have been well received by the
public, aud one volume of miscellaneous
stories. thus making forty roiumes from
his prolific penl What other at home or
abroad can show such a record? 1t al
most staggers belief, but Figures won't
lie."
And now wherein consist the eleme n Is
Of this popularity? In a word, he appeals
directly TO the living, earnest sympatbies
of the young, his narrative is sprightly,
his incidents true 10 actual life, and his
moral pills are so sugar coated that they
are taken areedily by the young patient.
In other words, he aims to impart whole
some truth and sound morality, without
SO obtruding upon the mind OF the reader
as to create distaste for the book. We
do not claim that his writings are free
from faults, sometimes in style and some
times 10 incident and illustrations for ho
is human and not an Optic. al illusion.
But il is evident from O perusal Of his
books that he constantly aims TO make
goodness attractive aud vice odious; he
never allows an unrepentant bad character
to appearin any other than its true light,
and to hold II up us a warning, while his
readers are taught to hate the mean and
the unworthy, and to love and strive for
the GOOD. lie once gave, in conversation,
as his motto in writing for the young,
First God, then country, then friends"
and If the boys and girls are safely inoc-
ulated with this noble sentiment, what
more can be asked for them? Some may
complain that bis books are too exciting,
too sensational, but then is not real life
sensational and exciting2 If the sensa-
ton be true, be right in its influence, II
tho excitement be healthy, the supposed
fault is a virtue. No sickly sentimental.
ism pervades Mr.. Adams's books; his good
boys do not all die according to the sterc-
otype fashion. his bad boys do not inva-
riably meet with instant punishment for
their sins; but ultimately, virtue trumphs
and vice meets with Its just deserts. ln
this he succeeds just whore so many fail.
His characters are human; they are the
boys and girls Of o.day, not either wholly
good or wholly bad, but with mixture
Of both; tho tares and the wheat grow 10.
gether as in real life, and no teaches how
TO distinguish one from the other. Con-
sequently we feel that tho tendency Of his
books is in the right direction; they are
siimulanis, perhaps sometimes strong, TO
the active growth of good motives aud as.
pirations. In judging Of his books, one
fact should be borne In mind; many OF
them have boon before tho public for
years, and their popularity Is constantly
increasing, and parents are the principal
purchasers. IL II probable that they are
40 blinded that they are placing IN the
hands of their children hundreds Of thou
sands Of volumes Of mere trash, or what Is
worse, books containing unhealthy senti'
ment7 We have too much confidence IN
tho good sense Of the community to admit
this, and we further think that the boy
or the girl who has not been benefited
by tho perusal Of Oliver Optics writings,
would be curiosity, and the same would
equally be true Of one who had been in
jured by them. Long, then, may "0liyer
Optic" live, and many may be the books
that be shall yet writel- watchman and
Reflector. 1